Planning your Project and Writing the Proposal

Remember, criteria are tools that measure the quality of solutions.  Standard categories of evaluation criteria: Time to implement Time to implement Cost Cost Size/Weight/Other physical aspects Size/Weight/Other physical aspects Adaptability/Compatibility Adaptability/Compatibility Efficiency Efficiency

Criteria in your Proposal  In your proposal, criteria should be mentioned in “Summary” and “Scope of Project” sections.  Criteria should be defined in “Solution Criteria.” Be massively specific. Be massively specific.  In “Proposed Procedure,” criteria are woven into the tasks and mapped to sources of information. Explain how you will use criteria as evaluators.

Solution Criteria Solution Criteria The alternative solutions will be evaluated according to the criteria outlined below. These criteria are listed in order of priority, from highest to lowest, as designated by the client. Effectiveness in Reducing Noise Transmission. The client has asked that we determine an appropriate threshold for noise transmission. We will measure each solution in terms of noise reduction (NR), a quantifiable term expressed as a function (f) of three items: the transmission loss (TL) of a barrier (the ratio of sound reradiated by the barrier to the sound absorbed by it, in decibels), the area of the barrier (AB), and the ability of the receiving room to absorb sound (AR). Mathematically, this is expressed as NR = f(TL,AB,AR). Solution Criteria

Effectiveness and Efficiency need specific definitions.  Effectiveness is the measure of how well the method or product or mechanism solves the problem. E.g., a water-treatment method removes 99% of contaminants of concern. E.g., a water-treatment method removes 99% of contaminants of concern.  Efficiency is usually a ratio of effectiveness to time or speed.  Cost-effectiveness is a ratio of effectiveness to cost.

So...  If you cannot quantify effectiveness you cannot measure efficiency.  Effectiveness could be defined in a qualitative rather than strictly quantitative way, but in that case don’t use the term, “efficiency.” E.g., effectiveness of a bus shelter could be how well the shelter prevents rain from entering the structure. E.g., effectiveness of a bus shelter could be how well the shelter prevents rain from entering the structure. This is not efficiency.This is not efficiency.

Measuring effectiveness and efficiency of a bio filter for treating water  Effectiveness = % removal of contaminants  Contact time = Time it takes water to move through the filter.  Efficiency = effectiveness (% removal) contact time Efficiency may not be best goal; greater effectiveness (e.g., removing more contaminants) may be more important.

Feasibility studies  If you are examining the feasibility of one possible solution/improvement, you must do a cost-benefit cost analysis.  Cost-benefit analysis is a ratio of measured benefits to cost.  Deciding on desired and benefits and coming up with a way to quantify those – that’s the trick of a feasibility study. Example: Is it feasible to collect rainwater from the roof of the Mason County courthouse? Example: Is it feasible to collect rainwater from the roof of the Mason County courthouse?

Evaluating designs  If you are evaluating designs as possible solutions, you must present the designs in the proposal.  Sometimes designing is a necessary part of defining your specific solution (s). Examples: Examples: Solar array on roof must be designed before cost can be calculated.Solar array on roof must be designed before cost can be calculated. Rainwater collection system must be designed before cost and benefits can be measured.Rainwater collection system must be designed before cost and benefits can be measured.

Definitions  Constraints: legal and regulatory requirements Research these first Research these first  Criteria: ways of comparing and measuring possible solution (s)  Scope: areas of your investigation Based on the possible solutions you will investigate and the criteria you have chosen to measure and compare those solutions Based on the possible solutions you will investigate and the criteria you have chosen to measure and compare those solutions  Limitations: what you will not research... but might be expected to. You may not have any. You may not have any.