Investigation of a systems-based design and planning approach to a facilities development project

This paper describes a new approach to project design and planning that has been developed at Imperial College London (UK). The management framework is based on the use of systems engineering methodologies and has been applied to the design and planning stages for a new high pressure research facility being established at Imperial College. The model includes integrated system design, systems architecture, systems integration and system-of-systems frames that are supported by the enterprise and systems theory levels. Application of the model to the case study investigation has revealed how different systems techniques can be utilized as part of an overall management approach, thereby reducing technical uncertainties in the crucial early planning stages of engineering projects.