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Abstract
For many building clients, time is money. This thesis proposes a technique which models the construction costs and times of design options, enabling the relationship between them to be explored. The research reveals problems associated with current design practice and investigates design decision-making. Results of a survey reveal the frequency with which different design options occur on office buildings and the extent to which designs might be regarded as stereotyped. The research also investigates cost planning theory and practice and, particularly, the extent to which it takes account of the construction process. Quantity surveyors' perceptions, at early design, of the comparative construction costs and times of design options are measured. The contribution that construction planning might make to cost planning is considered. Various techniques are investigated, and Decision Critical Path Method and deterministic dynamic programming are proposed as the basis of a time-cost planning technique. Several algorithms are developed and incorporated into a computer-based optimisation model: the model is used to test the sufficiency of the technique. Results show that the technique is able to guide the decision-making of the designer, at early design, with respect to the most appropriate selection of design options.