Built Environment Process Map

as the sustainable development goals. However, a key impediment to achieving transformation is underdeveloped understandings of how key actors and sectors within the built environment work together to achieve goals. We developed this process map to describe: the key processes involved in producing the built environment across its life stages; key sectors of the built environment, their key actors, and the activities coordinated between them.

The ‘built environment process map’ highlights a non-linear process of the creation of the built environment (in a horse-shoe shape). The horseshoe shape was chosen (as opposed to a full circle) because the renewal/recovery/decommissioning stage often leads into the initiation of a new project rather than the same cycle (in the form of connected loops). With the addition of a separate life stage for the ‘costing and approvals’ process, the diagram outlines eight key stages within the creation of the built environment that are demarcated by a shift in the actors involved, the roles they adopt, and the influence they have. The internal connections between stages represent the non-linear and iterative nature of the process, where although some projects may neatly follow a linear progression through the stages, more often it is a process with numerous feedback loops, short circuits and iterations. The blending of colours throughout the life stages captures the feedback from the expert reference group, that although there are clear stages of activity, the transition between stages can be blurred as many of the stakeholders take on multiple roles. For example, the start and end point of the design stage is often blurred, as designing may begin in the project initiation stage, and continue all the way through to the construction phase as ideas are tested, evaluated and revisited while being built, following an experimental approach to design. The circles outside each life-stage indicates the primary actors involved in decision-making and triggering actions during that stage (but are not exclusive), while the colour corresponds to the built environment sector that they are associated with. Outside of this, the blue outer ring represents other influences and influencers across the entire built environment process, ranging from the inputs of community and Traditional Owners, through to politics, regulation and availability of finance. These are not viewed as inconsequential as they can have profound impacts in shaping the built environment. However, this influence is largely viewed as part of the underlying socio-economic system in which the built environment is being created. As such, their role and influence are part of a much larger realm of secondary considerations. Finally, at the outer extents of the diagram, a brief description of the types of activities within each life stage is shown (indicated with diamond bullet points). The activities listed are not exhaustive.