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Represent data in Tabular Form

Jamie Z 2025-04-22

Tables provide a means of sorting and displaying information in a way that is easy to read understand. Compare the two Success Criteria examples given below and note how the second example enables the Criteria to be sorted into major categories, sub-categories, descriptors and qualifiers, so it is clear to the reader exactly what each Criteria is designed to achieve.

Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets provide invaluable insight for engineers to analyse and display features of a dataset.

Engineers use spreadsheets to

  • Display data as a table to analyse different scenarios quicky and determine the best option e.g. most cost effective or strongest
  • Sort data quickly using filters
  • Perform calculations using using equations and functions
  • highlight data using conditional formatting
  • present data or calculation results using charts or graphs
  • Reduce chance of error

Gantt Charts

A Gantt chart is a type of bar graph that illustrates a project schedule and and allows the planning, monitoring and management of time and resources to ensure a project schedule remains on target.

  • The chart breaks down the project into a set of tasks, each having a duration, which are arranged in sequence or parallel with other tasks.
  • The horizontal axis of the Gantt chart denotes time and is usually divided into days, weeks months or even years
  • A vertical line on the chart provides visual indication of the current date

Benefits of a Gantt chart

Gantt Charts help Engineers manage projects by:

  • Breaking the project down into smaller tasks
  • Applying durations to individual tasks to help determine the project time-frame
  • Allocating human and equipment resources to individual tasks
  • Deciding whether tasks need to happen in sequence (one after the other) or if they can be performed in parallel (simultaneously)
  • Setting Project Milestones, like a site inspection date or the date that your assignment draft is due
  • Providing a visual overview of a project, so that overdue tasks or upcoming milestones can be seen at a glance