ISIS Educational Module 7: An Introduction to Life Cycle Engineering & Costing for Innovative Infrastructure
ISIS Educational Module 7: An Introduction to Life Cycle Engineering & Costing for Innovative Infrastructure.
This educational module introduces the principles and applications of Life Cycle Engineering and Costing (LCE&C) as a decision-making framework for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and eventual replacement of civil infrastructure. The module emphasizes that engineering decisions should not be based solely on initial construction costs, but rather on the total cost of ownership over a structure’s entire service life, including inspection, maintenance, repair, user impacts, and end-of-life costs. It explains how LCE&C integrates engineering design, economic analysis, and decision analysis to support sustainable, cost-effective infrastructure management and demonstrates how this approach can justify the use of innovative technologies whose higher initial costs are often offset by lower long-term costs and improved performance.
The module presents the fundamental concepts of life cycle costing, including cost breakdown structures, discounting, sensitivity analysis, risk assessment, asset management, and decision-making under uncertainty. Practical examples involving bridge deck systems illustrate how alternative designs can be evaluated on the basis of long-term performance and cost rather than first cost alone. Through these case studies, students gain an understanding of how engineers can compare competing solutions, assess future maintenance and rehabilitation requirements, and make informed decisions that maximize value throughout the infrastructure life cycle. The module is intended to provide undergraduate students and young professionals with an appreciation of life cycle thinking and to encourage the application of LCE&C principles in the development of resilient, sustainable, and economically efficient infrastructure systems.
In alignment with the Academy’s mission, the module also serves as a resource for educating, training, and mentoring the next generation of engineers in the art and science of infrastructure stewardship. By linking technical performance, economics, risk, sustainability, and asset management, it promotes a holistic approach to infrastructure decision-making and supports the development of professionals capable of leading the future of intelligent and sustainable civil infrastructure.