%X Ageing infrastructure results in opportunities to rethink contemporary objects, as well as their functionalities and their aesthetics. The context of the infrastructure that was built in the thirties, fifties, and sixties has changed over time. To successfully adjust our infrastructure to the current and future context, area-oriented planning approaches are needed. But even though this is a major challenge for planning practitioners, it does not seem to get enough attention from both academics as well as policy makers.

The dominant approach for infrastructure development is systems engineering, an approach that finds its origin in the aviation industry. Systems engineering is a linear approach based on an engineering philosophy that is currently being applied in the planning practice to structure projects. Systems engineering is also predominantly focused on the development of new infrastructure and may benefit from further insight into the redevelopment practice. The aim of this research is to find out how system engineering can be applied at redevelopment projects as opposed to new development and how systems engineering can support area-oriented (re)development of infrastructure.

In order to answer this question, a literature review was conducted. The literature review showed that one way of engaging in area-oriented planning practices is to get a thorough understanding of the context of a project by identifying the functional interrelatedness and the institutional interdependencies between the object and its context. Increasing interrelations and interdependencies result in increasing complexity of projects. Systems theory is used to better understand complexity.

Based on these findings, the loosely coupled systems theory could be used to better understand the nature of interrelations and interdependencies between object and context. A differentiation between tight couplings and loose couplings could be made. Tight couplings are inevitably related to a project and result in reciprocal relationships, while loose couplings can be decoupled from a project without major consequences.

Based on the findings in the literature review, ten expert interviews and one focus group were conducted with planners, engineers, and project managers. Two cases were chosen: a simple development case and a complex redevelopment case. The case selection resulted in the possibility of comparing both the ability of systems engineering to support area-oriented planning between development and redevelopment as well as simple and complex cases.

Results show that the actual process of systems engineering at redevelopment projects does not necessarily differ from development projects. However, while the steps remain the same, the content of the steps does differ. The complexity debate shows that in a simple development case, interrelations and interdependencies can be decoupled from the project. A linear systems engineering process in which the scope of the project is predetermined is very suitable here.

The second case showed that in complex cases, interrelations and interdependencies cannot be decoupled from the project without major consequences for project planning and management. However, engaging loose couplings that seem to be outside the project scope may help to better cope with the project’s complexity by widening opportunities for that project. A prerequisite for this is that the scope of the project should not be fixed beforehand.
%D 2022
%L theses_frw4041
%A Bas Houwing
%T Engineering in the planning discipline. Systems Engineering for area-oriented redevelopment of ageing infrastructure Author: Bas