Large-scale Infrastructure Investments Research Articles

Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach for Optimal Energy Storage System Selection and Applications in Oman

This research aims to support the goals of Oman Vision 2040 by reducing the dependency on non-renewable energy resources and increasing the utilization of the national natural renewable energy resources. Selecting appropriate energy storage systems (ESSs) will play a key role in achieving this vision by enabling a greater integration of solar and other renewable energy. ESSs allow for solar power generated during daylight hours to be stored for use during peak demand periods. Additionally, the proposed framework provides guidance for large-scale ESS infrastructure planning and investments to support Oman’s renewable energy goals. As the global renewable energy market grows rapidly and Oman implements economic reforms, the ESS market is expected to flourish in Oman. In the near future, ESS is expected to contribute to lower electricity costs and enhance stability compared to traditional energy systems. While ESS technologies have been studied broadly, there is a lack of comprehensive analysis for optimal ESS selection tailored to Oman’s unique geographical, technical, and policy context. The main objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of ESS options and identify the type(s) most suitable for integration with Oman’s national grid using a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methodology. This study addresses this gap by applying the Hesitate Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (HF-AHP) and Hesitate Fuzzy VIKOR methods to assess alternative ESS technologies based on technical, economic, environmental, and social criteria specifically for Oman’s context. The analysis reveals pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and compressed air energy storage (CAES) as the most appropriate solutions. The tailored selection framework aims to guide policy and infrastructure planning to determine investments for large-scale ESSs and provide a model for comprehensive ESS assessment in energy transition planning for countries with similar challenges.

Educational spaces: The relation between school infrastructure and learning outcomes

This article examines the relationship between school infrastructure and academic performance in Ecuador. The objective of this research is to identify which types of infrastructure are associated with better student outcomes in elementary schools. The study employs data from the 2019 UNESCO standardized test, ERCE-2019, for Ecuadorian primary schools. The findings indicate a significant positive correlation between various types of school infrastructure and student achievement. Such infrastructure includes art and music installations, on-site nursing facilities, and basic service connections, especially in rural areas. Significant correlations between educational outcomes and large-scale infrastructure investments are either not observed or are inconsistently evidenced. These results challenge the heavy focus on prominent educational infrastructure projects in Ecuador, suggesting an opportunity to reorient educational spending to enhance outcomes cost-effectively. These research findings may apply not only to Ecuador but potentially to the broader Latin American context.

Planned expansion of transportation infrastructure in Brazil has implications for the pattern of agricultural production and carbon emissions

High transportation costs have been a barrier to the expansion of agriculture in the interior of Brazil. To reduce transportation costs, Brazil launched the National Logistics Plan, aiming to expand its railway network by up to 91 % by 2035. Such a large-scale infrastructure investment raises concerns about its economic and environmental consequences. By combining geospatial estimation of transportation cost with a grid-resolving, multi-scale economic model that bridges fine-scale crop production with its trade and demand from national and global perspectives, we explore impacts of transportation infrastructure expansion on agricultural production, land use changes, and carbon emissions both locally and nationally in Brazil. We find that globally, the impacts on output and land use changes are small. However, within Brazil, the plan's primary impacts are impressive. PNL2035 results in the reduction of transportation costs by 8–23 % across states (depending on expansion's extent) in the interior Cerrado biome. This results in cropland expansion and increases in terrestrial carbon emissions in the Cerrado region. However, the increase in terrestrial carbon emissions in the Cerrado is offset by spillover effects elsewhere in Brazil, as crop production shifts away from the Southeast-South regions and accompanying change in the mix of transportation mode for farm products from roadway to more emission-efficient railway. Furthermore, we argue that the transportation infrastructure's impact on the enhanced mobility of labor and other agricultural inputs would further accentuate the regional shift in agricultural production and contribute to carbon emission mitigation. Upon its completion, PNL2035 is expected to result in the reduction of net national emissions by 1.8–30.7 million metric ton of CO2-equivalent, depending on the impacts on labor and purchased input mobility. We conclude that the omission of spillover effects due to infrastructure expansion can lead to misleading assessments of transport policies.

Revealing the Impact of Investment Benefits on Marketing Decision in Public Infrastructures Based on Game Theory: Case Study of Large-Scale Exhibition Infrastructures in China

Investing in large-scale public infrastructures is vital for urban renewal and development, often relying on specific types of buildings to drive investment in municipal infrastructure and supporting service buildings. However, the complex interplay of interests among investors introduces unpredictability, hindering the effectiveness of such investments. This study employs evolutionary game theory to explore how investment benefits influence investor behavior. Using China’s large-scale exhibition infrastructures as a case study, a tripartite evolutionary game model is developed, involving the government, investors in exhibition buildings, and investors in supporting services. The strategies of the three parties are analyzed, and simulations explore the effects of different initial strategy values, costs, subsidies, and profits. Five research outcomes are identified, indicating that favorable initial investments and optimal subsidies encourage proactive investment, while high initial costs deter it. Consequently, five recommendations for promoting coordinated investment in exhibition facilities are proposed, including the establishment of communication platforms to enhance stakeholder cooperation. These findings offer insights for decision making in other large-scale infrastructure investments, such as sports facilities and transportation hubs.

사회기반시설이 아파트 가격에 미치는 영향 연구 - 서울 서리풀 터널 사례를 중심으로

This study aimed to understand the impact of social infrastructure investment on apartment prices. Using a difference-in-differences(DID) regression analysis, we empirically analyzed the impact of the new establishment of infrastructure on apartment prices in Bangbae-dong, Seoul by the commencement and completion of the Seoripul Tunnel, examining the effects step-by-step and by distance from the street using buffer analysis. Our findings revealed that the influence on apartment prices varied depending on the commencement and completion stages. For the commencement phase, a significant increase in actual transaction prices was observed within 500m when comparing 6 to 9 months before and after the construction started. On the other hand, during the completion phase, no significant influence was observed at the exact time of completion. However, when considering three months before completion, statistically significant positive changes were observed in both the subsequent 9 months and within distances of both 500m and 1km. This research provides an empirical evidence of the actual fluctuations in apartment prices due to large-scale social infrastructure investments in the area. The effects of social infrastructure on housing prices can manifest differently across time and distance from it. Such complexities suggest that related policy responses require much more careful research.

Xinjiang on the New Silk Road: Kyrgyzstan's Energy and China's Manufacturing Foreign Trade

Located in the northwest of China, Xinjiang plays a key role as an important node of the New Silk Road. The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of Xinjiang's geographical position, economic development, infrastructure construction, cultural exchange and energy resources in this initiative. First of all, Xinjiang's geographical advantages make it a key link between China and Central Asia, Europe and other places, providing a convenient channel for promoting international trade and logistics. Secondly, large-scale infrastructure investment, such as high-speed railway, highway and port construction, has improved Xinjiang's trade and logistics capabilities, and also brought economic growth and employment opportunities. In addition, Xinjiang's multi-culture and ethnic characteristics promote cross-border cultural exchanges and create opportunities for understanding and cooperation between different cultures. Finally, Xinjiang's abundant energy resources are of strategic significance to China's energy economy and help to ensure the country's energy security. This study emphasizes the key position of Xinjiang in the Silk Road, and its positive role in regional economic integration and cooperation, which provides useful insights for further discussion on this issue.

Does Environmental Regulation Promote the Infrastructure Investment Efficiency? Analysis Based on the Spatial Effects.

Infrastructure investment plays a key role in steady economic growth. Investment in infrastructure is gradually increasing; however, large-scale infrastructure investment is also associated with efficiency problems and environmental problems, which need to be carefully examined. The entropy weight method and the Super-SBM model are implemented to measure environmental regulation and infrastructure investment efficiency, respectively; and the spatial Durbin model is applied to analyze the influence mechanism and spatial effects of environmental regulation on infrastructure investment efficiency. The results show that spatial agglomeration characteristics exist in both environmental regulation and infrastructure investment efficiency. Besides, environmental regulation can promote infrastructure investment efficiency in general, but it develops an inverted U-shaped relationship as the intensity increases. Lastly, the spillover effects of environmental regulation on infrastructure investment efficiency present a U-shaped relationship. The conclusion is that both environmental regulation and infrastructure investment efficiency in China increased from 2008 to 2020. Besides, moderate environmental regulation is beneficial to infrastructure investment efficiency and restrains spatial spillover, but strict environmental regulation appears to be the opposite. This research expands the literature on environmental regulation and production efficiency and provides a reference basis for formulating effective policies to improve infrastructure investment efficiency from the perspective of the ecological environment.

Assessing the technical efficiency of container ports based on a non-monotonic inefficiency effects model

This study aims to assess the technical efficiency of container ports in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea for the 2017–2019 period. A non-monotonic inefficiency effects model is used since it can reveal non-monotonic relationships and capture observation-specific marginal effects. Findings imply that while increasing physical size has non-monotonic effects on efficiency, increasing connectivity has monotonic positive effects on efficiency. Decision-makers should avoid large-scale infrastructure investments triggered by only the fierce competition to control underutilization. Making decisions focused on higher connectivity about marketing and operational structure could positively impact the performance of container ports.

АНТИКРИЗИСНОЕ УПРАВЛЕНИЕ ПРОМЫШЛЕННЫМ ПРОИЗВОДСТВОМ В УСЛОВИЯХ САНКЦИЙ

This article examines the factors that determine the systemic stability of Russian industry in the context of the imposition of sanctions by foreign countries. The purpose of the article is to identify areas of anti-crisis management of industrial production in modern conditions of sanctions pressure. As a result of the study, the role of anti-crisis management of industrial production in Russia for its restoration was revealed. Overcoming the annual indicators of unprofitable enterprises in Russia since 2016 was not possible until 2023. In addition, the number of bankrupt enterprises in the period 2007–2022. does not decrease. These indicators indicate the significant influence of external factors associated with geopolitical influence on the activities of enterprises. The study identified risks associated with the activities of industrial enterprises: the risk of a global recession, a high probability of increased sanctions pressure, the risk of a reduction in export earnings and the persistence of pro-inflationary risks. The sanctions pressure did not provoke a serious crisis in the regional industry, but created conditions for reducing dependence on imports, localizing production within the region, optimizing the structure and vector of foreign trade activities of industrial enterprises. However, due to the increased sanctions pressure in 2022 in the field of industrial production, it is necessary to formulate additional measures for anti-crisis management. Anti-crisis management under sanctions depends not only on the activities of the enterprises themselves based on internal processes, but also on the activities of the state. To build new supply chains, establish alternative channels for selling products, and actively develop import substitution, large-scale infrastructure investments are required, which depends on significant government participation in the form of investments and the formation of legislation to support the development of domestic industrial production.

What is the least cost policy mix for nitrogen and phosphorous abatement in a rapidly urbanizing catchment?

Nitrogen and phosphorus emissions from urban sources degrade aquatic ecosystems . Reducing these emissions cost-effectively in an urban environment is challenging because they are non-point source pollutants and abatement strategies range from behaviour change for garden fertilizer use to large scale infrastructure investments. This paper analyses policy options for the Canning catchment in Western Australia with a dynamic and spatial hydro-economic model. Currently responsibility for N and P abatement is fragmented across government agencies. A coordinated cost-effective policy to meet N and P abatement targets in the case study catchment would cost A$0.5 billion over the next fifty years. The minimum cost is approximately doubled if the policy set excludes septic tank infill and constructed wetlands . Costs are significantly reduced if there is a city-wide policy to mandate the use of slow-release nitrogen fertilizer on public open space. We conclude that there is a significant benefit to society from adopting a coordinated approach to nitrogen and phosphorous abatement. Further, in this case study, a non-point source pollution problem can be addressed by abatement measures, such as infrastructure investment, that are directly observable.

Зарубежный и отечественный опыт реализации инфраструктурных проектов и программ развития территорий

Infrastructural investment differs significantly from the forecasted indicators because of global demand. The politicization and overregulation of global infrastructure market negatively affects its growth. The effectiveness of state programs depends on quality of the institutional environment. The paper analyses approaches to the implementation of national programs in China, USA, Great Britain, and Germany. China’s high economic growth rate is due not only to low cost of labor, but also to the fact of joining the World Trade Organization and large-scale infrastructure investments. Successful experience of infrastructural programs’ implementation in the UK is mostly due to the fact that the selection of projects is based on their social and economic significance and is made in accordance with the goals of public policy. Public and private partnership (PPP) is a popular mechanism for infrastructure projects’ financing. However, there are cases of inefficient public and private partnership (PPP) projects. Risks of a private partner may not correspond to the level of required profitability even under conditions of strategic decision making when project is supported by the state. Infrastructural bonds are an effective tool for public and private partnership (PPP) in conditions of a shortage of credit resources for the construction of expensive infrastructural facilities. Risks associated with project implementation can be reduced thank to management quality. Public control encourages the state to evaluate large infrastructural projects in terms of economic benefits and potential environmental, and social consequences. The issues of infrastructural development are relevant for Russian regions. The gap between demand and actual investment is 1.63% of GDP. National infrastructure projects should be implemented in accordance with goals and objectives of strategies of social and economic development.

Structural medicine: towards an economy of care

Under the Biden–Harris administration, there is renewed attention on inequalities in the USA that have exacerbated vulnerability to the COVID-19 pandemic and manifested as racial and class disparities in morbidity, mortality, and vaccination.1,2 With public health now at the centre of national priorities, there is an opportunity to reverse the decades-long dismantling of US welfare systems that has weakened public health and exacerbated racial inequities.3,4 As the US plans for pandemic recovery, we encourage the medical community to advocate for large-scale infrastructure investments to build systems of economic and social protection that are pivotal for pandemic preparedness and public safety.

Improving the capital deployment efficiency: An infrastructure investment planning process in transportation project

Transport infrastructure investments constitute 31% of the world's capital investments. However, there is a significant gap between the demand for large-scale transport infrastructure and investments in such infrastructure. An investigation into the causes of the above gap brings to light the inefficiencies of the current capital deployment practices throughout the project life cycle that result in additional expenditure over the optimal investments. This paper aims to review the existing body of knowledge on capital deployment efficiencies of large-scale transport infrastructure investments. The review looks into the causes of inefficiencies and practices applied for efficiency enhancement. Pareto analysis is used to prioritise the causes, and a cause and effect diagram is drawn to identify the root causes for inefficiencies. Finally, practices applied in different stages of the project life cycle are discussed. Based on these findings, a decision support outline is suggested to enhance the efficiency of each identified cause. The findings of this study provide an important foundation to set up a strategic approach to improve capital deployment efficiency of large-scale transport infrastructure investments. Accordingly, a strategic approach is proposed in policy, organisation, and project level activities to improve the capital deployment efficiency of large-scale transportation infrastructure investments in developing countries. Existing studies primarily focus on the technological advancements, without focusing on healthier governance practices. Therefore, it is essential to address the technical advancement and better governance practices to get the best value for investments. Further research is suggested on the application of a strategic approach in different types of projects.

2020 roadmap on plasma accelerators

Plasma-based accelerators use the strong electromagnetic fields that can be supported by plasmas to accelerate charged particles to high energies. Accelerating field structures in plasma can be generated by powerful laser pulses or charged particle beams. This research field has recently transitioned from involving a few small-scale efforts to the development of national and international networks of scientists supported by substantial investment in large-scale research infrastructure. In this New Journal of Physics 2020 Plasma Accelerator Roadmap, perspectives from experts in this field provide a summary overview of the field and insights into the research needs and developments for an international audience of scientists, including graduate students and researchers entering the field.

Fractured fiscal authority and fragmented infrastructures: Financing sustainable urban development in Sub-Saharan Africa

The current global development agendas provide relatively little guidance on how the incredible challenge of sustainable urban development in Africa can and should be financed. This paper makes the case for understanding this development challenge at the nexus of urban governance and city infrastructure. Tracing African urban development trends over the post-colonial period, the paper makes three arguments. First, African cities experience fractured fiscal authority. Decentralization reforms have resulted in contested and complex city governance arrangements. Second, large scale infrastructure investments have been the focus of donors and investors. This has resulted in fragmented networks and systems. Finally, these two processes together have created fertile ground for the emergence of hybrid systems of service delivery in cities. This has implications for both how urban services are governed and their material arrangements. This reality, and the underlying processes which contributed to its production, are under-accounted for within global development discourses. In conclusion, it is crucial that new models of infrastructure finance are developed to respond to the fractured fiscal authority, fragmented infrastructure networks, and hybrid service delivery patterns which characterise African cities.

Public Space, Tourism and Mobility. Projects, Impacts and Tensions in Lisbon’s Urban Regeneration Dynamics

In the wake of severe economic slowdown during the 2008-2015 crisis, and despite continued constraints on public investment in large scale infrastructure, Lisbon is emerging as one of the most attractive destinations in Europe. Tourism has been driving major spatial, functional and social changes, initially in the city’s historical districts, and nowadays exerts impact across a much larger urban and regional area. Tourism, together with new drivers of the real-estate market, is promoting the renovation of formerly vacant or rundown built stock, taking advantage of a rather fragile socio-economic milieu and changing the face of residential, commercial and public space landscapes. Recently upgraded transportation nodes and extensive improvements on public space have also played a meaningful role in this process. Central government and municipality rationale have underpinned its role in providing accessibility, “attractivity”, and “heritage valorisation”, aiming to attract young residents after decades of resident population decline. In contrast to considerable public investment in public space and infrastructure, very limited funding or policy has been targeted at maintaining an affordable housing and real-estate market: thus leaving much of the public investment return to the private sector. Criticism of gentrification and “touristification”, rising housing prices, and pressure on infrastructure is growing accordingly. The paper provides insight into aspects of this process, with a focus on the relational aspects of mobility upgrade, public space renewal and inner-city urban regeneration. Several urban projects are mapped and broadly characterised in their spatial and functional relationship with tourism. An interpretative framework that combines them with the forms of territorialisation and the main conflicts and tensions is offered as a contribution to the ongoing discussion. Conclusions point to the complex and powerful role that public space and mobility infrastructure play in the impact of territorialising tourism: as supports for better qualified, multi-scalar and shared urban spaces and as drivers of a more balanced, diverse and socially-inclusive urban tourism development.

Development of geo-tagging video app to assist road development projects in the Philippines

The Philippines consists of over 7000 separate islands, of which around 2000 are populated. In a drive to promote economic growth and prosperity, the government, together with the World Bank, is investing heavily in road building. In order to realise the strategic vision for this road investment programme, the following major challenges were identified. (a) The Philippines road network is extensive yet fragmented, and falls under the responsibility of many levels of government. (b) There is currently no comprehensive mapping of the road network. (c) Historically, road investment has been opaque and highly politicised, with poor governance and corruption undermining delivery. Good financial governance without visibility or transparency is almost impossible to achieve. Smartphones were chosen as the tool to provide the required levels of accountability needed for large-scale infrastructure investment projects. Using the built-in video recording and global positioning system capabilities of these widely available devices, the major investors were able to see exactly where and why road building is needed and to monitor how their money is spent. This innovative solution has proven to be a success and is now being considered as the template for how similar investments can be monitored in countries of a similar nature.

Land in urban debates: Unpacking the grab–development dichotomy

On the heels of the rural ‘land grab’ debate, the ongoing urban transition combined with large-scale urban infrastructure investments and land scarcity forces us to also pay more attention to issues of land in urban discussions. Yet how can we conceptualise land-related problems in order to connect and integrate rural and urban debates in overarching discussions of development? In this commentary, we argue for moving beyond the directly visible outcomes and presumed ‘culprits’ of land investments by critically analysing indirect and long-term effects of land acquisitions on people’s livelihoods as well as the differentiation of these effects for different actors. We propose three specific arguments to disentangle the grab–development dichotomy: 1) placing a focus on the sequential chain of effects of displacement; 2) paying more attention to the ambivalent roles and contradictory interests of different actors; and 3) taking the three-dimensional aspects of land development into account.

The drivers of air pollution in the development of western China: The case of Sichuan province

Abstract China has implemented the “Western Development Strategy” to support the socioeconomic development of its western region since 2000. The development progress, however, appears to come at the cost of air quality. Reversing this trend is imperative for both the public and the Chinese government, which has frequently emphasized its commitment to not repeat the “pollution first and then treatment” experience of developed countries. With official statistical information and data from peer-reviewed literature, this study estimates the fine particles (PM2.5), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions of the economic sectors of Sichuan province, which is the largest economy in western China, and uses structural decomposition analysis to measure the contribution of different socioeconomic driving forces to the emissions change from 2002 to 2012. The results show that, the efficiency gains of PM2.5 and SO2 have prevailed over the emissions-increasing effect of economic expansion, while for NOX, the efficiency contribution still lags behind the impact of economic scale. The large-scale infrastructure investment and the rapid expansion of the real estate sector boosted Sichuan's economy but exacerbated regional air pollution. Overall, a more emissions-efficient, material-efficient and structurally-optimized production system is the overarching pollution reduction strategy. In addition, the GDP structure should be optimized to more adequately meet the changing consumption demands of the public instead of merely investing in profitable but emissions-heavy sectors such as construction.

On-grid batteries for large-scale energy storage: Challenges and opportunities for policy and technology

ABSTRACT