Resource Types

YAPL supports four main resource types, each designed for different tracking needs. Understanding these types helps you organize resources effectively.

Overview of Types

Type	Description	Tracking Method
Person	Human resources (labor)	Time-based (hours/days)
Equipment	Reusable assets	Time-based (hours/days)
Materials	Physical goods	Quantity-based (units)
Consumables	Single-use items	Quantity-based (units)

Person (Labor)

Person resources represent human labor assigned to tasks.

Characteristics

Property	Description
Time-based	Allocated by hours or days
Skillset	Track capabilities and roles
Availability	Work schedules and capacity
Cost	Hourly or daily labor rates

Examples

Project managers
Engineers and architects
Labor workers
Supervisors
Subcontractors

Person Fields

Field	Description	Required
Name	Person's name	Yes
Code	Employee/contractor ID	Optional
Hourly Rate	Labor cost per hour	Optional
Daily Rate	Labor cost per day	Optional
Status	Active/Inactive	Yes
Description	Role and skills	Optional

Tracking Labor

Person resources are tracked by:

Availability - Work schedule and capacity
Utilization - Hours assigned vs. available
Cost - Labor rate multiplied by time
Skills - Matching capabilities to tasks

Equipment

Equipment represents reusable assets that are allocated by time.

Characteristics

Property	Description
Reusable	Used repeatedly across projects
Time-based	Allocated by hours or days
Schedulable	Can detect conflicts
Depreciable	Track value over time

Examples

Heavy machinery (excavators, cranes, bulldozers)
Vehicles (trucks, vans, forklifts)
Tools (power tools, scaffolding)
Technology (computers, tablets, surveying equipment)

Equipment Fields

Field	Description	Required
Name	Equipment identifier	Yes
Code	Unique code	Optional
Hourly Rate	Cost per hour	Optional
Daily Rate	Cost per day	Optional
Status	Active/Inactive	Yes
Description	Details and notes	Optional

Tracking Equipment

Equipment is tracked by:

Availability - When equipment is free vs. allocated
Utilization - Hours/days used vs. available
Cost - Rate multiplied by allocation time
Location - Where equipment is assigned

Materials

Materials represent physical goods consumed or incorporated into projects.

Characteristics

Property	Description
Quantity-based	Tracked by units
Consumable	Used up during projects
Inventory	Track stock levels
Costed	Price per unit

Examples

Materials (concrete, steel, lumber)
Electrical supplies (wiring, fixtures)
Plumbing materials (pipes, fittings)
Finishing materials (paint, flooring)

Material Fields

Field	Description	Required
Name	Material name	Yes
Code	SKU or product code	Optional
Unit	Measurement unit	Yes
Unit Cost	Price per unit	Optional
Status	Active/Inactive	Yes
Description	Specifications	Optional

Measurement Units

Common units for materials:

Volume: cubic meters, cubic yards, gallons, liters
Weight: kilograms, pounds, tons
Length: meters, feet, linear feet
Area: square meters, square feet
Count: pieces, units, each

Tracking Materials

Materials are tracked by:

Quantity - Units allocated to tasks
Cost - Unit price multiplied by quantity
Inventory - Available stock levels
Usage - Planned vs. actual consumption

Consumables

Consumables are single-use items that support project execution.

Characteristics

Property	Description
Single-use	Not returned after use
Supporting	Enable work but not incorporated
Replenishable	Regularly restocked
Lower value	Typically less expensive per unit

Examples

Safety equipment (gloves, masks, vests)
Fuel and lubricants
Cleaning supplies
Office supplies
Disposable tools (blades, bits)

Consumable Fields

Field	Description	Required
Name	Consumable name	Yes
Code	Product code	Optional
Unit	Package/measurement	Yes
Unit Cost	Price per unit	Optional
Status	Active/Inactive	Yes
Description	Details	Optional

Tracking Consumables

Consumables are tracked by:

Usage Rate - Consumption over time
Reorder Level - When to restock
Cost - Ongoing expense tracking
Allocation - Assignment to tasks/projects

Choosing the Right Type

Decision Guide

If the resource...	Use Type
Is a human worker/laborer	Person
Is reused across projects	Equipment
Is measured by time allocation	Person or Equipment
Is incorporated into deliverables	Materials
Is tracked by quantity units	Materials
Is single-use and supporting	Consumables
Is regularly replenished	Consumables

Examples by Type

Resource	Type	Reason
Site Manager	Person	Human labor, time-based
Electrician	Person	Human labor, skilled trade
Excavator	Equipment	Reused, time-based
Concrete	Materials	Quantity, incorporated
Diesel fuel	Consumables	Single-use, supporting
Steel beams	Materials	Quantity, incorporated
Safety helmets	Consumables	Supporting, replaced
Scaffolding	Equipment	Reused, time-based