Sustainability Factors

Sustainability Factors

A sustainable design is a thoughtful design that has two primary purposes; to maximize the value of the built environment and to diminish or remove the adverse effects to the natural surroundings. A sustainable infrastructure design incorporates workable standards that will offer benefits to the environment and the society at large. Therefore, an engineer or planner needs to put this into significant consideration. Some of the factors considered when coming up with the water project include the use of natural resources that were naturally available. In this case, water is the resource in question. Water is usually available underground, and the project came up with pumps to deliver the water to the surface for the locals to utilize. The pumps used for the project were mechanical pumps which do not produce any smoke or other emissions. Therefore, the project was environmentally friendly to enhance its sustainability.

Also, the main aim of the project was to allow the locals to participate in the provision of water for their needs. The community members would pump the water, and therefore, water would always be available because they did not depend on external factors to avail the water for them. By actively involving the community members in the project, they feel valued by their local government. It gives them a sense of belonging and recognition that would help them appreciate the efforts of the local government to make their lives more comfortable. Also, the incorporation helps them acknowledge the project as their own, improving the chances of them taking good care of the equipment and using it responsibly.

Decision-making Process

The decision-making process is a critical component of any project. It is necessary to evaluate all the known facts, including the potential benefits and challenges that the project may offer. Once the stakeholders consider all these facts, they can come up with the best decision that will provide the most benefits. Two main rules govern the decision-making process, namely, the “minimax” decision rule and the “expected value” rule.

The stakeholders managed to decide on the implementation of the water project by utilizing the “expected value” rule. This decision relies on calculations meant to determine the probability and consequences of possible failure. The engineers used equipment with a long cycle meant to serve the locals for many years with very little maintenance. The primary resource in question was water, which was readily available underground and would continue to be available for a significant amount of time. Also, the pumps used were straightforward to use, and anyone in society would use it to get water. Therefore, the project was doubtful to experience any complications or failures in the long run. As a result, the stakeholders effectively made a unanimous decision to carry on with the project.

Tools for Operation Research

Many infrastructure projects require operations research to enhance effective planning and analysis of the project and its different aspects. Different individuals use different models to conduct this type of research. The most commonly used models are mathematical programming models. They are widely used because they help in the identification of problems involving the optimization of such projects. Also, these models help researchers develop possible solutions to these problems. Moreover, these models provide room for comparisons between the proposed project and other alternatives.

For this project, the implementers used a couple of models. One of the models used in the research was the linear programming model. This model is mostly employed when finding ways to distribute a limited resource among a given population. Water was very limited in the locality, and the linear model provided potential ways to optimize the distribution of water among the people. The main aim of the research was to find ways to minimize the cost of setting up the water project while receiving maximum net benefits from the project.

Also, the researchers utilized simulation models for the project. They examined the results of the project, such as improved water availability and access to clean, safe water. These results parallel a group of hypotheses for events and parameters. The analyst ran the simulations several times and learned that the project could potentially offer maximum benefits. Therefore, the project went on to completion.

Considerations

            This water project was not the first project of this type and, therefore, the researchers had some reference points for their analysis. They had to make considerations regarding the ongoing operations and maintenance of the project. From their investigation, they learnt that the project was feasible enough to produce the desired benefits. The cost of operating the project was manageable because upon completing the process of setting it up, much of the operations are dependent on the local population. The only thing required of the local government is regular maintenance activities to ensure that the project runs smoothly.

The maintenance of the project equipment was not a difficult task. The pumps were fully mechanized and did not depend on any electricity or other sources of power. Therefore, the only maintenance required would be ensuring that the movable parts are well lubricated to prevent wear and tear due to friction. Also, the facility needed to be kept clean to ensure that the water was not contaminated, thus endangering the lives of the locals. Regular checks on the pH of the water would be necessary so that any danger signs would be identified early and managed accordingly.