A Systems-based Approach to Creating Value from Infrastructure Interdependencies

Abstract

Current planning and appraisal processes treat infrastructure as discrete, sector-specific assets, and as a consequence can fail to identify and exploit potentially valuable interdependencies. Similarly, these silo-based approaches are unable to identify potentially hazardous and costly interdependencies in a systematic manner. A major challenge then for providers of modern infrastructure, is to realise the innovative opportunities in interdependencies, and so increase value-for-money, sustainability and resilience. To overcome this, it is necessary to recognise that real-world infrastructure 'systems' are highly interconnected, both with each other and with the socioeconomic and natural systems in which they are located. This paper presents a focused set of the findings from a research partnership between the University of Bristol and University College London, sponsored by HM Treasury in the UK. It proposes an 'open-systems', cross-sectoral approach to create and manage beneficial infrastructure interdependencies, and comprises a framework of principles: 'stewardship', 'shared-governance' and 'interdisciplinarity'; and associated systems-based tools. These have been applied to four case studies relating to the UK's National Infrastructure Programme, three of which are summarized in this paper.

A framework for characterising infrastructure interdependencies

“…It also introduces a number of additional characteristics identified from case studies specifically seeking to identify opportunities from infrastructure interdependency (Rosenberg and Carhart, 2013). This synthesis results in a more complete framework with which to identify and describe infrastructure interdependency.…”

“…This addition arose from work looking to identify beneficial interdependency opportunities in three UK case studies (Rosenberg and Carhart, 2013). It is particularly useful if seeking to consider actual and hypothetical interdependencies.…”

“…Additionally, some interdependencies are only relevant under particular scenarios (such as during accidental failure or during extreme weather events). These categories also arose during the research of three UK case studies (Rosenberg and Carhart, 2013). For example over 4 million tonnes of material excavated during the construction phase of the London Crossrail project was used to create a wetland nature reserve at Wallasea Island (2012).…”

“…The workshop put into practice the interdependency planning and management framework (Carhart et al, 2014;Rosenberg and Carhart, 2013), in particular operationalising a matrix-based tool for interdependency identification and knowledge structuring. The workshop consisted of two sessions.…”

Barriers to a Better Bristol: Diagnosing City Strategic Sustainability Challenges Using Systems, Co-Production and Interdisciplinary Approaches

“…The project's aim is to develop a framework for diagnosing the barriers to transformation to a better, more sustainable Bristol. The diagnostic framework brings together systems thinking, learning, co-production and participatory approaches [4]- [6], integrating methods to develop a set of tools to understand the current situation in the city and the challenges and barriers present. This approach examines available information, including technical and policy documents, and data, focussing on four challenge themes, combining with evidence of the lived experience of citizens and organisations as co-produced knowledge.…”