and alternatives considered (5) take decisions (6) make a particular selection or
implement a plan. The alternatives formulated by infrastructure planners generally
attempt, explicitly or implicitly, to achieve various objectives. For the planner, it
would be ideal if the choice of one policy over another - or the choice between two
investments - could be assessed using a single, well-established objective or goal.
Unfortunately, there are always several, possible and often conflicting, goals or
objectives that are present. This chapter proposes a few approaches to handle this
problem.
14.1 Introduction
14.1.1 Multiple Goals and Objectives
Keeny and Raiffa (1999) mention the case of the airport facilities in Mexico City
where a decision has to be taken among the following objectives:
(1) Minimising costs (construction and maintenance)
(2) Providing adequate airport capacity and facilities
(3) Maximising system safety
(4) Minimising noise levels
(5) Minimising access time to users
(6) Minimising possible displacement of local population
Haimes (1981) explains how a water treatment plant tries to match two objectives
of lowest cost against highest quality, while another reservoir system may have to
meet the competing objectives of supplying water to a hydroelectric plant, a domestic water supply system, an irrigation project, not to mention trying to have low water
levels in the reservoir to minimise flood damage.
The above examples show that infrastructure systems can have multiple goals and
objectives which are in conflict or competition with one another, most particularly
when the stakeholders or customers or users may have different preferences.
Planning occurs at many levels in any social organization with similar planning
processes. It is necessary to:
(1) consider goals
(2) gather and process information
(3) define and assess alternative possibilities
(4) carry out several iterations which may change the goals, information required,
and alternatives considered
(5) take decisions
(6) make a particular selection or implement a plan.
Often the planning process is never ending, and plans may have to be modified
after or during their implementation. Hence, planning encompasses all activities
leading up to a decision among choices and continues during the post-choice stage of
implementation and control.
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14 Multi Sector/Purpose Infrastructure Planning
implement a plan. The alternatives formulated by infrastructure planners generally
attempt, explicitly or implicitly, to achieve various objectives. For the planner, it
would be ideal if the choice of one policy over another - or the choice between two
investments - could be assessed using a single, well-established objective or goal.
Unfortunately, there are always several, possible and often conflicting, goals or
objectives that are present. This chapter proposes a few approaches to handle this
problem.
14.1 Introduction
14.1.1 Multiple Goals and Objectives
Keeny and Raiffa (1999) mention the case of the airport facilities in Mexico City
where a decision has to be taken among the following objectives:
(1) Minimising costs (construction and maintenance)
(2) Providing adequate airport capacity and facilities
(3) Maximising system safety
(4) Minimising noise levels
(5) Minimising access time to users
(6) Minimising possible displacement of local population
Haimes (1981) explains how a water treatment plant tries to match two objectives
of lowest cost against highest quality, while another reservoir system may have to
meet the competing objectives of supplying water to a hydroelectric plant, a domestic water supply system, an irrigation project, not to mention trying to have low water
levels in the reservoir to minimise flood damage.
The above examples show that infrastructure systems can have multiple goals and
objectives which are in conflict or competition with one another, most particularly
when the stakeholders or customers or users may have different preferences.
Planning occurs at many levels in any social organization with similar planning
processes. It is necessary to:
(1) consider goals
(2) gather and process information
(3) define and assess alternative possibilities
(4) carry out several iterations which may change the goals, information required,
and alternatives considered
(5) take decisions
(6) make a particular selection or implement a plan.
Often the planning process is never ending, and plans may have to be modified
after or during their implementation. Hence, planning encompasses all activities
leading up to a decision among choices and continues during the post-choice stage of
implementation and control.
382
14 Multi Sector/Purpose Infrastructure Planning