Design of an Infrastructure Project Using a Point-Based Methodology

Abstract

Our experience in engineering education and practice indicates that methodologies for architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) design management are characterized only to a limited extent. In domains other than AEC such methodologies are well-established and contribute to improving design performance. A step towards advancing AEC design management is to characterize design practices and explore the methodologies on which they may be based. In this vein, the authors describe a design practice observed while participating in the development of a design-build-operate-and-maintain (DBOM) proposal for an infrastructure megaproject. The development team’s design process followed a point-based methodology, i.e., early selection from a small set of design alternatives. The team was structured as a three-party joint venture, but, as observed, integration of efforts and collaboration among its design engineers and contractors were difficult and infrequent. The point-based design methodology used showed limitations. The authors counterpose methodologies including select-and-reuse or set-based design. Especially the latter is worth adopting in our AEC industry because it has resulted in superior design performance in other domains. By characterizing and documenting a design management methodology used in practice and counterposing alternatives, the authors aim to spur discussion on the teaching and practical application of AEC design management methodologies.