Managing Uncertainty in Construction Project Scheduling: A Systematic Review and Educational Taxonomy

Uncertainty remains a challenge in construction project scheduling, arising from both internal factors (e.g., organizational complexity, resource usage) and external conditions (e.g., logistics, environment, market). Existing taxonomies for uncertainty management often emphasize mathematical modeling techniques but fall short in applicability for construction professionals and educators due to their complexity or narrow focus. This study addresses these limitations through a systematic literature review guided by the PRISMA methodology, synthesizing 83 studies to identify uncertainty sources and classify management strategies. Based on this review, we adapted a taxonomy that explicitly distinguishes internal and external uncertainty sources and a novel taxonomy that organizes management approaches into four categories: decision-making frameworks, stochastic models, fuzzy techniques, and uncertainty theory-based methods. Unlike prior frameworks, taxonomy emphasizes conceptual clarity and pedagogical value. It supports guiding method selection for practitioners and students. Additionally, we introduce a vector-based visualization workflow for real-time uncertainty assessment, which enhances interpretability for both professionals and students. The proposed framework bridges theoretical modeling and field application and supports the development of training strategies and curricula in construction management education. It contributes to more adaptive planning practices and better preparation for navigating uncertainty in construction projects.