Decision making for sustainable public works infrastructure: Triple bottom line approach using life-cycle costs, risk assessment, and social and environmental impact analysis

Life Cycle Cost Analysis enables decision-makers to assess the long-term financial effects of project alternatives from design to decommissioning.

Learn to evaluate all relevant costs that will occur during a facility's lifetime, including initial construction, O&M and direct and indirect social and environmental impacts. It is important that decision-makers understand the risks associated with each alternative, and how alternatives affect the long-term sustainability of the organization (the triple bottom line of social, environmental, and economic).

Understanding these elements can help your agency develop improved business cases for projects, prioritize capital expenditures, make policies consistent and reduce negative impacts. It promotes decision-making for the long term to improve the entire public works system. It also demonstrates your professionalism and commitment to good stewardship by making the decision-making process more transparent and efficient.

After viewing this program, participants will be better able to:
 

• Communicate the key features that should be considered in making decisions about public works capital investments.
• Apply cost-based risk analysis to water main replacement planning
• Evaluate the life cycle of a vehicle