Transportation Infrastructure Construction Research Articles

The Influence and Mechanism of Digital Village Construction on the Urban–Rural Income Gap under the Goal of Common Prosperity

Digital village construction is not only a vital component of the digital China strategy but also a crucial measure by which to realize common prosperity. This study theoretically elaborates the influence of digital village construction on the urban–rural income gap (URIG) and its mechanism and empirically tests it by using a panel fixed-effect model, a mediating-effect model, and a moderating-effect model based on the provincial data of major producing areas from 2011 to 2020. The results show that digital village construction can significantly narrow the URIG, and rural industry revitalization is a vital channel for digital village construction in driving the decline of the URIG. The construction of transportation infrastructure can significantly enhance the inhibition effect of digital village construction on the URIG. Moreover, there is a human capital threshold for the impact of digital village construction on the URIG; after crossing the threshold, digital village construction better suppresses the URIG. So, the government should increase the financial support and technical support for digital village construction, improving the rural production conditions and industrial development environment and establishing a rural digital talent cultivation mechanism so as to achieve the goal of common prosperity.

Construction of transportation infrastructure and the mixed ownership reform of state-owned enterprises: based on the perspective of high-speed rail opening

ABSTRACT We study the impact of transportation infrastructure construction on the degree of mixed-ownership reform of local state-owned enterprises. We find that the opening of high-speed rail can significantly promote the mixed ownership reform process of local state-owned enterprises. Mechanism testing shows that the opening of high-speed rail can promote inter-regional market integration and reduce the transaction costs of potential private investors participating in mixed-ownership reform, and improve the operational activities and management characteristics of state-owned enterprises, and strengthen the intrinsic motivations of potential private investors to participate in mixed-ownership reform, thereby having a positive impact on the degree of mixed-ownership reform of local state-owned enterprises. Further research finds that the above-mentioned effects are sustain-able and more obvious among local state-owned enterprises and state-owned enterprises in competitive industries with weak government influence, which can ultimately improve the capital market value and labour productivity of state-owned enterprises.

Do Factor Misallocations Affect Food Security? Evidence from China

The reasonable allocation of grain production factors is of vital importance to food security and agricultural development. To assess the impact of agricultural factor misallocation on food security, this paper, based on the panel data from China spanning from 2005 to 2019, conducted a comprehensive evaluation of agricultural factor misallocation and food security coefficients across 31 provinces in China, using a spatial Durbin model to examine the effects of factor misallocations on food security. The findings are as follows: (1) Production factor misallocation has significant negative impacts on food security, among them, capital misallocation and labor misallocation inhibiting food security in the local and neighboring areas, and land misallocation has a significant negative impact on food security in local areas, while its spatial spillover effect is no longer significant. (2) Mechanism analysis shows that capital misallocation and labor misallocation hinder the development of transportation infrastructure and the transfer of rural labor, thereby reducing food security. Land misallocation has accelerated the construction of transportation infrastructure, promoted the migration of rural labor, and helped ensure food security. (3) The regional heterogeneity test reveals that capital misallocation and labor misallocation hinder food security in major grain-producing areas and both sides of the Hu Huanyong Line (Hu Line). Meanwhile, land misallocation hinders food security development in various grain-producing areas, as well as the southeast of the Hu Line. Based on the above conclusions, this paper proposes suggestions to improve the efficiency of land and labor resource allocation, accelerate the construction of transportation infrastructure, and encourage the transfer speed of surplus agricultural labor.

Review of Sensor-Based Subgrade Distress Identifications.

The attributes of diversity and concealment pose formidable challenges in the accurate detection and efficacious management of distresses within subgrade structures. The onset of subgrade distresses may precipitate structural degradation, thereby amplifying the frequency of traffic incidents and instigating economic ramifications. Accurate and timely detection of subgrade distresses is essential for maintaining and repairing road sections with existing distresses. This helps to prolong the service life of road infrastructure and reduce financial burden. In recent years, the advent of numerous novel technologies and methodologies has propelled significant advancements in subgrade distress detection. Therefore, this review delineates a concentrated examination of subgrade distress detection, methodically consolidating and presenting various techniques while dissecting their respective merits and constraints. By furnishing comprehensive guidance on subgrade distress detection, this review facilitates the expedient identification and targeted treatment of subgrade distresses, thereby fortifying safety and enhancing durability. The pivotal role of this review in bolstering the construction and operational facets of transportation infrastructure is underscored.

Study on Dynamic Damage of Crash Barrier under Impact Load of High-Speed Train

The derailment of a high-speed train in a tunnel will cause a very serious accident, but there are few research articles on anti-collision facilities in tunnels. In order to promote the sustainable development of high-speed trains and reduce the severity of accidents caused by derailment in tunnels of high-speed trains, this paper puts forward a crash barrier scheme in tunnels through the method of numerical simulation; the coupling finite element model of train–crash barrier–tunnel is established by using ABAQUS. The changes in lateral velocity and lateral displacement after the train hits the crash barrier without embedding steel bars are explored. We also explore the influence of different reinforcement amounts on the changes in the lateral speed and lateral displacement of trains under the condition of embedding steel bars. The results show that with the increase in stirrups and vertical reinforcement, the anti-impact and sustainable operation capability of the crash barrier are greater. It can also be seen from the lateral displacement of the train that the train shows the reverse movement trend, and the crash barrier plays a good role in intercepting the train. These research results can provide a reference for the sustainable development of transportation infrastructure construction.

Research on the Decoupling Relationship between Transportation Land and Population Growth: A Case of Guangdong Province in China

The imbalance between the population, transportation, and construction is an important factor affecting coordinated regional development in China. Using transportation land area and population data from 2010, 2015, and 2020 in 121 counties (cities and districts) of Guangdong Province, this study analyzes the spatiotemporal changes in transportation land and population structure. It explores the relationship between transportation land and population size changes using exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) and decoupling models. Research suggests the following: (1) From 2010 to 2020, the per capita transportation land in various districts and counties of Guangdong Province showed a hierarchical structure of “low center and high periphery”. Conversely, the proportion of transportation land to construction land displayed a “high center and low periphery” characteristic. (2) During the same period, the total amount of transportation land in the peripheral areas of the Pearl River Delta was higher than that in the PRD (the Pearl River Delta) and the gap widened each year. Meanwhile, the proportion of transportation land to construction land in the peripheral areas of the Pearl River Delta was consistently higher than that in the PRD. (3) From 2010 to 2015, the relationship between population growth and transportation land in Guangdong Province showed a hierarchical pattern, while from 2015 to 2020, the pattern became more complex, and regional imbalance intensified. The decoupling results of PRD showed weak decoupling and expanding negative decoupling from 2010 to 2020. The peripheral areas of the Pearl River Delta are characterized by strong negative decoupling and expanding negative decoupling. Research has shown that although Guangdong Province is one of the most developed provinces in China, the mismatch between transportation land and population size in economically underdeveloped areas has become increasingly severe, with changes in the provincial population distribution pattern. The decoupling phenomenon between the transportation land and population is very obvious, and the policy of achieving regional balanced development through transportation infrastructure construction needs to be reviewed.

Research Progress of the Impacts of Comprehensive Transportation Network on Territorial Spatial Development and Protection

Coordination between the construction of transport infrastructure and the development and protection of territorial space is an important factor in promoting sustainable regional development, but there is still a lack of systematic research on the impact of transport on territorial space worldwide. Following the logic of “development trend revealing—theoretical and technological summary—mechanism analysis”, the research progress on the two aspects of development and protection of territorial space related to transport is systematically and comprehensively sorted from the perspective of multi-scale and multi-mode transport. The results show that: (1) The number of research papers on the effect of transport on territorial space is on the rise, and there is an obvious trend of cross-disciplinary research. (2) Transport infrastructure will promote the development of territorial space in terms of land use change, spatial-temporal compression, and economic development, and will affect the protection of territorial space in terms of ecological impacts, energy consumption and carbon emissions, and the crossing of protection zones. (3) In the existing research, the lack of multi-dimensional indicator system construction and analysis, insufficient research at the mechanism level, and insufficient combination of theoretical research and practical application are the main problems at present, and an important direction is urgently needed for future research.

Does Transportation Infrastructure Construction Enhance Enterprise Innovation Resilience in China?

With increasing uncertainty and ambiguity in the external business environment, the risks and challenges faced by enterprises also increase accordingly; resilience has become a necessary characteristic for the evolution and upgrading of enterprise innovation systems, and improving enterprise innovation resilience becomes the key for enterprises to establish sustainable competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development. Based on the panel data of Chinese listed companies and cities, we employ the common factor method to measure enterprise innovation resilience and explore the impact of transportation infrastructure construction on enterprise innovation resilience. The results reveal that, firstly, enterprise innovation resilience shows an overall upward trend, but there is a certain degree of temporal–spatial and industrial disparity. Secondly, transportation infrastructure construction, represented by HSR opening, can significantly improve enterprise innovation resilience. However, this effect performs the following heterogeneity: (1) Regionally, the promotion effect is more obvious in eastern regions, central cities, and non-central cities within 107 km and 764 km away from the central city. (2) For enterprises, compared to state-owned enterprises and non-high-tech industries, transportation infrastructure construction has a greater effect in non-state-owned enterprises and high-tech industries. (3) The higher the degree of centrality and closeness centrality, the more obvious the promotion effect of transportation infrastructure construction. Finally, mechanism tests show that enterprise resource acquisition and resource allocation abilities are important channels for transportation infrastructure construction, to enhance enterprise innovation resilience.

Experimental and Numerical Study on the Effect of Three-Hole Simultaneous Blasting Technology on Open-Pit Mine Bench Blasting

Blasting technology is widely applied in various engineering applications due to its cost-effectiveness and high efficiency, such as in mining, transport infrastructure construction, and building demolition. However, the occurrence of cracking in the rear row has always been a major problem that disrupts mining bench blasting. To address this issue, a three-hole simultaneous blasting technology is proposed in this study. Both numerical simulations and onsite blasting experimental testing were conducted. To aid this endeavor, the three-hole simultaneous blasting and the hole-by-hole blasting methods were adopted to comparatively analyze the severity of the damage caused to the original rock and the effect of rock fragmentation in the rear row. The obtained results highlighted that the outcome of the blast produced by the three-hole simultaneous blasting method is satisfactory, with fewer flying stones and concentrated blasting piles required. Additionally, the original rock in the rear row showed no obvious sign of tensile damage and had uniform fragmentation. It was also found that a block size of less than 60 cm accounts for 100%, while a block size of less than 50 cm accounts for 98.7% of the whole blocks, with no large blocks reported. Moreover, a penetrating horizontal crack occurred in the direction of the connection of the blast hole center when the three-hole simultaneous blasting method was adopted. This resulted in a smooth and flat rear part of the rocks at the interface. Compared to the hole-by-hole blasting method, the three-hole simultaneous blasting method improved the effective stress and displacement at each measurement point. At the measurement point directly at the front of the borehole, the maximum effective stress attained 67.9 GPa, and the maximum displacement reported was 31.9 cm. Overall, it was shown that the three-hole simultaneous blasting technology is applicable in similar applications of mine bench blasting, which is conducive to addressing the rear row original rock strain for onsite bench blasting.

Research on the Impact of the Opening of High Speed Rail on the Transformation of Urban Industrial Structure in China

As a model of China's transportation infrastructure construction and technological development in the new era, high-speed railways have always been a key project in its economic construction and development. This article is based on a quasi natural experiment of high-speed rail opening, using panel data from 287 cities in China from 2004 to 2019. The multi period double difference method and propensity matching score double difference method are used to test the impact of high-speed rail opening on the proportion of added value of the tertiary industry in prefecture level cities. The heterogeneity of the impact of high-speed rail opening policies is examined in detail from the perspective of urban administrative level and location. Research has found that the opening of high-speed rail can improve the development level of the regional tertiary industry; The impact of high-speed rail opening on the tertiary industry has a long-term timeliness, gradually increasing in the near future and gradually decreasing year by year thereafter; The opening of high-speed rail has a greater impact on provincial capital cities than on non provincial capital cities; The opening of high-speed rail has a significant positive policy impact on the eastern and western regions, but its impact on the central region is not significant. This study has certain significance in providing more empirical research data for related studies.

A similarity-conformity-based clustering and decentralized feedback mechanism to manage incompatible decision-makers in large-scale group decision-making

This study proposes a similarity-conformity-based clustering and decentralized feedback mechanism to manage incompatible decision-makers (DMs) in the large-scale group construction decision-making problem. Firstly, conformity is proposed to measure the consistency of the most preferred alternative of any two DMs and then extends this concept to define the similarity-conformity level of DMs. The average conformity between DMs in a subgroup represents the cohesion degree of this subgroup. Based on these concepts, a new clustering method considers the conflicts of interest among DMs and introduces the similarity-conformity to divide them into several subgroups. Then, the number of DMs in a subgroup and the cohesion degree are combined to formulate the subgroups’ weights. A decentralized feedback mechanism is proposed to manage two categories of incompatible DMs in the consensus-reaching process. The proposed consensus model adjusts the incompatible DMs’ opinions or subgroups’ weights under four scenarios. In the proposed model, the four adjustment methods prove to be convergent, and they improve the group consensus level by ensuring the DMs’ conformity and the logical consistency of preference relation. Finally, it provides an example of the alternative selection for transportation infrastructure construction. The comparative study and the sensitivity analysis are performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Discussion on low-carbon energy supply and scour protection technology for cross-sea bridges combined with tidal current energy

In the context of achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality, the construction and maintenance of transportation infrastructure should also comply with the requirements of green and low-carbon development. There are many long-span cross-sea bridges in Zhejiang Province, which consume large amounts of electricity for lighting, dehumidification, and anticorrosion, etc., and the energy required usually relies on external energy transfer, which is costly and intermediate losses are high. Tidal current energy, which is the kinetic energy generated during ebb and flood tides, is abundant along the coast of Zhejiang Province, mainly concentrated in Hangzhou Bay and Zhoushan Islands, which is also a dense area of sea-spanning bridges, and the foundation of sea-spanning bridges often suffers from severe scouring to the strong tidal current action. This paper discusses two forms of joint development of tidal current power generators and cross-sea bridges, analyses the advantages and disadvantages as well as the feasibility of each scheme, and gives suggestions for subsequent development.

A contribution to the urbanization and marble supply of Roman Thrace: an interdisciplinary study

The study of marble trade in antiquity has received a lot of scholarly attention in the last few decades; however, numerous deposits of high-quality white marble in the Thracian interior have only recently become pivotal in Bulgaria. Following the establishment of Thrace as a Roman province, investments into transport infrastructure, urban and rural construction works and monumentalizing architecture in marble have led to an increased demand for stone. Local marble quarries close to urban centres and larger imperial quarries were used for civic buildings, villas and sanctuaries. Provenance analysis of marble quarries and artefacts has established a close link between the place of origin and subsequent place of use. This multi-disciplinary study explores marble sources in the Thracian interior via various approaches such as epigraphy, archaeology, and archaeometry regarding urbanization, trade, and transportation. In this paper, we consider and investigate the Berkovitsa marble, a quarry close to Montana in northwestern Bulgaria, and present a broader framework for the marble trade of the region.

Потенциал применения зарубежного подхода при создании транспортно-логистической инфраструктуры

Changing the approach to the integrated development of the territories of the regions of Russia requires the development of conceptual approaches to the organization of logistics of road construction. It is noted that currently in Russia, key projects for the development of the country and society are implemented by achieving the goals and objectives of national strategies (national projects 2019-2024), in three areas - human capital, a comfortable living environment, economic growth. As a result of the low efficiency of the management mechanisms for the implementation of the tasks of the national strategy “Safe and High-quality Highways”, new projects for the development of small towns require complex solutions of contractors for the construction of logistics infrastructure. The projects of organization of construction and improvement of road transport infrastructure of foreign countries are considered. The analysis of road construction management models in China and India was carried out in order to determine the potential of applying a foreign approach to the creation of transport and logistics infrastructure in Russia within the framework of national strategies for the integrated development of the country's territory. The main obstacles to the realization of the Russian potential for economic growth and their causes are identified. Conclusions are drawn that in order to create a comfortable and efficient transport and logistics infrastructure in the region, it is advisable to expand the target regional road construction markets and apply a project approach with the choice of a road construction logistics operator.

How Does Network Infrastructure Construction Affect Livestock Carbon Emissions?

Against the backdrop of new carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets, China must address livestock carbon emissions (LCEs), which account for the largest proportion of agricultural carbon emissions in China. China has been promoting network infrastructure construction (NIC) for digital transformation. This study explores whether NIC can affect LCEs. To capture the potential effects of NIC, a conceptual framework is constructed originally and its impacts on LCEs are tested empirically through a two-way fixed effect model. The results show that NIC can significantly reduce LCEs. The results hold steady in various robustness checks, and the impacts express heterogeneities across provinces with different LCE levels, NIC levels, and regions. Mechanism analysis reveals that NIC can increase LCEs through the livestock industry scale effect, which is nevertheless outweighed by technological innovation and factor allocation’s reduction effects triggered by NIC. Additionally, transportation infrastructure construction serves a moderating role by reinforcing the reduction effect of NIC on LCEs. The conclusions are crucial for advancing the understanding of NIC’s potential benefits and policymaking for carbon emissions reduction in China.

Dynamic Response of Transmission Tower-Line Systems Due to Ground Vibration Caused by High-Speed Trains

With the continuous expansion of the scale of power grid and transportation infrastructure construction, the number of crossovers between transmission lines and high-speed railways continues to increase. At present, there is a lack of systematic research on the dynamic characteristics of transmission tower-line structures crossing high-speed railways under vehicle-induced ground vibration. This article focuses on the phenomenon of accidents such as line drops when crossing areas in recent years and establishes a high-speed train track foundation soil finite element model in ABAQUS that considers track irregularity. The three-dimensional vibration characteristics and attenuation law of train ground vibration are analyzed. Acceleration data for key points are also extracted. A separate finite element model of the transmission tower-line system is established in ANSYS, where acceleration is applied as an excitation to the transmission tower-line system, and the coupling effect between the tower and the line is considered to analyze its dynamic response. Subsequently, modal analysis is conducted on the tower-line system, providing the vibration modes and natural frequencies of the transmission tower-line structure. The effects of factors such as train speed, soil quality, and distance from the tower to the track on the dynamic response of the transmission tower-line system under vehicle-induced ground vibration are studied. The results show that the speed range (300 km/h–400 km/h) and track distance range (4.5 m–30 m) with the greatest impacts are obtained. The research results can provide a reference for the reasonable design of transmission tower-line systems in high-speed railway sections.

The impact of transportation and information infrastructure on urban productivity: Evidence from 256 cities in China

Improving total factor productivity is an important driving force for achieving high-quality economic development. Based on the panel data of 256 cities in China from 2009 to 2019, this paper investigates the effect of transportation and information infrastructure on urban productivity. The results show that transportation and information infrastructure promote urban productivity, and the effect in eastern regions and megacities is more obvious. The mechanism analysis shows that transportation infrastructure enhances urban productivity by promoting economic agglomeration, and information infrastructure enhances urban productivity by promoting labor mobility, economic agglomeration, financial agglomeration and industrial agglomeration. The spatial spillover effect shows positive spatial autocorrelation of urban productivity. Transportation and information infrastructure have significant positive spatial spillover effects on urban productivity. China should continue to promote the construction of transportation infrastructure, strengthen investment in information infrastructure, and promote the joint construction, sharing, coordination and integration of transportation and information infrastructure.

Laos-China Cooperation in the Construction of High Speed Railway: A Perspective of Foreign Policy

This article addresses Laos' motivations for working with China on their proposed high-speed train and railway projects. Due to its lack of access to land channels, Laos chooses to conduct its commercial and tourism cooperation with China through the BRI initiative, which is China's foreign strategy in establishing relations with ASEAN nations. We use the theory of foreign policy (FPA) to address several justifications for Laos' participation in China's high-speed rail and fast train projects. We found five reasons why Laos should join China: First, China's location allows for communication with landlocked Laos through the construction of the Laos High Speed Railway; second, China's demographics can help Laos become more prosperous; third, Laos relies on China's natural resources to match the Lao population's consumption level; fourth, China's political system has improved bilateral ties with Laos giving Laos hope that long-term collaboration may be created with China through the construction of transportation infrastructure in the form of the China-Laos High-Speed Railway; and fifth, Laos's economic prowess can assist with commerce and provide funding for growth between Laos and China.

A corrosion assessment methodology based on triangular intuitionistic fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (TIFCE) with analytic network process (TIFANP): An application to external corrosion of the storage tank floor

The increasing demand for oil, natural gas, and green energy has led to massive construction of storage and transportation infrastructure, and the resulting corrosion problems have attracted increasing attention. The complexity of the factors influencing corrosion and the uniqueness of infrastructure pose great challenges to the inspection, assessment, and prediction of corrosion. This challenge is reflected in the large number of influencing factors and the intricate interrelationships between them, which often require the involvement of experts in the assessment. However, due to reasons such as incomplete data and the complexity of corrosion mechanisms, there is uncertainty in the expert's judgment. To address this problem, this work proposes a multilevel, multi-index framework for corrosion evaluation. This framework integrates both analytic network process and comprehensive evaluation method under an intuitionistic fuzzy environment. It uses the triangular intuitionistic fuzzy numbers-based analytic network process (TIFANP) to establish and analyze the weights of the interactive and employed triangular intuitionistic fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (TIFCE) to address the subjective judgment and uncertainty issues in corrosion evaluation. The introduction of the intuitionistic fuzzy concept effectively handles the uncertainty in corrosion assessment. To verify the feasibility and practicability of the framework, it was applied to external corrosion assessment of the floor of a crude oil storage tank. Soil corrosion, cathodic protection, coating protection, and stray current interference were considered the main factors influencing the external corrosion of the storage tank floor. The assessment results were consistent with the open-tank inspection. This work can provide valuable information for storage tank operation, corrosion protection, and maintenance to reduce economic losses and safety accidents caused by the corrosion of crude oil tank floors.

Can Farmers Punch Their Tickets to Wealth? The Spillover Effect of High-Speed Railway on Agriculture Development

This paper studied the impact of high-speed railway linesonagricultural outputin the regions along their routes. It also investigated the heterogeneity of this impactbased on the terrain characteristics. The results of empirical testsusing county-level data show that ahigh-speed railway line can bring higher agricultural “dividends” to counties along the line. Notably, low altitude areas and regionswith gentle terrain exhibit a more pronounced promotional effect on local agricultural output. High-speed railways mainly promote agricultural output by promoting the mechanization of agriculture in counties along the route, thus reinvigorating the agricultural population and the development of specialty agriculture. Ourfindingsprovide quasi-microscopic evidence of the potential benefits of transportation infrastructure construction to break down geographical barriers and facilitate production factor flow, and providesa theoretical basis for the economic spillover effects of high-speed railway construction.