The most endangered infrastructure planning programs and approaches to protect

James Norton, PE, is a partner at Talman advisorsa WBENC, WBE/DBE certified consultancy firm for non-residential construction.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which took effect in November 2021, promises to provide $550 billion in investment over five years to improve and expand key assets, including broadband networks. Broadband infrastructure planning at this scale and in the midst of it turbulent market conditions makes early decisions, the stakes are high and it requires a broad and deep understanding of unique projects from concept to construction.

There is also anticipation that new technology and lessons from the past will better position stakeholders to deliver the promised improvements. Progress like GIS mapping technology“dig sometimeinitiatives and consensus-building among stakeholders can pave the way for a more modern approach to infrastructure planning.

But despite the collective optimism, my initial observations from conversations with a wide range of broadband infrastructure stakeholders indicate that the road ahead is likely to be bumpy. Learning curves are already driving delays, creating a pressure cooker for those dealing with rigid legal deadlines and growing public expectations. And if past projects are a barometer of the future, project owners will soon be looking for ways to speed up and force the planning process.

Market pressure jeopardizes innovation and best practices

Even in “normal times,” the reengineering infrastructure planning process is a tricky business. Historically, when timelines got tighter, new best practices were often abandoned for “the way it’s always been done.” disastrous effect. Today, I think many aspects of modern infrastructure planning are once again in real danger of being dropped from ongoing projects.

What can we do not to repeat the same mistakes? The first step is to identify elements at risk. As a starting point, I’ve put together the following list of the most threatened infrastructure planning. Let’s all commit to keeping them on our radar and getting creative about ways to protect them when project pressure points inevitably get bigger.

1. “Dig Once” initiatives

Variations of ever digging have been around for a while and are used to minimize public disturbance and better manage labor and materials. Simply put, dig once is when utilities are installed in the same trench at the same time. On the scale of currently planned infrastructure projects, the efficiency of the effort is enormous.

Given the vast majority of successful excavation initiatives to date, best practices indicate that success is the result of careful upfront planning and ongoing coordination. This requires a specific portion of time in both the project planning phase and at many points during construction. And while the tangible benefits outweigh the time and effort to implement, digging once is still seen by many as a time-consuming step that crosses timelines.

Complicating the coordination of digging further is the often overlooked dynamic of shared sacrifice. As a result, individual stakeholders may have to postpone work for the common good and absorb a short-term loss. These problems can be solved, but it is complex work and again requires time and dedication that are becoming increasingly scarce.

2. Plan technology and resources

One of the most exciting parts of planning this latest infrastructure push is that we have a host of innovative technology at our fingertips. But if project managers don’t devote the time and attention needed to assess and improve the capabilities of all stakeholders, they may be forced to discard the great technical advantage of modern infrastructure planning.

For example, GIS technology combines the best available real-time data from many sources into a single map to give project owners and all stakeholders an idea of ​​broadband needs, challenges, opportunities and impact in communities. It has the potential to revolutionize project planning and management.

But broadband infrastructure project stakeholders are at different points on the technology learning curve. The latest scheduling technology may not be used consistently by every provider. And when it comes to communities lagging behind in broadband, technology is probably the furthest behind, right where it’s needed most.

When there is less time to get everyone up to speed, technology is less likely to be fully utilized. When implementation and training are off the agenda and there is no time to level up skills, the only practical choice is to standardize practices according to the lowest common denominator.

3. Comprehensive planning approach

Looking back at some of the most notorious infrastructure debacles of the past, one dynamic seems to be constantly at play: When there is great pressure to get a project underway, the planning field often narrows to focus exclusively on concentrate on removing obstacles that hinder it. first kick off the ground.

With the best of intentions, project managers and leaders think that if we just start, the pressure will ease and time will be freed up for a more comprehensive approach. But inevitably problems crop up sooner than expected, setting up a series of firefighters to avoid delays in planning, cost overruns and rework, creating a vicious cycle of decision making amid a ‘fog of war’ in which it is on the it is difficult to maintain situational awareness in the long term. as you move from crisis to crisis.

For example, building consensus among stakeholders requires a long-term mindset to develop and sort incentives so that everyone can feel good about their level of investment. The impact of budget cuts to accelerate timelines will be seen almost immediately in the dynamics of project management. As soon as a project starts, the mindset of the stakeholders changes from offensive to defensive, from “how can I contribute to the bigger picture” to “how can I minimize my share of any losses”.

Time is the enemy of all broadband infrastructure projects. There’s just never enough time. But the fact is that we will never have more time than now. Seize this relative advantage, consider which essential planning elements are most at risk, and consider how to place guardrails to protect them.

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