Evidence for the Value of a Systems Approach to Infrastructure Planning, Delivery and Operation

The paper discusses the notion of infrastructure as a system, the nature of the systems approach in the context of infrastructure, and how this could complement the shortfalls of more dominant approaches. It argues that taking a systems perspective is a route to unlocking additional value from national and regional infrastructure system-of-systems, where value is a measure of the benefits derived by stakeholders in relation to the costs they have incurred. Thinking about infrastructure challenges, assets and services in terms of systems comprising multiple dynamic interactions and perspectives can enhance understanding of how value is created and captured. Examples are presented of infrastructure projects where interactions were overlooked, leading to increased cost and reduced benefits, and where interdependencies were recognised and manged to reduce cost and increase benefits. The paper concludes by outlining recently developed practical tools and techniques which have been designed specifically for the application of a systems approach to infrastructure