101-0509-10L  Network Infrastructure 1

SemesterHerbstsemester 2021
DozierendeB. T. Adey, C. Martani
Periodizitätjährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung
LehrspracheEnglisch
KommentarNur für Raumentwicklung und Infrastruktursysteme MSc.


KurzbeschreibungSpatial planners ensure our built environment optimally meets our future needs. This course explains how spatial planners can evaluate proposed modifications to network infrastructure when there is substantial future uncertainty with respect to requirements, and how to develop implementation plans taking into consideration asset life cycles.
LernzielSpatial planners ensure our built environment optimally meets our future needs. This is challenging, as the built environment is a large and complex system, which interacts extensively with the natural environment. Additionally, there is considerable uncertainty with respect to the expectations of the built environment in the future, due to the uncertain environment in which we live, e.g. changing technologies and the changing climate. It is in the face of this complexity and uncertainty that spatial planners need to propose potential improvements and defend them convincingly to a large and diverse set of stakeholders.

The objective of this course is to provide spatial planners with an introduction to two essential tools in this regard. The first tool is a methodology to systematically take into consideration the future uncertainty in infrastructure requirements when proposing changes to the built environment. This involves the identification of key uncertainties, modelling their effect on infrastructure requirements and assessing how changes in future needs and the environment may affect future decisions. The second tool is a methodology to systematically estimate the life cycles of infrastructure assets. This methodology can be used together with the state of the existing infrastructure assets to develop optimal implementation plans.

More specifically, upon completion of the course students will understand how:
• to identify and quantify the service being provided by the built environment
• to construct an objective function to be used in the evaluation of proposed modifications
to estimate changing societal needs and their potential effect on required infrastructure
• to develop concepts for flexible/robust infrastructure alongside traditional infrastructure
• to simulate future scenarios to evaluate the costs and effects on the service provided over time by infrastructure
• to estimate the service provided by existing infrastructure now and in the future
• to determine optimal maintenance strategies for infrastructure
• to convert them into optimal intervention programs, which can be used to build strong arguments as to when system modifications should be implemented.
InhaltThe course consists of 9 lectures, 2 projects and 5 help sections. The two hour weekly lecture period is used as follows:
1 Planning infrastructure interventions – This lecture provides an introduction to the course and why it is useful in helping spatial planners propose and evaluate modifications to the built environment. The requirements for successful completion of the course are discussed and the two projects are introduced.
2 Service – Arguments for modifying the built environment are built on meeting the future needs of stakeholders. This week we present how to identify, quantify and value the service provided by the built environment. The measures of service, along with intervention costs are used to construct an objective function to be used in the evaluation of proposed modifications.
3 Changing needs – Trying to modify the built environment to meet future needs, requires estimating them. This week we discuss how to estimate them and their potential effect on required infrastructure.
4 Robust and flexible infrastructure – In the face of large amounts of future uncertainty it is useful to have either robust infrastructure, i.e. infrastructure that meets a large range of possible future needs, or flexible infrastructure, i.e. infrastructure that can be easily modified to meet different possible future needs. This week we discuss the concepts of robustness and flexibility and demonstrate their roles in maximizing the net-benefit of infrastructure.
5 Evaluating robust and flexible infrastructure – Robust and flexible infrastructure sometimes comes with increased costs. Whether or not the costs are worth it depends on a myriad of factors. This week we present a methodology that helps you develop robust and flexible infrastructure and evaluate their costs and benefits over time.
6 Simulating the uncertain future – As a key aspect to evaluating robust and flexible infrastructure is simulating what might happen in the future, this week, we explain how use Monte Carlo simulations and conduct an in class exercise so that you have an enhanced understanding of how it is done.
7 Help sessions 7-9 – We use the lecture periods to answer any questions you might have on project 1.
10 Existing infrastructure – Deciding how to modify infrastructure does not only require thinking about how to meet future needs. It also requires thinking about how the existing infrastructure is likely to provide service in the future. This week, we discuss the connection between provided service and the state of the infrastructure and use a common methodology to predict their evolution over time.
11 Maintenance strategies – It is useful to know the optimal maintenance intervention strategies for infrastructure assets when considering how to modify infrastructure to accommodate future needs, as it is easier to justify expenditures when a maintenance intervention is planned than immediately afterwards, when it is in a like new state. This week we explain how optimal intervention strategies are estimated.
12 Maintenance programs – As planning periods approach, exact decisions need to be made as to which interventions will be executed, taking into consideration network level constraints, such as budgets. This week we demonstrate how the state of assets together with the optimal maintenance strategies and network level constraints can be combined to determine optimal maintenance programs. These programs are used to optimally integrate both maintenance and modification interventions into one intervention program.
13 Help sessions 13 and 14 – We use the lecture periods to answer any questions you might have on project 2.

The course uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The quantitative analysis required in the project requires at least the use of Excel. Some students, however, prefer to use Python or R.
Skript• The lecture materials consist of handouts, the slides, and example calculations in Excel.
• The lecture materials will be distributed via Moodle two days before each lecture.
LiteraturAppropriate literature will be handed out when required via Moodle.
Voraussetzungen / BesonderesThis course has no prerequisites.
KompetenzenKompetenzen
Fachspezifische KompetenzenKonzepte und Theoriengeprüft
Verfahren und Technologiengeprüft
Methodenspezifische KompetenzenAnalytische Kompetenzengeprüft
Entscheidungsfindunggeprüft
Problemlösunggeprüft
Soziale KompetenzenKooperation und Teamarbeitgeprüft
Persönliche KompetenzenKritisches Denkengeprüft