Framework for Allocation Activity Delay and Analyzing Project Delay Claims

Delay claims—formal requests for time extensions and compensation due to project delays—are among the most contentious and expensive disputes in construction projects. Accurately analyzing delay claims is a complex task. A fundamental challenge is the allocation of delay time to individual activities—determining precisely when and how much delay occurred within each activity’s execution period. This activity-level delay allocation significantly affects the accuracy and objectivity of forensic delay analysis. This paper introduces a framework for analyzing project delays that simplifies data input. The computer program has three stages. The first stage automatically allocates time for each activity’s delay or acceleration events based on project documents. The second stage involves manually identifying the types of these delay or acceleration events. The third stage assesses project delay responsibilities using the total float management (TFM) technique and data from the previous stages. The computerized program was thoroughly tested with two hypothetical case studies. The results were validated both manually and automatically by comparing outcomes from the two cases. The proposed framework provides a systematic and efficient method for analyzing project delays and assigning responsibility. It addresses key challenges such as concurrent delays, change orders, and float. The system shows promise in significantly reducing the delay analysis process and improving accuracy.