A Problem Solving Approach to Identifying Civil Engineering Infrastructure Projects

Civil engineering infrastructure projects are solutions to problems facing communities, societies or even an entire nation. Addressing societal needs and problems is a key element of infrastructure project success. However, recent evidence suggests that decision makers often invest in projects that do not address clearly defined problems. Therefore, this research aims to contribute towards improving the identification process of civil engineering infrastructure projects. A desk study involving mapping of a generic infrastructure project life cycle onto two problem solving process models was undertaken. It was found that if civil engineering infrastructure projects are viewed as solutions to problems, ideas of a problem solving process can be adapted and incorporated into the identification process of infrastructure projects. This led to the design of a novel two-stage identification process for civil engineering infrastructure projects. The process brings together developers and concerned stakeholders to: first agree on the problem to be addressed, and second generate solutions, assess them and then choose a preferred solution to be implemented. Identifying civil engineering infrastructure projects in this manner ensures that public funds are spent on projects that address societal problems, provide the greatest benefits to society, and that they are spent in the most efficient way.