WP3 - Comprehensive planning

There are many instances where building and construction projects exceed their estimated budgets. In order to decrease the number of projects exceeding their estimated budgets, a more holistic approach to planning is needed, where expertise from different fields must come together earlier. This WP will focus on conditions below the surface and use a number of case studies to provide a better understanding of the current planning process and its limitations.

A number of tasks will be carried out in this WP. A tool will be developed to map and assess ground conditions in the early project planning phase. A timeline of the planning process will be put together using a number of methods including interviews, questionnaires and literature reviews. The timeline will reflect regulation and policy requirements, as well as current practice (such as when costs are estimated and reassessed, third party review requirements), and will show the points at which key decisions are made.

The methodology of systems mapping will be explored to gain novel insights into the various aspects influencing the planning of a project and how they are connected and to identify possible improvements to the planning process.