The Problem Assessment stage involves the calculation of the economic, environmental and social costs of the current or emerging problem. In other words, to what extent does (or will) the problem impact upon the goals and objectives?
This appraisal should primarily be in the form of quantified estimates, though qualitative descriptions will also play an important role, since problems may not be quantifiable given the lack of quality information and data. For example, estimates of the cost of traffic congestion on a link or the carbon cost of burning fossil fuels for electricity should be readily available. However, this quantitative evidence is likely to be supplemented by qualitative information, for instance on the burden congestion imposes on family life, or the social inclusion benefits of high speed broadband for the house-bound.