Infrastructure Characteristics Research Articles

An Investigation of Factors Influencing Construction Project Planning in South Sudan’s Public Road Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors influencing project planning in public road projects in South Sudan. It aims to identify key challenges and opportunities, contributing to the development of more effective planning practices to enhance infrastructure development and support economic growth. Materials and Methods: A descriptive research design was employed, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires targeting professionals in public road projects across South Sudan. Secondary data were gathered from existing literature and official reports. Data analysis utilized the Relative Importance Index (RII) to rank factors influencing project planning. Findings: The study identifies intergovernmental factors, resource availability, technological infrastructure, and project-specific characteristics as critical determinants of project planning adequacy. It reveals significant gaps in defining project objectives, realistic scheduling, cost estimation, and risk management. The findings underscore the need for enhanced intergovernmental coordination, investment in skilled labor, and adoption of advanced project management tools to address planning deficiencies. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The research builds on institutional and contingency theories, highlighting the interplay of environmental, organizational, and contextual factors in planning outcomes. For practitioners, it provides actionable insights to improve project planning practices. For policymakers, the study recommends strengthening governance frameworks, standardizing processes, and fostering transparency in planning and implementation.

Analysis of the Development of the Tangkahan Tourism Area

This study aims to examine the Analysis of the Development of the Tangkahan Tourism Area. This type of research uses qualitative descriptive research. The data collection techniques in this study are interviews and observations. Data collection is data obtained from research sources that are still raw and have not been processed by researchers Data reduction, data presentation, the process of drawing conclusions involves the researcher interpreting the data that has been displayed. The methods carried out include comparisons, grouping, making patterns, and triangulating. The results of tourism development research are carried out with the aim of making tourism advanced and developing in a better direction in terms of the quality of facilities, facilitating access anywhere, becoming a desired destination, and making good economic benefits for the surrounding community. Tourism planning and development is not a stand-alone system, but is closely related to other development planning systems intra-sectoral and intra-regional. Then the development of tourist destinations requires good and appropriate planning techniques. The development technique must combine several aspects to support the success of tourism. These aspects are accessibility aspects (transportation and marketing channels), characteristics of tourism infrastructure, level of social interaction, linkage/compatibility with other sectors, resilience to tourism impacts, level of resistance of local communities, and so on.

Инженерно-геодезические изыскания при строительстве гидроэлектростанций

The use of new technologies to create a modern topographic base in order to provide drinking water to settlements of the Turkestan region with an area of 600 hectares is substantiated. Modern methods make it possible to comprehensively solve the main tasks when creating a modern topographic basis for a feasibility study for the construction of a group pipeline with a cascade of hydroelectric power plants. During the work on the object, the natural and infrastructural features of the area were taken into account, as well as the locality of the sections of this project, the work was carried out by ground and aerial photogrammetric method. To solve this problem, the Stonex S800 dual-frequency GPS receiver and the DJI Fantom 4 RTK/PPK unmanned aerial vehicle were used. Total stations of the Leica TS06 company were also used to thicken and equalize the newly laid reference points. The development and implementation of new technologies for the production of geodetic works, supported by an appropriate level of automation, are always carried out in order to reduce the time frame for data collection and processing. Agisoft Fotoscan software is a standalone software product that is designed to perform photogrammetric processing of digital images and generates 3D spatial data for use in GIS applications.

Туристско-рекреационное районирование Чеченской Республики

On the basis of a comprehensive study, the tourism and recreation zoning of the territory of the Chechen Republic was carried out, taking into account the peculiarities of its geographical location, landscape structure, tourist and recreational potential, transport infrastructure and spatial features of the region's recreational network. The methods of analysis, synthesis, content analysis, statistical, comparative and cartographic methods were used in the work. The map-scheme of the proposed zoning was developed using CorelDRAW. For each tourist and recreational district the most significant objects of tourism and recreation are identified and the priority directions of tourism and recreation industry development are substantiated. Minimal diversity of tourist and recreational resources and weak recreational development is found in the lowland (semi-desert) district. Among the promising types of tourism there are scientific-cognitive, sports (fishing and hunting) and health tourism. The widest range of promising types of tourism in the region is identified in the mountainous and high-mountainous areas characterized by high landscape and biological diversity. These include scientific and cognitive, cultural and historical, ethno-cultural, geological, extreme, sports (skiing, speleotourism, rafting, hunting, photo-hunting), health-improving (terrenekur), therapeutic (climatotherapy, phytotherapy) and others. Among the limiting factors of tourism development in these areas is low transport accessibility.

Prioritizing Pathways Based on Satisfaction of Individuals Using Mobility Aids with Urban Road Infrastructure—Application of FSE and PROMETHEE II in Saudi Arabia

The convenience of commuting for individuals using mobility aids (IMAs) depends on various features of urban road infrastructure. The present research selected different pathways based on the relevance and convenience of IMAs in three regions of Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Qassim, and Hail. A survey questionnaire was developed to evaluate the satisfaction of IMAs with four critical criteria of road infrastructure, including travel distance, slope, availability of footpaths, and number of junctions, using a 5-point Likert scale from very low to very high. A sufficient sample size of this exceptional proportion of the population from different genders, age groups, education levels, employment status, number of disability years, and types of mobility aid participated in the survey. The main reasons for dissatisfaction of more than 50% of the participants were inadequate infrastructure design of entrances to public facilities, pedestrian crossings, and junctions. Social stigma and inadequate assistive technology were also highlighted by around 20% of the participants. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation identified length, slope, and footpaths along the pathway as the most critical features based on the subjective opinion of the participants, of which around 65% have been using artificial limbs or manual wheelchairs. PROMETHEE II aggregated the importance of weights estimated by the participants’ opinion and performance scores of infrastructure features to effectively rank ten pathways in three major cities of the selected regions, using partial and complete outranking. The framework developed in the present study helps concerned organizations to comply with the Vision 2030 goal of a vibrant society in Saudi Arabia by identifying critical pathways and improving infrastructure design to ensure safety, convenience, and satisfaction for IMAs.

The Incremental Growth of Data Infrastructure in Ecology (1980-2020).

After decades of growth, a research community's network information system and data repository were transformed to become a national data management office and a major element of data infrastructure for ecology and the environmental sciences. Developing functional data infrastructures is key to the support of ongoing Open Science and Open Data efforts. This example of data infrastructure growth contrasts with the top-down development typical of many digital initiatives. The trajectory of this network information system evolved within a collaborative, long-term ecological research community. This particular community is funded to conduct ecological research while collective data management is also carried out across its geographically dispersed study sites. From this longitudinal ethnography, we describe an Incremental Growth Model that includes a sequence of six relatively stable phases where each phase is initiated by a rapid response to a major pivotal event. Exploring these phases and the roles of data workers provides insight into major characteristics of digital growth. Further, a transformation in assumptions about data management is reported for each phase. Investigating the growth of a community information system over four decades as it becomes data infrastructure reveals details of its social, technical, and institutional dynamics. In addition to addressing how digital data infrastructure characteristics change, this study also considers when the growth of data infrastructure begins.

Integration of WebODM Platform as Photogrammetry Cloud Processing and GeoNode as Corporate Spatial Data Infrastructure to Support the Acceleration of Geospatial Data Communication Flow in PT. Waskita Karya Tbk.

Abstract This research explores the integration of two platforms, namely WebODM and GeoNode, with Geoserver as its connecting platform. This platform integration is a solution to support the acceleration of geospatial data communication flow in PT. Waskita Karya Tbk. The main objective of the research is to combine the advantages of Photogrammetry Cloud Processing owned by WebODM with the Spatial Data Infrastructure features owned by GeoNode, thus creating an efficient and integrated system for processing and storing geospatial data. The research methodology involves user needs analysis, system integration development, as well as testing and performance evaluation of the implemented system. The research results indicate that the integration of WebODM and GeoNode has successfully created an environment that allows users to easily perform cloud-based photogrammetry processes and efficiently store and share geospatial data. With this system, PT. Waskita Karya can improve its operational performance in terms of geospatial data processing and distribution, as well as accelerate communication flow between various involved units. The implication of this research is that platform integration like this can be an effective solution for companies managing geospatial data on a large scale.

Energy Efficiency Improvement on Railway Lines: An Overview

ABSTRACTGreater efficiency in the consumption of energy in the transport sector would mean lower emissions of CO2 and other gases and particles, which contribute to climate change. One of the ways to reduce the impact that the transport sector has on climate change turns out to be the achievement of services with a more efficient consumption of energy per passenger‐km or t‐km transported. Energy consumption has been an ongoing concern in the railway sector practically since its inception. There has always been an interest in finding solutions to reduce it, such as improvements in rolling stock design and the use of regenerative braking which will not be analyzed in this article, and optimal train movement, operation and timetabling, and infrastructure design. This article analyses the existing methodologies that allow the improvement of energy efficiency, and we verified that the developed studies focus more on LRT and Metro systems, and existing infrastructures, namely Urban Rail Transit, characterized by high levels of traffic and energy consumption. However, regarding the analysis of conventional railway infrastructure characteristics and design from an energy efficiency point of view, we found that less has been done relative to strategies to improve energy efficiency.

An Autotuning Hybrid Method with Bayesian Optimization for Road Edge Extraction in Highway Systems from Point Clouds

In transportation infrastructure systems, feature images and spatial characteristics are generally utilized as complementary elements derived from point clouds for road edge extraction, but the involvement of one or more hyperparameters in each makes the extraction complicated. This study proposes an autotuning hybrid method with Bayesian optimization for road edge extraction in highway systems. The hybrid method combines the strengths of 2D feature images and 3D spatial characteristics while also automatically tuning the hyperparameter combination using Bayesian optimization. The hyperparameters encompass high and low pixel gradient thresholds, neighborhood radius, and normal vector threshold. Later, the point cloud dataset of national highways in Henan Province, China, is taken as the case study to evaluate the performance of the proposed method against three benchmark methods in two typical road scenarios: straight and curved edges. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the benchmarks in detection quality and accuracy. It can serve as a decision-making tool to complement traditional manual road surveying, enabling efficient and automated road edge extraction in highway systems.

Designing and improving the efficiency of placement of logistics infrastructure for storage, distribution and trade of agri-food products

Purpose: The article considers a methodological approach to the formation and determination of potential locations of logistics infrastructure: warehouse storage facilities, wholesale distribution centers for storage, marketing and trade of agro-food products.Design/methodology/approach: A study of 204 objects - administrative districts and cities of Kazakhstan, where the production, storage, distribution and trade of agri-food products is carried out. The standardization of indicators, cluster, correlation-regression, factor analysis was carried out, the method of ranking and center of gravity.Findings: At the first stage of the study, potential locations of distribution centers of agricultural products were identified based on the proposed criteria. Based on factor analysis, new factors have been formed in order to determine the criteria for choosing the location of the logistics infrastructure. Cluster analysis made it possible to differentiate territories and determine the characteristics of the logistics infrastructure for their placement, depending on their specialization. At the second stage, the potential locations of logistics infrastructure and the geographical location of objects on the territory of administrative-territorial units were clarified. At the third stage, with the help of weighting coefficients and an integral indicator of the attractiveness of the location of logistics infrastructures, the service area of the logistics infrastructure of storage, sales and trade is determined in accordance with potential locations on the territory. The proposed approach, in contrast to the existing ones, takes into account the peculiarities of the functioning of the storage, marketing and trade infrastructure and links these facilities with transport and warehouse availability in the regions.Research limitations/implications: The study is aimed at complementing existing approaches and methods for determining the location of logistics infrastructure facilities with a more detailed account of the specialization of districts and the economic potential of regions.Practical implications: The conclusions allow us to use different criteria when determining the location of logistics infrastructures depending on their purpose. They also provide important information in the process of designing logistics infrastructure, conducting a differentiated investment policy during their construction and operation.Originality: In this article, a new point of view is given on the choice of criteria for the placement and determination of the number of logistics infrastructure, based on their functional purpose, specialization of districts and the potential of regions, which increase their efficiency.

Physical activity habits among members of the Athens Medical Society in Greece

Abstract Introduction Benefits of regular physical activity and exercise are well documented. Healthcare workers play a crucial role in counseling and appropriately referring their patients to adopt physical activity. However, doctors’ exercise habits range between different medical specialties and health service infrastructure. Purpose In this study, we assess physicians’ exercise performance according to the recommendations of 2020 ESC Guidelines. Methods The population of this cross-sectional study comprised 742 physicians of the Athens Medical Society (AMS), Greece. The study instrument was a self-administered questionnaire mailed in October 2023 to investigate physicians’ exercise habits, baseline characteristics of population, specialty, and health service infrastructure [Greek National Healthcare System (GNHS) or Private Practice (PP)]. European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines recommend at least 150 min/week of moderate-intensity exercise in all healthy adults. Subjects were divided in two groups according to their compliance to ESC Guidelines: 1. Moderate-intensity endurance exercise training per week ≥ 150 min (Group A); 2. Moderate-intensity endurance exercise training per week <150 min (Group B). Results The recommended exercise training per week goal is achieved by the majority of AMS members (53.4%) with an estimated mean exercise endurance training time of 240 ± 285 minutes. Between Group A and Group B there was no difference in age (50±12years vs. 50±13years, p=0.73), whereas there was significant difference in male sex prevalence (58% vs. 43%, p <0.001), in Body Mass Index (24.7 ± 3.8 kg/m2 vs. 26.2 ± 4.7 kg/m2, p <0.001), in Smoking habits (17.4% vs. 23.5%, p=0.04), in diabetes mellitus incidence (6.6% vs. 11.8%, p= 0.01) and in the use of activity monitoring wearables (45.2% vs. 29.8%, p<0.001). Interestingly, there was significant difference between GNHS and PP doctors representation in Group A and B with more doctors in the PP categorized in the Group A (p=0.008) (Figure 1). Importantly, logistic regression analysis revealed that even after adjustment for the aforementioned confounders there was significant under-representation of the GNHS in the Group A or otherwise doctors in the GNHS have 33% decrease odds of achieving the recommended exercise training per week (Odds Ratio: 0.676, 95%CI 0.484, 0.943, p=0.02) (Table 1). Conclusion A significant proportion of the AMS members follows the recommended ESC guidelines for minimum exercise training per week. Several factors affect their adherence to exercise time recommendation. Interestingly, AMS doctors working on the GNHS independently of other factors are less adherent to exercise recommendations. These findings emphasize the need to strengthen prevention strategies to AMS.

The physician-AI relationship: partnering for precision medicine via clinical decision support

Abstract Background Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) can enhance physician decision-making, but successful adoption depends on positive user attitudes. Understanding Israeli physicians’ attitudes toward CDSSs is crucial for overcoming implementation barriers and refining training. Methods Semi-structured interviews explored knowledge, experiences, perceived benefits/drawbacks, and potential barriers/facilitators to CDSS use among 25 Israeli physicians across specialties, roles, settings, and experience levels selected via stratified sampling. Individual 45-minute video interviews were conducted in January-July 2023. Results Familiarity and CDSS experience varied substantially across medical specialties. While risk calculators, information systems, and expert systems disseminating contemporary research insights are widespread, AI-based system adoption is relatively low outside radiology. Physicians expressed positive attitudes, recognizing CDSSs’ potential to enhance clinical work, reduce errors, and alleviate burdens. However, concerns included AI systems’ impact on workload, patient relationships, skill erosion, and overreliance. Key implementation barriers involved technological infrastructure, organizational processes, physician perceptions, and system features. Facilitating factors included tailored design, focused training, continuous accuracy/reliability validation, and clear autonomy/liability guidelines. Conclusions Addressing key concerns around transparency, trustworthiness and responsible use is crucial for AI-CDSS to fulfill its promise of enhancing quality and outcomes. Insights from Israeli clinicians provide guidance on priorities like transparency of data and algorithms as well as ensuring AI behaves ethically. Collaboration among technology designers, healthcare professionals and stakeholders can help develop systems that physicians trust to improve care while safeguarding patients. Ongoing evaluation is also needed to optimize AI-CDSS over time. Key messages • Understanding physician attitudes is key to overcoming barriers to clinical decision support system adoption and optimizing training protocols. • Addressing transparency, trustworthiness, and ethical considerations around AI clinical decision support systems is crucial for enhancing quality care.

What turns a bicycle street into a street for cyclists? A multimodal study on subjective safety of infrastructure measures on bicycle streets using an approach in virtual reality

In an increasingly urban and sustainable transportation-focused world, cycling emerges as a key environmentally friendly and health-promoting mode of travel. This paper addresses the gap in understanding cyclists' subjective safety, particularly in relation to bicycle streets in Germany. Utilizing a multimodal approach, two studies were conducted: an online questionnaire (Study I) and a Virtual Reality (VR) evaluation (Study II), focusing on the Reichenhainer Straße in Chemnitz. Study I involved N = 182 participants who regularly used the bicycle street. The questionnaire covered various aspects including mobility behavior, cycling experience, and subjective safety, using a 6-point Likert scale. Infrastructure characteristics were represented through images. Results showed that participants generally felt safe on the bicycle street, with key factors being the lane width and restrictions on motorized traffic. Study II, a pioneering effort in using VR and stereoscopic 360° images for evaluating cycling infrastructure safety, involved N = 32 participants. It provided a realistic evaluation of infrastructure elements and their impact on perceived safety. The study revealed significant differences in safety ratings based on the presence of cars and cyclists' experience levels. The use of VR allowed for a focused examination of infrastructure characteristics and their perceived safety, highlighting potential areas for improvement. Both studies demonstrated consistent results, underscoring the subjective safety of the Reichenhainer Straße, which was perceived as safer than the average bike-accessible infrastructure in Chemnitz. The VR method proved effective for detailed evaluation of subjective safety, independent of participants' familiarity with the specific infrastructure. This approach offers a structured, controlled, and resource-efficient way to evaluate cycling infrastructure under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, the findings align with existing literature and emphasize the importance of lane width and reduced motorized traffic for cyclists' safety. The innovative VR method, while still developing, offers promising implications for future citizen participation initiatives and infrastructure planning projects, enabling efficient post-completion evaluations of subjective safety. Such practices are rare in German planning offices, highlighting the paper's contribution to enhancing urban cycling infrastructure planning and safety assessment.

The Returns of Investment on Infrastructure in China's Urban Areas: A Comprehensive Analysis

With economic globalisation accelerating, more and more countries and regions have begun to pay attention to infrastructure development. Infrastructure is an important support for national development, including in the areas of energy, transport and telecommunications. However, the investment and return mechanisms of infrastructure projects often present significant challenges. Due to the long-term and high-risk nature of infrastructure projects, the development and implementation of their business models and return mechanisms require special analyses. Based on the discussion of the characteristics of environmental infrastructure, this paper combines the current investment models of environmental infrastructure projects to sort out and summarise the situation of project return mechanisms in practice.

Assessing the Inner Setting among Massachusetts Community Health Centers: Opportunities for Multilevel Investigation and Expansion of Influences on Health Equity.

Implementation science increasingly aims to improve equity in delivery of evidence-based interventions. It is important to expand the conceptualization of the inner setting, organizations like community health centers where interventions are put into place, accordingly. Taking a comprehensive, partnered approach to measuring the inner setting among a network of community health centers engaged in implementation research ensures assessment of the variability among sites and generates centralized contextual data that can be applied across studies. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among staff (n = 63) from 12 community health centers in Massachusetts engaged in research at the Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control Equity. The survey assessed inner setting constructs from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, including learning climate, leadership engagement, available resources, and implementation demands/stress using validated measures. Additional equity-focused inner setting items included structural characteristics of the work infrastructure and language access services. Descriptive statistics examined differences by staff role and health center. Staff rated learning climate (mean = 3.98) and leadership engagement (mean = 3.67) positively, while available resources (mean = 2.78) had the lowest rating, particularly staffing resources. Clinical staff rated the inner context lowest compared to other roles. Most centers provided tuition assistance and all reported supportive human resources benefits for caregiving, while fewer offered formal mentorship or affinity groups. Most community health centers reported written materials are routinely provided to patients in languages other than English and interpreter services were most common in Spanish, Vietnamese, and Portuguese. This study provides a baseline assessment of the inner setting within Massachusetts community health centers. Periodic follow-up surveys will monitor changes over time. Data can be used in future analyses to explore how inner setting characteristics influence implementation outcomes and impact equitable translation of evidence-based interventions into practice.

Big Data Analytics in Gaza's Higher Education: Identifying and Addressing Key Implementation Barriers

This research provides an in-depth investigation into the adoption of Big Data Analytics (BDA) technology in higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Gaza Strip, along with a detailed analysis of the barriers to its implementation. Using a quantitative research methodology, data was collected from 305 participants. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to identify key barriers to BDA, including challenges related to infrastructure, security, resources, knowledge, and data characteristics. The study found that financial constraints, access pricing and conditions, significant investment costs, lack of BDA expertise, operational expenses, experience sharing, and resource development are the main barriers to BDA adoption. Additionally, the study shows that 65.3% of HEIs are using BDA technology, with a BDA readiness score of 66.68%. Regression analysis indicates that barriers related to security, finances, data characteristics, skills, and infrastructure negatively impact BDA practice and readiness. Based on these findings, proactive measures are recommended to address these barriers in the Gaza Strip. These measures include developing government initiatives, upgrading IT infrastructure, enhancing BDA skills, and promoting BDA technology awareness. The research advocates for further exploration of the specific challenges and opportunities faced by local universities and a deeper investigation into the potential benefits of BDA adoption. Overcoming these obstacles and fostering BDA integration could enhance data analysis capabilities, contributing to the growth and competitive strength of the Gaza Strip.

Research on energy saving effect of spatial correlation network of digital infrastructure: based on the analysis of network centrality.

Accurately portraying the spatially linked network characteristics of digital infrastructure and exploring its energy-saving effects are highly valuable for enhancing the synergy in digital infrastructure development and expanding its network spillover effects on energy conservation. This paper uses panel data at the city level in China and employs a modified gravity model to calculate the centrality of digital infrastructure spatial correlation network nodes. Based on this, an econometric model is constructed, incorporating variables such as digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality and urban green total factor energy efficiency. The model is used to analyze the effects and transmission paths of digital infrastructure network node centrality on urban green total factor energy efficiency. The analysis yields the following conclusions: (1) Digital infrastructure spatial correlation network node centrality significantly improves urban green total factor energy efficiency, with considerable variability due to city geographic location, city scale, and city attributes. (2) Nonlinear testing results indicate that as digital infrastructure construction advances, its impact on urban green total factor energy efficiency shifts from inhibitory to promotional. (3) The impact mechanism shows that digital infrastructure node centrality enhances urban green total factor energy efficiency through green technology innovation. Additionally, it promotes advanced industrial structures and reduces capital mismatch, further influencing energy efficiency. (4) Digital infrastructure node centrality not only boosts urban green total factor energy efficiency but also facilitates regional convergence, increasing the convergence rate from 0.094 to 0.170%. The findings of the research offer policy guidance for the government on advancing digital transformation initiatives and enhancing energy efficiency.

Energy Service Security for Public Health Resilience: Perception and Concerns in Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan☆

AbstractThe Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan includes six rural counties and one Tribal Nation. The region is characterized by long winters, legacies of the extractive mining economy, and the infrastructural features of extreme rurality, including aging housing and low health service density. The region also faces exceptionally high electricity prices. There is limited research on the public health implications of energy service disruption in rural regions resulting from the increasing intensity and frequency of weather events caused by climate change. This article presents research findings examining the readiness of health facilities in this area to manage the rising intensity, severity, and frequency of severe weather that could disrupt energy services. The study also considers how this knowledge can guide decision‐making to improve energy service access and maintain resilient public health services in the region. This exploratory study utilized a qualitative approach that combines semi‐structured interviews with public health stakeholders and a short survey to triangulate the findings from health facilities. Given the pivotal role of dependable energy services in community health, these findings underscore the community's perception of self‐reliance as both an asset and a hurdle. This perception aligns with the realities of rural communities at the “end of the line” regarding critical infrastructure, which also serves as a formidable barrier to social organization and infrastructure access during energy service disruptions that can severely impact public health.

Spatial-temporal characteristics of port infrastructures on sulfur-oxide concentrations of coastal port in China

Port infrastructure is an important guarantee to support the development of shipping trade and a main link to connect shipping routes, where its construction and expansion promote economic progress whereas exacerbating regional pollution. Based on the panel data of 18 above-scale coastal ports in China from 2005 to 2020, the spatial characteristics and correlation of sulfur-oxide (SOX) concentrations are first analyzed, then the spatial Durbin model (SDM) is established to evaluate the extent of port infrastructure's impact on the concentrations, further the intermediation effects of three dimensions on the concentrations are explored. From the outcome, the influences of port infrastructures on the SOX concentrations are from decreasing the SOX concentrations through improving the operational efficiencies and increasing the SOX concentrations by adding the operational equipment, which also shows significant spatial spillover effects. In addition, the mechanical dimension as a mediation makes the trade dimension have an indirect effect on the SOX concentrations. This paper employs a spatial econometric model to analyze panel data from 18 coastal ports and ports of higher tiers in China, spanning from 2005 to 2020. It uncovers the intricate mechanism by which port infrastructure influences SOX concentration, thus providing a scientific foundation and decision support for environmental protection and sustainable port development.

Evolutionary game analysis of carbon emission reduction in transportation infrastructure construction under dual regulation

Under the dual regulation of government intervention and environmental constraints, user demand, low-carbon awareness, and the willingness of construction enterprise to reduce carbon emissions are crucial to the realization of low-carbon transportation infrastructure construction. Basing on prospect theory, this paper constructs an evolutionary game model for the government, construction enterprise, and user, explores the stabilization of the three-game players' strategy choices, and discusses the influence of key parameters on the behavior evolution of relevant players through simulation analysis. The results indicate that: the regulatory cost when the government adopts incentives or no incentives is an important factor affecting the strategy choice. The enhancement of incentives by the government can promote the construction of enterprise and the selection of low-carbon transportation infrastructure by user. However, when the benefit of government credibility outweighs the incremental cost of household subsidies, carbon subsidies, and regulation, the government changes its strategy and no longer adopts encouraging strategy. Improving benefits of build low-carbon transportation infrastructure reducing incremental costs, setting a ladder carbon tax rate, increasing carbon tax rate for traditional construction, and decreasing for low-carbon construction is an effective approach to stimulate enterprise to construct low-carbon transportation infrastructure. The user's choice of low-carbon transportation infrastructure strategy is positively correlated with the subsidy received and is less affected by environmental benefits. And the construction enterprise's strategy choice hasn't been influenced by user, which is related to the public service characteristics of transportation infrastructure.