Takt Planning

Estimated reading: 19 minutes

Schedule preparation

Planning day-to-day activities on the construction site with the help of Takt Planner panel.

Select the appropriate Master Schedule from the Schedule module to prepare it for canvas setup.

1. Select the Actual Master Schedule (Schedule that will be used for Progress tracking) from the drop-down list
Note: All canvases created in the Takt Planning module will be linked to the currently selected schedule

2. In the Schedule, there is a system column specifying if a certain task is Added to Takt Planner or not. Important: All canvases need to be added from one Actual master schedule and Progress from these canvases will be reported to this Schedule

Note

Although BEXEL allows an unlimited number of schedules in the Schedules module, it is strongly recommended to upload only the most frequently used schedules to the CDE in order to focus on relevant schedules only and improve on-site coordination.

Note

The Master Schedule of the project can be viewed in the Schedule module. It typically outlines the strategic plan for construction activities, ensuring the project is completed within the optimal time frame. However, the activities in the Master Schedule often require a more tactical, on-site approach to determine exactly when specific parts of the building will be completed and which resources are needed. This level of day-to-day planning and coordination is managed through dedicated canvases in the Takt Planning module.

Tips and tricks

Click to jump to additional workflow:

Create a copy of your Master schedule for Progress

3. To group tasks in the Master Schedule, switch the Group Tasks toggle button to ON. A new toolbar will appear at the top of the schedule

4. To better navigate to additional Task Properties, click quick Gantt hide option. In this way Task Properties table will be maximized

5. In order to define Schedule Grouping user relies on the exported Task Properties Parent Task Levels

Note

All columns visible in the Schedule module in BEXEL Manager will be included when the schedule is uploaded to the CDE project (see step number 5).
By hiding or showing columns before the upload, users can control which information will be visible in the CDE environment.

6. To define which Task level will be a leaf Task, choose it from the Drop-down menu under the Leaf Task Name field. It is recommended to use schedule level representing Activity

7. For the Schedule structure, drag and drop the desired Parent Level columns into this toolbar to define the grouping structure in a hierarchical order from left to right. It is recommended to use Schedule levels representing the Spatial structure of the project in a logical hierarchical order (for example, Building-Floor-Zone)

Note

Before creating new tasks in the selected Canvas, it is important to organize the related Actual Master Schedule so that the leaf tasks clearly represent the planned construction Activities on site. This means that the lowest-level tasks (leaf tasks) should correspond to specific types of work that will be carried out in the field, and these leaf tasks should be organized within a Parent Task structure that reflects the spatial project structure.

8. Newly created Task Grouping could be saved as a Template and later activated from the drop-down list. Define Template Name (it has to be unique for the active schedule). Click the Save As Template button to complete the action

9. In order to list the Schedule Tasks in chronological order for the most practical planning, click the sort in the Start Date column

Create New Canvas

Takt Planner module in BEXEL CDE allows the lean process of takt planning to be fully overviewed/customized by BIM Manager as a part of optimization/fine-tuning of detailed construction schedule for the purpose of more detailed work organization and control, while directly linked to the BIM model elements. This workflow outlines the most effective way to use the Takt Planner module for location-based scheduling and planning. Once your schedule is prepred for Takt Planner, create Takt Planner Canvas following these steps:

1.In the Takt Planning module, users can create multiple Canvases by clicking the + button in the toolbar and specifying a Canvas Name. To edit the name of the Canvas or delete it, click the corresponding buttons located next to the Canvas name. Active Canvas is selected from the drop-down list

Note

The number and type of canvases created will depend on the specific needs and complexity of the project. For high-rise buildings, it is typically recommended to create separate canvases for different disciplines, such as Structural works, MEP and electrical installations, Interior finishes, Facade works, and others. It is also recommended to group works and disciplines that are highly dependent in terms of the sequence of one group of activities is related to completion and coordination of other. For example, fixed partitions and interior finishes are highly dependent on internal MEP and HVAC installation works and should be part of the same canvas in order to be properly coordinated.

If the project includes multiple buildings or zones that are coordinated separately, consider creating individual canvases for each building or zone to ensure clear scheduling and easier management.

Note

In the Takt Planning module, Canvas is a digital workspace used to visualize and manage location-based scheduling. It provides a structured grid where tasks (Takt units) are organized according to specific locations (zones) and time intervals. A Canvas is used to manage tasks that involve a specific team or a limited group of people, ensuring focused and efficient coordination.

Note

Since the Takt Planning module is intended for managing short-term on-site activities, it is recommended that each canvas covers a time frame of approximately 1 to 3 upcoming weeks. To stay aligned with actual site progress, new activities should be reviewed and added on a weekly basis.

2. To define the Work Calendar in the Takt Planning module, click the Working Calendar button

3. The Working Time Calendar window will appear, allowing the user to define standard working hours, specify working and non-working days, and set exceptions for Takt Planning tasks. Important: The working calendar defined for a Takt Planning Canvas must be aligned with the working calendar of the Actual Master Schedule, available in the Schedule module

Note

The working calendar defined for a Takt Planning Canvas must be aligned with the working calendar of the Actual Master Schedule in order to calculate durations and work sequence in the same way. Different calendar setups in Takt Planning and Gantt Schedule will result in misalignment between tasks when added to canvas.

4. Click the Task Generation Template button to configure task creation settings before generating tasks in the Takt Planner

5. Generate Dependencies: When this option is turned ON, and master schedule tasks are divided into smaller sub-tasks based on a chosen principle, Finish-to-Start relationships will be automatically created between the newly-created sub-tasks

6. Tasks in the Takt Planning canvases are initially grouped based on the defined Task Grouping of the Actual Master Schedule (created in step nr. 8). However, by using the Gantt Column for Resource Assignment option, user can customize how tasks are additionally grouped within the canvas

It is recommended to group tasks by Subcontractors by selecting “Subcontractor” from the drop-down menu in the Resource Assignment field. This will organize tasks in Canvas based on the subcontractors assigned to the tasks. In this field listed Task Properties are only ones exported from Bexel Manager to Bexel CDE. Make sure that needed columns (like Subcontractor) are visible in Schedule Editor during schedule upload to Bexel CDE

Note

When tasks are dropped from the Actual Master Schedule to an active Canvas in the Takt Planner module, they do not carry over their original dependencies, just keep their duration and start dates. This enables on-site teams to reorganize and manage activities more freely, based on real-time project needs Task relationships in the Takt Planner can be added or adjusted at any time, allowing teams to adapt plans as needed throughout the project lifecycle.

7. Optional. To further divide Canvas tasks based on available element properties, choose a property from the list in the Zone Generation Order section. Use the search form for easier navigation. This enables tasks to be structured according to project-specific parameters

Note

Tasks in the master project schedule are, in most cases, strategically defined in order to keep the schedule simple and practical and to allow a big-picture perspective on overall project dynamics. On the other hand, tactical, on-site level planning sometimes requires a more detailed, highly granulated task structure. The Takt Planning module allows for this. Within a specific canvas, on-site teams are able to subdivide the general master schedule structure into smaller, easier-to-coordinate sub-tasks. This is achieved automatically by simply selecting a property based on which system can subdivide existing tasks into smaller, manageable sub-tasks. For example master task Wall Finishes – 15th Floor could be subdivided by apartment and corridor using spatial property in order to allow better coordination between teams.

Tips and tricks

Click to jump to additional workflow:

1. Defining spatial properties for Task sub-division

2. Defining spatial properties for Task sub-division

Add Tasks to Canvas

1. Before adding tasks from the master/active schedule to the Takt Planning Canvas, it is recommended to filter the schedule for tasks scheduled to start within the next 1–3 weeks. To do this, click the Filter button in the Start Date column header

2. Choose filter type between from the drop-down list, and pick the Start and End dates of the look-ahead period. The active schedule will then display only the tasks planned for the defined period

3. Alternatively, in case a specific Group of works/Tasks should be filtered, the user can use the Search filter. By typing part of a task name/code system will isolate tasks containing text

Note

It is recommended that the planning team fully leverages the high level of integration with the BIM model available within the BEXEL CDE ecosystem. Before adding the filtered tasks to the Takt Planning Canvas, users should check for potential clashes in the Clash Detection module, review any open issues related to the filtered model elements in the BCF Manager, and analyse associated quantities, costs, and resource allocations in the Cost Estimate module. To streamline this process, the Filter By Selected Elements button can be used in each module to focus the analysis on issues linked to the selected model elements.

4. To visualize which model elements are linked to the filtered tasks, select all tasks in the list by holding the CTRL key and clicking on each task

5. Multiple Tasks could be selected also by clicking one or multiple Parent Tasks, Rught-click and Select Leaf tasks. Then, right-click anywhere in the task list and choose Select Elements from the context menu. The associated model elements will be highlighted in the Viewer. To isolate these elements, right-click within the Viewer and select Isolate → Selected Elements or use the Hide Unselected button from the Viewer’s fast settings menu

6. Select the filtered schedule tasks that need to be added to the Takt Planning Canvas

7. Right-click anywhere within the task list to open the context menu and choose the + Generate Zones in Planner Canvas option. (If the selected tasks do not have additional properties defined for sub-zone generation, a Warning dialog will appear. Confirm by selecting Yes to proceed with generating zones in Canvas in that case. Sub-zoning properties is optional. Note that newly generated Zones are added directly to the active canvas)

8. To customize/reorder their sequence, simply drag and drop each zone line to the desired position within the canvas. Make sure that zones are properly ordered prior to adding tasks to Canvas

Note

The master schedule typically includes multiple project zones that are connected by predefined relationships. For example, a project may consist of three buildings, where construction is planned to start in Building 1, continue in Building 2, and conclude in Building 3. However, on-site conditions may require a different sequence of execution. The Takt Planner Canvas provides flexibility by allowing users to reorder zones and adjust the task sequence according to the actual situation on site.

9. After Zones have been generated and reordered in the Takt Planning Canvas to reflect the current site situation, the next step is to add the selected upcoming tasks. To do this, right-click anywhere within the task list to open the context menu and select the + Add Task(s) to Planner Canvas option (If the selected tasks do not have additional properties defined for sub-zone generation, a Warning dialog will appear. Confirm by selecting Yes to proceed with generating zones in Canvas in that case. Sub-zoning properties is optional. Note that newly generated Zones are added directly to the active canvas)

10. Notice that the newly added tasks appear in the Takt Planning Canvas. The duration of each task is automatically inherited from the Master (Active) schedule, ensuring consistency between strategic and tactical planning

Note

Remember to click the Save button after making changes to the Canvas to ensure all updates are preserved.

11. Tasks displayed in the Canvas can be color-coded using the Task Color dialog. Users can apply color schemes based on various parameters such as Gantt Task color from the master/actual schedule, Task Name, Location, Location–Name, assigned Resource, or task completion percentage (Progress)

12. If tasks in the Master/Actual schedule are linked to BIM model elements, these links are preserved when the tasks are added to the Takt Planning Canvas. This enables users to visually display the related model elements. To do so, activate Color Coded buttonmodel elements in the Viewer will automatically update to reflect the selected Task Coloring

Edit Canvas Tasks

1. General information about each task in Canvas can be viewed by hovering over the task bar. In the information tooltip that appears, users can see the Assigned Subcontractor, Planned Working Hours, Task Duration, and the Current Completion Percentage. By hovering over the edges of a task bar, a resize cursor appears, allowing the user to adjust the task duration by dragging the edge to the left or right and to move/reschedule tasks independently from Gantt

2. To change the start date of a task in Canvas, simply Select the task and drag it to a different time interval. In the example below, note that the Tasks have been moved closer to predecessors compared to their initial placement in the Gantt

3. To open the Task Edit window, Right-click on a Task in the Canvas and select the Edit option from the context menu

4. In this window, the user can specify the Task name, Start and Finish Date and Time, Duration, and add or remove Predecessors and Successors

5. In the Advanced Editor tab, user can modify, define a Constraint options

Note that deleting Tasks in Canvas or creating Tasks from scratch is not supported

Navigation

1. By Right-clicking in the Locations or Resources section of the canvas, a context menu appears with several options: the user can Add or Delete a Location or Resource, Select all Tasks within a specific Location or Resource, or Select all BIM elements linked to that Location or Resource

2. A Right-click context menu also appears when selecting Tasks (multi-select is done by Click+CTRL). From this menu, the user can Select all BIM elements linked to Task

3. By right-clicking the Takt planning column Headers, the user can activate the context menu with options to hide or show Takt columns and Sort Locations or Resources

4. To expand or collapse all Locations and Resources in the Canvas, use the corresponding button in the Canvas settings toolbar

5. Activate the ‘Filter Out Non-Working Time’ button to hide non-working periods in the Time Interval section of the Canvas

6. Click the ‘Zoom to Fit‘ button to automatically adjust the view so that all tasks in the Canvas are fully visible

7. To shift the centerline of the Time Interval section in the Canvas to Today, the Previous Day, or the Next Day, use the corresponding options available in the settings toolbar

8. To filter the visible tasks based on specific text, enter the desired keyword into the ‘Filter Tasks‘ field

9. To highlight specific tasks, enter the desired keyword into the ‘Highlight Tasks’ field

10. To reposition the canvas centerline, select the desired date from the date field

11. Remember to click the Save button after making changes to the Canvas to ensure all updates are preserved

Progress Tracking

While canvases in the Takt Planning module are highly effective for planning upcoming short-term tasks, they are also exceptionally useful for tracking the progress of work on construction site. To begin entering progress data in the Canvas follow these steps:

1. Set the Progress in Task Color and Turn on Color Coding to visualize the progress status of tasks and related model elements that will be updated during the progress entry process. As always, if you made any changes in canvas click Save prior to Progress Entry

2. Activate Progress Mode

3. The Progress Entry window will appear, allowing the user to select the Current Entry or view all previously entered progress entries from the drop-down list

4. Buttons (+) and (X) are used to create a New Progress Entry or to Delete an existing Progress Entry

5. When New Progress Entry is created, the user defines a name, defines the valid Start and Finish Date, and add any relevant Comments about tasks or site conditions

6. In the Recorded Progress section, the user selects tasks for which progress should be entered. Clicking the Select field opens a drop-down menu listing all unfinished tasks from the canvas. By checking the box next to each desired task and clicking OK, the selected tasks will be added to the current progress entry

7. Tasks could be added to Progress Entry also by Right-clicking the Task while Progress Mode is active and choosing Add to Progress Entry. Important: Tasks’ actual Start and End Date, and Duration should be set before the Progress Entry Process!

8. Populate Progress Completion Percentage for added Tasks. As soon as the Percentage is entered, the Task status and color will be updated. Red Tasks are Not Started, Yellow-In progress, and Green-Completed Tasks

9. Click the Complete Entry button to enter the progress. Important: Once the progress is entered, it can not be edited afterwards

10. A warning message appears asking the user to confirm the action. Select Yes to complete progress entry

11. Notice that the Task Durations in the Takt Planner are updated to reflect the entered Progress. Tasks with finished progress entries are marked with a green checkmark icon

12. If partial progress was entered in Task, the remaining portion of the Task will be automatically rescheduled to start as soon as possible, based on the defined calendar and task dependencies

13. Click Save to save changes in Canvas

It is important to note that the progress entry workflow affects only the tasks within one Takt Planning Canvas. Updating progress on the project will include update from multiple Canvases at the time and is done by importin All progress entries from all Canvases in BEXEL Manager, using the model that was originally used to upload the schedule data to the CDE.

14. To Import the progress entered in the Takt Planning module into BEXEL Manager, go to the BEXEL CDE tab and click the Import Progress from CDE button

15. Select CDE Projects to reach Progress Entries

16. In the BEXEL CDE Import Wizard, a list of all progress entries from all canvases recorded in the Takt Planning (Last Planner) module is displayed. Select the desired entries to import

17. Click the Finish button to complete the import process

Note

In the Schedule module of BEXEL Manager, make sure to select the same master schedule that was originally used to add tasks to the Takt Planning module. If a different schedule is active during the import process, a warning message will appear, preventing the import of progress data until the correct schedule is selected.

18. The imported progress entries will be automatically displayed in the Schedule Progress Editor sheet within BEXEL Manager. Go to Progress option in Schedule Editor to open it

19. Selecting newly created progress entry from the list automatically opens detailed view of executed tasks from the active schedule with Export, Group By, Filter and Selection options

20. Progress Entry could be edited in terms of Actual Prices or resource quantities in the Progress Entry Editor

21. To update the Actual Master schedule with the entered progress, set the Status date to the Last date of the entered progress and click the green check button. By doing so, the actual master schedule will be updated with the entered progress. The green line in the Gantt view indicates the project’s Status Date, which reflects the point in time up to which progress has been recorded

22. The updated Actual Master Schedule is now ready to be uploaded to the CDE project, ensuring all users have access to the latest version of the schedule

23. To upload Actual Schedule with updated Progress back to CDE, Go to Bexel CDE tab, click Update Existing and export Schedule following CDE update workflow. In this way, Superintendents on site will have updated Actual schedule as a source for update of their canvases for the neyt Progress Tracking Period

24. Make sure that you picked the right CDE project from the list

25. Choose the Schedules to be updated

26. Select the Actual Schedule to be updated. Note that schedules that are already present on CDE will have green circle on the left, schedules that are not uploaded will have yellow mark. Click Finish to complete update. Important: after upload process is completed, wait for 2-5 minutes before you try to refresh Schedule on CDE

27. After the upload is complete and the schedule is sent to CDE, go to the CDE project, Schedule module, choose Actual Schedule, and click the Refresh button in order to enact schedule reload

28. Schedule will be updated with the new version including entered progress, and will be ready for the canvas update and site planning for the next tracking period

29. After the Progress update is complete, the user is able to export data for Planned vs. Actual, Earned Value, or Schedule Delay Analysis and generate Dashboards. To start the export process, click Publish Report with BEXEL CDE

30. Click one of the available report types and follow the export steps

31. BI Dashboards could also be created directly on BEXEL CDE after the updated Actual Schedule is uploaded back to CDE