Balancing Present and Future Needs

Accommodating future needs is an important consideration for a well-planned pipeline system because of the long-term lifecycles of the infrastructure. However, this process can also result in overdesign with respect to the present. Technology historians have identified several dynamics that are involved in the resolution of this tension between present and future needs. Using these dynamics, this paper proposes an analytical methodology to defensibly balance them. The goal of the approach is to set the vision for the pipeline infrastructure plan in a way that makes the best long-term use of available funding. To quantify this, present worth analysis is used to scrutinize preferred design approaches against other alternatives. The output seeks to identify hidden lifecycle costs from future needs that may warrant approach reconsideration. The methodology is applied to critique past decisions in the design of wastewater collection systems. In addition, it is presented as a viable tool to assist with sustainable decision-making.