Impossible trade-offs in infrastructure planning

Contrasting stakeholder views

Linear infrastructure planning is an inherently complex process where it is difficult to establish an objectively ‘best’ solution.

The process involves multiple stakeholders such as:

• Engineering, cost and technical teams
• Environmental and planning experts
• Land agents and stakeholder engagement specialists
• Project and programme managers
• Local communities and statutory stakeholders.

These multiple stakeholders will have a different idea of what the “best” outcome may be for their interest:

• Engineers will likely aim to achieve the shortest and most constructible route
• Environmental experts will aim to make sure sensitive areas are disturbed as little as possible
• Project managers want the option offering the lowest cost and minimum risk to the programme
• Local communities want as little disturbance to the area
• Statutory stakeholders have a duty of protecting certain areas or interests

One can easily see that no single route will satisfy all of these concerns.

<aside> ✅ The planning process for infrastructure is fundamentally built around analysis of trade-offs and alternatives. Planning and permitting processes around the globe are built around demonstrating the key need and that the need is met with the least impact possible.

</aside>

Analysing trade-offs

Each of the contrasting views can be represented as an objective within Optioneer. Objectives can be ‘optimised’ for, meaning minimising impacts on any particular consideration. Any option taken forward will always be a trade-off between different considerations.