Identify the Problem

        The problem is framed in a form of RFP (Request For Proposal) by an other team. The main problems are: 

• No washrooms near the waiting area;

• Inadequate sinage and bicycle racks;

• Lack of protection from elements. 

        For detailed information, here is the link to original RFP:

 

 

Reframe the Problem 

        After visiting the waiting area, we had the following response:

• There are two washrooms near the dock. The closer one is about 200m away but it is closed. It is a standard public washroom which can accomodate enough passengers even during the peak seasons. We felt that opening this washroom is significantly better than constructing a new one. 

• There are enough signs on the waiting area. The only problem is that they are not obvious enough for the passengers - some of them are located at the edge of the dock. The bicycle racks are sufficient but some of them are too old to be functional. We felt that this problem is easy to fix and does not cause immediate concerns. 

• There is a piano shed and a bus shelter on the dock, but none of them can regulate temperature. We visited the island in March and the temperature reached -10 degree. Waiting ferries in these shelters (the only indoor facilities) is not a wise choice. 

As a result, we paid special attention on constructing a new indoor waiting area. 

 

Generate Solutions

We used group and individual brainstorming techniques to generate divergent solutions. Then converged. Repeated the aforementioned steps until more than five quality ideas were generated. 

 

Test and Select the Best Solution 

We used Pairwise Comparison Matrix, Borda Count and Pugh Chart as an aid to support us select the optimal solution.

 

Make Detailed Design Decision

Detailed design decisions can be found in the slideshow. 

 

Refine the Solution 

During design showcase, we were questioned about the feasibility of solar panels and the size of windows:

• Can solar panels provide enough energy in winter when the sunlight has a smaller angle relative to the ground;

• Since the windows are large, the waiting area may become a greenhouse in summer. If they are opened, does cross-ventilation really reduce the indoor temperature?

These are the areas that we did not dig into too much while doing research. However, they are good starting points to refine our design and make it more credible.