Research lead: Professor Jennifer Whyte

What is the problem?

Infrastructure systems are interdependent open systems of systems. Approaches to project delivery that focus only on the management of contracts have not been effective, leading to delays and cost over-runs in delivery, but also not delivering the best outcomes for society. Projects are interventions into existing infrastructure systems of systems. Their construction and maintenance involves many different types of engineering knowledge. There are many forms of complexity and uncertainty as spanning the technological, ecological, and socio-political, both within and across project boundaries.

How does our research address this?

We have been championing an approach to projects as interventions into infrastructure, with a focus on the systems that the project delivers. Within the project the focus is on how the architecture is partitioned into sub-assemblies and components, and then these, and the interfaces between them, are tested (both verified, to ensure they meet regulations, specifications and requirements; and validated, to ensure they meet stakeholder needs). Across project boundaries the focus is on the engagement with stakeholders and the intended and unintended technological, environmental and social impacts. This requires rethinking standard systems engineering approaches, while retaining the focus on verification and validation of designs at every stage. For the delivery of complex infrastructure products, the focus is on the intervention, conceived and handed over in relation to existing infrastructure, and tested at different levels, from component, to sub-system to system in delivery, supporting the concept of adaptability and flexibility of infrastructure systems.

What have we achieved so far?

This work on systems integration has been foundational for the work of the Centre over the last 5 years, and has informed government and industry policy in the areas of production systems, infrastructure interdependencies and lifecycles. We have identified the importance of interfaces and buffers between levels (within and across project boundaries), distribution of related responsibilities, and evolution over time. We have trained managers in systems engineering leadership; written research papers on projects as interventions; and articulated how project managers need greater focus on the system they are delivering, rather than managing contractual arrangements. This work has informed contributions to the post Hackitt review work on Building Safely, and also the government Transforming Construction initiative. We have also worked with the Sheffield City and Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnerships to inform small and medium sized enterprises about how them might engage with modern methods of delivery and supply chain integration.

What are the future directions for research and industry?

Systems Approaches to Infrastructure are becoming widely recognised as important with work by the Institution of Civil Engineers, Royal Academy of Engineering and others; and work on outcomes based approaches to procurement. There are particular needs for better metrics and indicators for projects; and new approaches to modelling complexity and uncertainty within and across project boundaries.

What is the long term vision for impact?

The long term vision is to develop new methods for delivering projects as interventions into infrastructure systems of systems, with richer information on use, and on environmental systems as well as financial returns.

Related researchers: Professor Jennifer Whyte, Dr Luigi Mosca, Dr Kate Simpson, Dr Ranjith Soman, Alexander Zhou, Hongmin Zhu

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/systems-engineering-innovation/2020/systems-integration/

Find out more – publications and links:

Related publications

  • Shi, F., Soman, R. K., Han, J. & Whyte, J. (2020). Addressing adjacency constraints in rectangular floor plans using Monte-Carlo Tree Search. Automation in Construction.115, 103187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2020.103187
  • Whyte, J. & Nussbaum, T. (2020). Transition and Temporalities: Spanning Temporal Boundaries as Projects End and Operations Begin. Project Management Journal. 51, 505-521. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F8756972820919002
  • Comi, A., Jaradat, S. & Whyte, J. (2019) Constructing shared professional vision in design work: The role of visual objects and their material mediation.  Design Studies. 35 (1), 18–27.
  • Nikolić, D., Maftei, L. & Whyte, J. (2019) Becoming familiar: how infrastructure engineers begin to use collaborative virtual reality in their interdisciplinary practice.  ITcon. 24, 489–508. DOI: 10.36680/j.itcon.2019.026
  • Noye, S., North, R. & Fisk, D. (2018) A wireless sensor network prototype for post-occupancy troubleshooting of building systems.  Automation in Construction. 89, 225–34. DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2017.12.025
  • Whyte, J. (2018) Systems Engineering and the Project Delivery Process in the Design and Construction of Built Infrastructure. Journal of Project Production Management. Project Production Institute.
  • Brookes, N., Sage, D., Dainty, A., Locatelli, G. & Whyte, J. (2017) An island of constancy in a sea of change: Rethinking project temporalities with long-term megaprojects.  International Journal of Project Management. 35 (7), 1213–24. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2017.05.007
  • Comi, A., & Whyte, J. (2017) Future Making and Visual Artefacts: An Ethnographic Study of a Design Project.  Organization Studies. 39 (8), 1055–83. DOI: 10.1177/0170840617717094.
  • Lord, S.F., Noye, S., Ure, J., Tennant, M. & Fisk, D. (2016) Comparative review of building commissioning regulation: a quality perspective.  Building Research and Information. 44 (5-6), 630-43. DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2016.1181955.
  • Noye, S., North, R. & Fisk, D. (2016) Smart systems commissioning for energy efficient buildings.  Building Services Engineering Research and Technology. 37 (2), 194–204. DOI: 10.1177/0143624415622954
  • Whyte, J. (2015) Towards a new craft of architecture.  Building Research & Information 43 (2), 263–5. DOI: 10.1080/09613218.2015.962240.
  • Whyte, J., Stasis, A. & Lindkvist, C. (2016) Managing change in the delivery of complex projects: Configuration management, asset information and 'big data'. International Journal of Project Management. 34 (2), 339–51. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijproman.2015.02.006.
  • Whyte, J., Tryggestad, K. & Comi, A. (2016) Visualizing practices in project-based design: tracing connections through cascades of visual representations.  Engineering Project Organization Journal. 6 (2-4), 115–28. DOI: 10.1080/21573727.2016.1269005

Contact Us

 

Centre Director
Dr Ana Mijic

 

For adminstration please contact:

CSEI@imperial.ac.uk
T:  +44 (0)20 7594 5031

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering