The videos below provide an introduction to the Aurora Project Management and Advanced Scheduling software.
Video Formats
We recommend trying the HTML5 versions of the videos first as they play in most browsers.
AVI File Information
Files in AVI (audio video interleave) format are prepared using the Camtasia Codec.
The Camtasia Codec provides higher-quality and smaller files. However, in order to utilize the compression provided by this software, it may be necessary to install the Camtasia codec; see www.techsmith.com/codecs.asp or (.exe install or .zip install for PC) before viewing the movie files. The movies may also be viewed using Camplay.exe (for PC) (also available in a ZIP file).
CamPlay does not need to be installed; simply double-click on CamPlay.exe after it has been downloaded.
Overview of Aurora (includes Audio)
This video provides a high-level introduction to Aurora:
Narration & index to concepts presented with timestamps
History/Background of Aurora (includes Audio)
This video, developed by NASA, provides a history of Aurora’s development at NASA up to 2005.
NASA released a Hallmarks of Success video that showcases innovative scheduling and training technologies Stottler Henke developed for NASA. According to NASA:
The Hallmarks are stories featuring successful companies and the successful technologies developed through participation in NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and/or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These stories serve as role models for other companies, as well as being prime examples of investing federal dollars in research and development that eventually is infused back into government programs and into the commercial marketplace.
Aurora Introduction Using Large Network (includes Audio)
This video provides a high-level introduction to Aurora on a larger real-world model.
Narration & index to concepts presented with timestamps
Planning Mode: Example of Building a Network (includes Audio)
This video provides an introduction to the Project Planning Task.
Narration & Index to concepts presented with timestamps
Specifically, the video shows the process of creating a new schedule for an incoming order.
Shop Floor Manager Role: Example of Managing a Project during Execution (includes Audio)
This video provides an example of how a shop floor manager might utilize Aurora during the execution of a Project.
Project Manager Role during Execution (includes Audio)
This video provides an example of how a Project Manager might utilize Aurora during the execution of a Project.
This video includes Critical Chain concepts.
Detailed Aurora-CCPM Critical Chain Video (includes Audio)
This video provides a detailed description of many aspects of Aurora-CCPM’s critical chain capabilities.
- Flash (SWF) version of video (64.5 Megabytes)
- Flash (FLV) version of video (87 Megabytes)
- MP4 version of video (37 Megabytes)
- AVI version of video (46.7 Megabytes)
- QuickTime (MOV) version of video (71.7 Megabytes)
- HTML5 version of video (52.2 Megabytes)
Index to concepts presented with timestamps
Demos showing model from Microsoft Project transferred into Aurora via XML & Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) usage in Aurora
(Includes audio)
This set of videos utilizes a simple network to demonstrate the basic operations to transfer a model developed in MS Project into Aurora, via XML; and then performing Critical Chain analysis in Aurora.
The following videos are in Flash format.
- The first video shows the network in MS Project, and saves the file as XML, a format that Aurora can import.
- This video shows the results of resource leveling in MS Project; the project’s duration is 9 days.
- This video shows the XML file export from MS Project being imported in Aurora, and the network is scheduled in Aurora; the project’s duration is 8 days.
- This video shows the steps to perform critical chain analysis on the network, and a quick look at the results.
Importing from Microsoft Project Excel Template format & scheduling (NO Audio)
This video demonstrates importing a file exported from Microsoft Project using the Excel Template export option.
After the import, the video also shows some of the basic navigation and data access capabilities & scheduling.
Introduction to Gantt, Histogram, Pert Charts & Tabular Editor (NO Audio)
This video demonstrates the basics of the Gantt, Histogram & Pert Charts as well as the Tabular Editor
Resource Scheduling Comparison: Microsoft Project versus Aurora on 300 task network
The following videos present a Gantt chart with the
results of Microsoft Project and Aurora. The Aurora schedule is
significantly shorter; the results are:
…102.50 days: Aurora
…147.75 days: MS Project 2007
the only difference being the scheduling engine of Aurora versus
the less efficient resource leveling available in MS Project.
In the first video, the Aurora results are shown with the lighter
boxes (when they don’t overlap).
In the second video, the Microsoft Project results are shown at the
beginning, then the model was scheduled with intelligent scheduling,
and the video shows the transition from the Microsoft Project results to the intelligent scheduling results.
- Gantt chart comparison (Flash format)
- Animation presenting transition from Project results to shorter Aurora results (MOV format)
- More information
Multi-project Critical Chain Demonstration – 25 minutes (includes audio)
This video takes an example project and copies it 3 times and evaluates it against a common resource pool–the result is an interesting multi-project Critical Chain example.
- QuickTime format (63 MB)
- AVI format (25 MB)
- MP4 format (63 MB)
- OGV format (Firefox only)
- HTML5 version of video (38.4 MB)
Index to concepts presented with timestamps