Introduction to the Tilos Time-Distance Diagram
Tilos is a software tool used for project management by construction and engineering companies. The name Tilos is based on the phrase Time-Location System as the program was developed to create time-distance diagrams. Internationally, a time-distance diagram may also be known as a:
Linear Scheduling Method (LSM)
Time Location Diagram
Time Distance Plan
French Diagram
March Chart
For consistency in Tilos documentation, however, only the term ”time-distance diagram” is used.
Tilos functionality
Project Management (PM) functions
Plan and structure construction activities, including rescheduling
Plan production, including supporting quantities, productions rates, and tender documents
Schedule costs and resources
Report on actual data and progress values
Import and export data from/to other pm systems
Time-distance functions
Display site plans and graphics on a distance axis
Create (automatically) time and distance scales
Use equations on a non-linear distance axis
See cost and resource histograms on a distance axis
View mass haulage diagrams on a distance axis
Reflect distance data for rescheduling
Configure views, including the display of sub-parts of a project (sub-projects)
Manage sub-projects
Benefits of using Tilos
Why should you use time-distance diagrams? As distinguished from bar charts, a time-distance diagram has this major advantage:
Activities are shown not only in relation to time, but also to the location at which they are to be performed.
Displaying several activities with the same location in a Gantt chart may lead to a misunderstanding of the project. A glance at a time-distance diagram can solve this problem by making chronological-spatial relationships visible. For linear projects developed along a distance axis, Tilos and time-distance diagrams are more effective and efficient than Gantt charts.
Tilos is especially powerful for these types of engineering and construction projects:
Rail/Track
Corridor/Roadway
Tunnel
Pipeline
Bridge
Cable And Aerial Line
Canalization And Hydraulic
High-rise And Tower
Note: Linear projects can be horizontal or vertical. Distance is not necessarily restricted to length-based projects; there are also height-based construction projects, e.g., structural engineering.