Rapid development of a wireless infrastructure monitoring system

Abstract

Much academic literature exists in the fields of Product Development and Project Management. This thesis uses the framework provided by the literature to analyze a case study development project which the author led from January through August of 2003. The phases of the product development process are investigated as is the scheduling of the project. The case study project was an effort to develop a system to measure minute settlements in an existing London Underground subway tunnel as new tunneling work was taking place below it. The system developed would use wireless technology for its data communication. This development project was a part of a larger initiative to promote low-cost, low-impact wireless monitoring systems for ageing infrastructure. It was funded by the Cambridge-MIT Institute (CMI). Particular attention is paid in this thesis to the role uncertainty played in the development process. The importance of using flexibility in addressing uncertainty is highlighted. The relatively new field of Real Options is employed to frame the flexibility and uncertainty issues in an analytic light.