Decision Support Framework for the Choice of Delay Analysis Techniques Used in Extension of Time Claims

AbstractOne of the inevitable challenges that face the construction industry is the delay of project completion. The current state of the industry makes the need for delay analysis apparent, however the process of choosing the most reliable delay analysis technique can get very complex in some situations. This research aims to develop a framework to identify and analyze the most important factors to consider when choosing a delay analysis technique. The most reliable technique is decided based on a weighted multicriteria decision matrix. The proposed numerical weight for each factor and the pointing system it is derived from are supported by a conducted survey, previous research, and recommended practices. Different scenarios of each factor are listed, each scenario recommends the use of a certain delay analysis technique if it occurs in the project. To present the framework, a user-interface is developed that takes every factor’s scenario as an input to yield the most recommended delay analysis technique. It is concluded that the most important factor to consider is the presence of reliable contemporaneous records. Furthermore, the technique that is most recommended in many cases is time impact analysis while collapsed as-built is recommended in very specific situations. The developed framework serves as a tool for professionals in the construction management industry to facilitate the choice of the delay analysis technique.