Civil engineering projects represent significant capital investment commitments. Economic appraisal of projects ensures that capital is invested efficiently. We have expertise in capital investment analysis in underground infrastructure projects such that we can ensure that project performance is optimised both technically and financially.

Evaluation of Net Present Value of a project is the most important method that we use. Our special expertise is in including an evaluation of social costs of a project where appropriate. We have developed protocols and cost models for calculating costs of traffic diversion and delay, and of other such social and indirect costs, caused by utility streetworks, and for including them in the economic appraisal of the capital investment.

Our own research for the UK government has shown that social and indirect costs can be higher than the direct capital cost of underground infrastructure works undertaken in streets. Ignoring these cost elements leads to inefficient capital allocation. We can support clients and other stakeholders in ensuring that the real benefits of a project, both in service and during construction, are fully and properly realised. This can have a significant impact on investment decisions, especially in choice of method for certain types of works.