Infrastructure Framework Research Articles

Green Virtualization for Multiple Collaborative Cellular Operators

This paper proposes and investigates a green virtualization framework for infrastructure sharing among multiple cellular operators whose networks are powered by a combination of conventional and renewable sources of energy. Under the proposed framework, the virtual network formed by unifying radio access infrastructures of all operators is optimized for minimum energy consumption by deactivating base stations (BSs) with low traffic loads. The users initially associated to those BSs are off-loaded to neighboring active ones. A fairness criterion for collaboration based on roaming prices is introduced to cover the additional energy costs incurred by host operators. The framework also ensures that any collaborating operator is not negatively affected by its participation in the proposed virtualization. A multi-objective linear programming problem is formulated to achieve energy and cost efficiency of the networks' operation by identifying the set of inter-operator roaming prices. For the case when collaboration among all operators is infeasible due to profitability, capacity, or power constraints, an iterative algorithm is proposed to determine the groups of operators that can viably collaborate. Results show significant energy savings using the proposed virtualization as compared to the standalone case. Moreover, collaborative operators exploiting locally generated renewable energy are rewarded more than traditional ones.

Enhanced Security Using Cluster Based Certificate Management and ECC-CRT Key Agreement Schemes in Mobile Ad hoc Networks

With the increasing demand of wireless networks, in particular Mobile Ad hoc Networks (MANET), security over such networks has become one of the major issues concerned extensively. The security solutions proposed by various researchers failed in considering mobility aware node to node communication in the infrastructure-less ad hoc networks. Besides, the certificates as well as key management and verification complexities associated in MANET with a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) framework are significantly large. This paper addresses the issue of certificate assignment and key management of secure group communications over MANET. We propose a novel certificate assignment strategy in order to significantly reduce the complexity of managing the PKI framework. The strategy involves partitioning the entire network into a number of cluster regions, and the assignment of region-specific certificates to a node resident in a cluster. We further proposed a secure key agreement scheme based on Elliptic Curve Cryptosystems (ECC) and the Chinese remainder theorem (CRT) to eliminate the security flaws and provide better security requirements. The proposed ECC-CRT key agreement scheme resists the know security attacks and provides authenticated group communication with less complexities and computational cost. The performances of proposed schemes are evaluated by simulation analysis and when compared with existing schemes, our schemes have the following advantages. (1) Simple to execute the certificate assignment and key agreement phases. (2) Easy to address dynamic rekeying when a node is added into or evicted from a cluster. (3) Efficient secret key updating scheme. (4) Secure against some potential security attacks. (5) Constant storage requirement for public and secret parameters.

A Game Theoretical Real Options Framework for Investment Decisions in Mobile TV Infrastructure

This work presents a strategic investment framework for mobile TV infrastructure. We address the question of whether an operator should enter the mobile TV market and, if yes, how and when to do so. We perform a capacity and QoS analysis that shows that Mobile TV is not a simple added-on service but requires new planning strategies that need heavy investments. We consider two possible settings: a competitive mobile TV network where a digital video broadcasting (DVB) operator and a cellular network operator build their independent networks and a cooperative setting where the TV network is mainly relying on a DVB infrastructure whose coverage can be complemented by a cellular network. Two main issues alter the investment decision of the stakeholders, namely, the market uncertainty and the competition or the willingness of cooperation between the main technological players. We define a game theoretical real options framework and propose a novel bi-level dynamic programming algorithm that solves the underlying profit maximization problem. Our numerical results illustrate the optimal investment decisions of both actors and the impact of the system parameters as well as the degree of uncertainty on the investment dates.

Comprehending the multiple ‘values’ of green infrastructure – Valuing nature-based solutions for urban water management from multiple perspectives

The valuation of urban water management practices and associated nature-based solutions (NBS) is highly contested, and is becoming increasingly important to cities seeking to increase their resilience to climate change whilst at the same time facing budgetary pressures. Different conceptions of ‘values’ exist, each being accompanied by a set of potential measures ranging from calculative practices (closely linked to established market valuation techniques) – through to holistic assessments that seek to address wider concerns of sustainability. Each has the potential to offer important insights that often go well beyond questions of balancing the costs and benefits of the schemes concerned. However, the need to address – and go beyond – economic considerations presents policy-makers, practitioners and researchers with difficult methodological, ethical and practical challenges, especially when considered without the benefit of a broader theoretical framework or in the absence of well-established tools (as might apply within more traditional infrastructural planning contexts, such as the analysis of transport interventions). Drawing on empirical studies undertaken in Sheffield over a period of 10 years, and delivered in partnership with several other European cities and regions, we compare and examine different attempts to evaluate the benefits of urban greening options and future development scenarios. Comparing these different approaches to the valuation of nature-based solutions alongside other, more conventional forms of infrastructure – and indeed integrating both ‘green and grey’ interventions within a broader framework of infrastructures – throws up some surprising results and conclusions, as well as providing important sign-posts for future research in this rapidly emerging field.

Infrastructural Drivers of Online Shopping

While online shopping expenditures have been increasing in both developed and developing economies, they still account for a small share of total retail sales. Significant differences also exist across countries in the amount of money consumers spend on a per capita basis on online purchases. The authors utilize the conceptual foundations of infrastructural framework to examine the effects of infrastructural drivers on online shopping expenditures in 43 countries. Findings show that per capita telecommunications investments and per capita gross national income are significantly associated with per capita online shopping expenditures. Privacy protection, Internet penetration, and credit card penetration were not significant.

On Optimal Infrastructure Sharing Strategies in Mobile Radio Networks

The rapid evolution of mobile radio network technologies poses severe technical and economical challenges to mobile network operators (MNOs); on the economical side, the continuous roll-out of technology updates is highly expensive, which may lead to the extreme, where offering advanced mobile services becomes no longer affordable for MNOs which thus, are not incentivized to innovate. Mobile infrastructure sharing among MNOs becomes then an important building block to lower the required per-MNO investment cost involved in the technology roll-out and management phases. We focus on a radio access network (RAN) sharing situation where multiple MNOs with a consolidated network infrastructure coexist in a given set of geographical areas; the MNOs have then to decide if it is profitable to upgrade their RAN technology by deploying additional small-cell base stations and whether to share the investment (and the deployed infrastructure) of the new small-cells with other operators. We address such strategic problems by giving a mathematical framework for the RAN infrastructure sharing problem which returns the “best” infrastructure sharing strategies for operators (coalitions and network configuration) when varying techno-economic parameters such as the achievable throughput in different sharing configurations and the pricing models for the service offered to the users. The proposed formulation is then leveraged to analyze the impact of the aforementioned parameters/input in a realistic mobile network environment based on LTE technology.

Approach to Facilitating Geospatial Data and Metadata Publication Using a Standard Geoservice

Nowadays, the existence of metadata is one of the most important aspects of effective discovery of geospatial data published in Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDIs). However, due to lack of efficient mechanisms integrated in the data workflow, to assist users in metadata generation, a lot of low quality and outdated metadata are stored in the catalogues. This paper presents a mechanism for generating and publishing metadata through a publication service. This mechanism is provided as a web service implemented with a standard interface called a web processing service, which improves interoperability between other SDI components. This work extends previous research, in which a publication service has been designed in the framework of the European Directive Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe (INSPIRE) as a solution to assist users in automatically publishing geospatial data and metadata in order to improve, among other aspects, SDI maintenance and usability. Also, this work adds more extra features in order to support more geospatial formats, such as sensor data.

A modified eco-efficiency framework and methodology for advancing the state of practice of sustainability analysis as applied to green infrastructure.

We propose a modified eco-efficiency (EE) framework and novel sustainability analysis methodology for green infrastructure (GI) practices used in water resource management. Green infrastructure practices such as rainwater harvesting (RWH), rain gardens, porous pavements, and green roofs are emerging as viable strategies for climate change adaptation. The modified framework includes 4 economic, 11 environmental, and 3 social indicators. Using 6 indicators from the framework, at least 1 from each dimension of sustainability, we demonstrate the methodology to analyze RWH designs. We use life cycle assessment and life cycle cost assessment to calculate the sustainability indicators of 20 design configurations as Decision Management Objectives (DMOs). Five DMOs emerged as relatively more sustainable along the EE analysis Tradeoff Line, and we used Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a widely applied statistical approach, to quantify the modified EE measures as DMO sustainability scores. We also addressed the subjectivity and sensitivity analysis requirements of sustainability analysis, and we evaluated the performance of 10 weighting schemes that included classical DEA, equal weights, National Institute of Standards and Technology’s stakeholder panel, Eco-Indicator 99, Sustainable Society Foundation’s Sustainable Society Index, and 5 derived schemes. We improved upon classical DEA by applying the weighting schemes to identify sustainability scores that ranged from 0.18 to 1.0, avoiding the nonuniqueness problem and revealing the least to most sustainable DMOs. Our methodology provides a more comprehensive view of water resource management and is generally applicable to GI and industrial, environmental, and engineered systems to explore the sustainability space of alternative design configurations.

Using spatial measures to test a conceptual model of social infrastructure that supports health and wellbeing

Social infrastructure requires a consistent and measurable definition and more evidence is needed to demonstrate why it is important to health, wellbeing and the liveability of a community. In this paper, social infrastructure is defined as life-long social service needs related to health, education, early childhood, community support, community development, culture, sport and recreation, parks and emergency services. These services are needed to promote health and wellbeing and underinvestment and poor planning of social infrastructure has been linked to area-based health inequities. Current methods used to plan infrastructure delivery in communities were analysed and a new conceptual framework of social infrastructure developed and empirically tested using geocoded health survey data linked to spatial social infrastructure measures. Both accessibility and mix of social infrastructure were associated with higher Subjective Wellbeing. Residents were most likely to have close access to childcare services, dentists, doctors and sport facilities and least likely to have access to services of culture and leisure including cinemas, theatres, libraries, museums and art galleries. Results provide evidence of direct associations between social infrastructure planning and public health, the need for alternative social infrastructure urban planning methods and policies, and areas for future research.

An infrastructure framework for privacy protection of community medical internet of things

As a kind of medical service around people, community health care is closely related to peoples lives, and thus it has also been placed higher requirements. In the face of growing community medical needs, the construction and development of community medical Internet of things is imminent. Subsequently, massive multi-type of medical data which contain all kinds of user identity data, various types of vital signs data and other sensitive information are generated. Such a large scale of data in the transmission, storage and access process is facing the risk of data leakage. To effectively protect the privacy information of patients, an infrastructure framework for privacy protection of community medical Internet of things is proposed. It includes transmission protection based on multi-path asymmetric encryption fragment transmission mechanism, storage protection using distributed symmetric encryption cloud storage scheme and access control with identity authentication and dynamic access authorization. Through theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, it is proved that the community medical data can be effectively protected.

Stealthy Attacks in Dynamical Systems: Tradeoffs Between Utility and Detectability With Application in Anonymous Systems

Cyber physical systems which integrate physical system dynamics with digital cyber infrastructure are envisioned to transform our core infrastructural frameworks, such as the smart electricity grid, transportation networks, and advanced manufacturing. This integration, however, exposes the physical system functioning to the security vulnerabilities of cyber communication. Both scientific studies and real-world examples have demonstrated the impact of data injection attacks on complex systems, including the Internet, the smart electricity grid, and air traffic systems. In this paper, an abstract theoretical framework is proposed to study data injection/modification attacks on Markov modeled dynamical systems from the perspective of an adversary. Typical data injection attacks focus on one shot attacks by adversary and the non-detectability of such attacks under static assumptions. In this paper, we study dynamic data injection attacks where the adversary is capable of modifying a temporal sequence of data and the physical controller is equipped with prior statistical knowledge about the data arrival process to detect the presence of an adversary. The goal of the adversary is to modify the arrivals to minimize a utility function of the controller while minimizing the detectability of his presence as measured by the K–L divergence between the prior and posterior distribution of the arriving data. The tradeoff between these two metrics—controller utility and the detectability cost—is studied analytically for different underlying dynamics. The proposed framework is then applied to a practical problem in data networks where a router tries to hide the path of traffic flow from timing analysis by an active adversary who can modify the timing of an incoming packet stream. This problem is studied from the adversary perspective wherein the goal is to balance two costs—the adversary’s detectability cost measured by the K–L divergence and the network privacy cost measured by the maximum length of the packet stream whose paths can be hidden by a memory limited router.

Infrastructure framework and manufacturing supply chain agility: the role of delivery dependability and time to market

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to examine the role of delivery dependability and time to market, on the relation between the infrastructure framework and supply chain agility. Furthermore, the impacts of supply chain agility on firm performance are examined.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 113 respondents, senior executives and managers, in purchasing, operations, supplying, planning and other supply chain functions in large manufacturing firms in the MENA region, which includes 12 countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, Morocco, Tunis and Algeria). A large-scale survey questionnaire was used for data collection process. The research framework was tested by using hypothesis-testing deductive approach. The results are based on covariance-based analysis and structural equation modelling using analysis of moment structures software.FindingsThe results show that infrastructure framework elements do not contribute significantly to support supply chain agility. It is also found that delivery dependability and time to market partially mediate the relationship between infrastructure framework elements and supply chain agility. Additionally, it is found that supply chain agility is associated with enhanced firm performance.Originality/valueThis paper provides an overview and empirically shows that delivery dependability and time to market are appropriate logistics practices for mediating the impact of infrastructure framework and supply chain agility. These relationships indicate a contribution to theory that explains how infrastructure framework elements can procreate supply chain agility, through the synchronising of appropriately matched logistics practices.

Land Administration System for Sustainable Development – Case Study of Poland

AbstractThe global idea of building state Land Administration Systems was to determine the infrastructures for the implementation of land policies and land management strategies in support of sustainable development. This new paradigm in science has directed many studies towards the development of concepts for the integration of various spatial information systems in the framework of interoperable infrastructures. Each infrastructure includes institutional arrangements, a legal framework, processes, standards, land information, management and dissemination systems, and technologies required to support allocation, land markets, valuation, control of use, and development of interests in land.Many countries are in the process of developing Land Administration Systems (LAS). Databases of Land Information Systems (LIS), including cadastres, land registries, tax registries and land-use plans, are integrated to improve Land Information System functions and provide effective support for other systems and economic processes.This article analyzes the LAS construction process in Poland with particular emphasis on the functionality of the infrastructure supporting the widely understood sustainable development of land, the economy and society. The presented solution may be an important model (template) for other national infrastructures.

Foundational infrastructure framework for city resilience

The city is a complex interdependent system of natural, social, and structural systems – a ‘system of systems.’ Each system is important in its own right, but most city systems are highly dependent on functioning infrastructure for their successful operation. The Foundational Infrastructure Framework (FIF) presented here helps managers and decision-makers understand the importance of infrastructure resilience to the overall resilience of their cities. It illustrates how city services are typically dependent on seven foundational infrastructure sectors. If any of these sectors fail, whether due to disaster, terrorism, or aging infrastructure, cities face a higher risk of cascading failures. The reliability and existing condition of infrastructure are integral to the resilience of infrastructure, and must be incorporated into the assessment of future risks. The FIF provides a rationale for examining the existing state of city infrastructure, and utilizing additional data and vulnerability analyses tools to help define priorities for infrastructure investment.

A Master Data Management Solution to Unlock the Value of Big Infrastructure Data for Smart, Sustainable and Resilient City Planning

In recent years, many governments have launched various smart city or smart infrastructure initiatives to improve the quality of citizens’ life and help city managers / planners optimize the operation and management of urban infrastructures. By deploying internet of things (IoT) to infrastructure systems, high-volume and high-variety of data pertinent to the condition and performance of infrastructure systems along with the behaviors of citizens can be gathered, processed, integrated and analyzed through cloud-based infrastructure asset management systems, ubiquitous mobile applications and big data analytics platforms. Nonetheless, how to fully exploit the value of ‘big infrastructure data’ is still a key challenge facing most stakeholders. Unless data is shared by different infrastructure systems in an interoperable and consistent manner, it is difficult to realize the smart infrastructure concept for efficient smart city planning, not to mention about developing appropriate resilience and sustainable programs. To unlock the value of big infrastructure data for smart, sustainable and resilient city planning, a master data management (MDM) solution is proposed in this paper. MDM has been adopted in the business sector to orchestrate operational and analytical big data applications. In order to derive a suitable MDM solution for smart, sustainable and resilient city planning, commercial and open source MDM systems, smart city standards, smart city concept models, smart community infrastructure frameworks, semantic web technologies will be critically reviewed, and feedback and requirements will be gathered from experts who are responsible for developing smart, sustainable and resilient city programs. A case study which focuses on the building and transportation infrastructures of a selected community in Hong Kong will be conducted to pilot the proposed MDM solution.

Probabilistic seismic restoration cost estimation for transportation infrastructure portfolios with an emphasis on curved steel I-girder bridges

This paper develops a rapid probabilistic seismic restoration cost estimate framework for transportation infrastructures (i.e., bridge portfolios) by integrating Response Surface Metamodels (RSMs) coupled with Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) into seismic restoration cost curve generation. A portfolio of curved steel I-girder bridges located in the Eastern United States is used for this study. As part of the restoration curve generation, joint RSM-MCS models are created and utilized to assess seismic vulnerabilities of the target bridge portfolio and estimate their damage ratios. Probabilistic damage factor models in conjunction with MCS to treat uncertainties in damage ratios, curved bridge characteristics, and volatile construction conditions are simulated with the joint RSM-MCS-based vulnerability functions. Relevant restoration cost curves are then generated based upon average construction cost data of the United States. Findings reveal that characteristics for the restoration curves vary relying on variability in damage ratios and vulnerabilities, emphasizing that an increase in the difference between lower and upper cost bounds occurs as the seismic intensity increases. This evidence highlights the significance of considering variability in both damage ratios and vulnerabilities for more reliable decision-making for seismic restoration on such bridge portfolios.

Reframing the principle of specialisation in legitimation code theory: A blended learning perspective

This study argues that in developing a robust framework for students in a blended learning environment, Structural Alignment (SA) becomes the third principle of specialisation in addition to Epistemic Relation (ER) and Social Relation (SR). We provide an extended code: (ER+/ź, SR+/ź, SA+/ź) that present strong classification and framing to the architecture of blended learning while defining the impact of structural alignment in the trajectory. The subjects in this study were 500 undergraduate students drawn from three faculties in a university. Using a Structural Equation Model (SEM), we show that SR, ER and SA redefine the principle of specialisation in Legitimation Code Theory (LCT) which is necessary in enhancing blended learning. We conclude that whereas epistemic and social relations define the knower and knowledge code, structural alignment explains the infrastructure and policy framework that supports knowledge acquisition in a blended learning environment.

Population screening for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations: lessons from qualitative analysis of the screening experience.

Population screening for BRCA1/BRCA2. mutations is being considered for Ashkenazi Jews (AJ) because 2.5% carry recurrent deleterious mutations and effective cancer prevention exists. This study aimed to provide a qualitative focus on perspectives of individuals, particularly carriers, who were tested through a screening trial. In this trial, the pretest process included only written information. Interviews were performed with 26 carriers and 10 noncarriers who participated in a BRCA population screening trial for AJ. Attitudes toward screening were generally positive. The main motivator for testing was knowledge of BRCA status to enable cancer risk reduction. Knowledge of carrier status, although challenging, was thus viewed as health-empowering. The screening paradigm was sensed as increasing awareness and as overcoming access, referral, and familial barriers. Streamlining the pretest process was positively perceived as offering gradual, stepwise knowledge commensurate with test results. Participants were concerned that health systems provide the necessary conceptual and infrastructural framework and that individual autonomy be maintained. BRCA screening in AJ is viewed favorably, even by carriers. Stepwise acquisition of knowledge based on test results was viewed as most relevant to the screening context. Screening program development should account for safeguarding autonomy and providing requisite post-test services.Genet Med advance online publication 01 December 2016.

Investor Outlook: Solving Gene Therapy Pricing…with a Cures Voucher?

Gene therapy reimbursement continues to be an intense topic of discussion in the field given the unique and durable benefits from a single administration and generally small patient populations against a reimbursement framework that is not optimized for such "cures" or long-lived benefits. As more gene therapy programs enter the market and late-stage development, it is increasingly important for the field to define a reimbursement model that works for all stakeholders in order to encourage the next wave of innovation. To add to the discussion around new payment models and potential solutions, we propose a flexible voucher system that takes advantage of existing infrastructure, precedent, and regulatory frameworks.

A conceptual framework for land use and metro infrastructure

The continued urbanisation of the world’s population generates pressures for the greater use of urban space. Where underground metro infrastructure is present within the urban environment, interfaces with private property at the surface and subsurface levels can raise issues from both engineering and legal perspectives. This paper introduces a conceptual framework for describing three principal interfaces identified as presence, property and protection. These three interfaces are interconnected and interdependent, each having three subinterfaces. The conceptual framework provides a way to determine these interfaces. The paper presents a proof-of-concept case study based on the Glasgow subway. It concludes that while the three overriding principal interfaces within the conceptual framework are applicable to any one metro system, not all subinterfaces may be.