Planning Methodology Research Articles

ЧИННИКИ І ШЛЯХИ РОЗВИТКУ ЦИФРОВІЗАЦІЇ В УКРАЇНІ

З’ясовано поточний стан процесів цифровізації в Україні, напрями і шляхи прискорення її цифрового розвитку. Розкрито зміст і проаналізовано фактори сприяння й гальмування цифрових перетворень, серед яких: наявний вагомий людський потенціал ІТ-сектору, доступність інтернет-зв’язку, впровадження цифрових ініціатив Європейського Союзу, діяльність спільнот, фактори інституційного середовища і цифрової інфраструктури. Показано, що впровадження технічних рішень єдиного європейського цифрового ринку для обміну електронними даними (eCommerce, eDelivery, eCustom) є безпечним, надійним і перевіреним способом, що пов’язує бізнес не тільки з країнами ЄС, але й за його межами. Проаналізовано становлення ІКТ-сектору в Україні за останні більш як 20 років через призму розробки та впровадження законодавчих і нормативних актів, напрямів і заходів державної політики у цій сфері. Виявлено переваги, недоліки й прогалини в інституційному середовищі країни. Акцентовано на перевагах програмно-цільового підходу і методології стратегічного планування для розв’язання комплексних проблем соціально-економічного розвитку. Доведено неефективність розробки і впровадження законодавчих ініціатив у відриві від загальнонаціональних цілей та пріоритетів. Обґрунтовано необхідність і доцільність розробки Державної цільової програми розвитку сектору ІКТ в Україні, оновлення існуючої Концепції цифрового розвитку економіки та суспільства і формування державної промислової політики. Розроблено пропозиції щодо створення в Україні потужного виробничого потенціалу цифрової індустрії та прискореного зведення національної цифрової інфраструктури. Розкрито перспективні напрями цифровізації в Україні, до яких віднесено: штучний інтелект, технології розподіленого реєстру і квантові обчислення. Запропоновано відновити практику розробки державних довго- і середньострокових планів соціально-економічного розвитку країни як системної основи для розгортання галузевих ініціатив з цифровізації.

Модели устойчивого социально-экономического развития горных регионов Южной Сибири

The aim of the study was to analyze the models of sustainable development mountain regions of Southern Siberia by the example of Altai and Tyva Republics. Materials and research methods. The study was based on the methodology of system analysis and strategic planning. Strategic documents of socio-economic development of Altai and Tyva Republics were used. Discussion. Peculiar features of the Altai Republic development are characterized by a weak diversified economy, a low living standard of the population, a poorly developed social and engineering infrastructure, bad transport development and connection with other territories, including unstable energy supply. The analysis of its Development Strategy suggests that the ecological tourism development may be take a leading position here in the near future. The Republic of Tuva is distinguished by other strategic development guidelines. Since post-reform years, the development of the republic is associated with the construction of the Kyzyl-Kuragino railway and industrialization, i.e. the development of rich mineral deposits. Currently, the transport system of Tyva is represented by automobile, air and domestic seasonal water traffic, which needs development and reconstruction, there are also problems with the energy supply of the region. Conclusion. Mountainous relief, unique natural conditions of the Altai and Tyva republics are key conditions in the development of these regions. The Altai Republic has chosen an environmentally oriented model with the preservation of nature and the development of ecological tourism. The Republic of Tuva continues the traditional industrial path - the development of mineral deposits. From the point of view of the authors, the traditional industrial path of development is unacceptable for mountainous areas and may lead to the depletion of natural resources, environmental degradation and the loss of national and ethnic identity of the population.

Optimal sizing of a grid-connected microgrid and operation validation using HOMER Pro and DIgSILENT

Microgrids adoption around all world is increasing with different aims as to integrate renewable generation, providing energy to rural zones, reducing CO2 emissions, or simply as an alternative for energy independence. However, the planning and operation of microgrids can be a challenging task because it involves many economical, technical, environmental aspects. This work presents a methodology for planning and validating a grid-connected microgrid using two well-known software that facilitates the design. The planning process is performed in HOMER Pro to size and select appropriate generation sources, while the possible implementation on a real distribution network is validated in DigSILENT. Numerical results show the optimal sizing process of a grid-connected microgrid for a university campus based on real data and the technical validation based on Colombian regulatory aspects.

How to get your message across: designing an impactful knowledge transfer plan in a European project

Abstract. Academic research is largely characterized by scientific projects striving to advance understanding in their respective fields. Financial support is often subject to the fulfilllment of certain requirements, such as a fully developed knowledge transfer (KT) plan and dissemination strategy. However, the evaluation of these activities and their impact is rarely an easy path to clarity and comprehensiveness, considering the different expectations from project officers and funding agencies or dissemination activities and objectives. With this paper, based on the experience of the management and outreach team of the EU-H2020 APPLICATE project, we aim to shed light on the challenging journey towards impact assessment of KT activities by presenting a methodology for impact planning and monitoring in the context of a collaborative and international research project. Through quantitative and qualitative evaluations and indicators developed in 4 years of the project, this paper represents an attempt to build a common practice for project managers and coordinators and establish a baseline for the development of a shared strategy. Our experience found that an assessment strategy should be included in the planning of the project as a key framing step, that the individual project's goals and objectives should drive the definition and assessment of impact and that the researchers involved are crucial to implement a project's outreach strategy.

DETERMINATION OF RATIONAL PARAMETERS OF PSEUDOMIXING BY COMPLEX MODELLING OF WORK PROCESSES

The area of improving the quality of the formation of mixtures upon mixing in the food industry is relevant since the improvement of technology and equipment for processing components by various methods, nature, and degree of influence is practically achievable for their improvement. The purpose of this study was to improve the design parameters and increase the efficiency of the mixer by creating conditions that will ensure the optimisation of the dissolution kinetics of a dispersed mixture of flour and liquid components during their pseudo-mixing in a suspended state. This study considered the properties of raw materials based on methods for determining their quality, laboratory methods and tools for conducting research were proposed with the established planning methodology with analysis of the results obtained, and the Flow Vision software package was used in plotting based on the laws of thermodynamics. The experimental data set was processed using a mathematical description of the process of forming the liquid flow and the dispersed flow of flour particles. The study used an incomplete multivariate model of the approximation of the experimental data of the function of three variables in the form of polynomials according to the three-level Box-Behnken plan with 13 experiments performed in 5-fold repetition. Periodic mixers were analysed, and the redistribution and transformation of deformations under optimal mixing modes was considered. The interaction of components and their flow dynamics while minimising energy consumption was established. The authors determined the influence of fluidisation and vibration during the dosing period of the components on the intensification of the interaction of the dispersed phase according to the principle of discrete-pulse energy input, which creates rapid changes in the movement of the components. The functional dependence of the uniformity of the formation of bubbles of the medium on three factors υt=f(h, V, υс) was obtained with the verification of the homogeneity of dispersions, the adequacy of the obtained functional dependence and the search for its optimum. The materials considered in this paper represent the practical value of the effective process of uniform distribution of recipe components in the working chamber of the mixer design under study, with the creation of favourable conditions for the formation of the foam structure

Best Practice in Government Use and Development of Long-Term Energy Transition Scenarios

Long-term energy scenarios (LTES) have been serving as an important planning tool by a wide range of institutions. This article focuses on how LTES have been used (and also devised in some cases) in the government sector, and specifically how the new challenges and opportunities brought by the aspiration for the clean energy transition change the way that governments use LTES. The information tends to remain tacit, and a gap exists in understanding the way to enhance LTES use and development at the government level. To address this gap, we draw on the experience from national institutions that are leading the improvement in official energy scenario planning to articulate a set of overarching best practices to (i) strengthen LTES development, (ii) effectively use LTES for strategic energy planning and (iii) enhance institutional capacity for LTES-based energy planning, all in the context of new challenges associated with the clean energy transition. We present implementation experience collected through the International Renewable Agency’s LTES Network activities to exemplify these best practices. We highlight that in the context of the broad and complex challenges of a clean energy transition driven by ambitious climate targets, the LTES-based energy planning methodologies need to evolve, reflecting the changing landscapes, and that more effective and extensive use of LTES in government needs to be further encouraged.

Characterization of Uncertainties in Smart City Planning: A Case Study of the Smart Metering Deployment

Making cities smart represents a major potential for sustainable development, where both the quality of life and the economy improve. Implementing new and efficient solutions in a smart city involves a large spectrum of uncertainties related to the size and project complexity. Characterization and assessment of the variables uncertainty in planning methodology seem necessary to reach the best decision about the best approach to achieve favorable realization outcomes for planned projects. By including uncertainties in the planning, assessment makes it possible to calculate result uncertainties for all expectations, and project cost-effectiveness. In this way, planning can be improved, if the most important parameters of result uncertainties are identified, better defined, and controlled. This study describes a parameter uncertainty characterization methodology applied on the cost-benefit analysis of smart city development with a case study, focused on smart metering infrastructure. Parameter uncertainty characterization is performed based on its variable nature (epistemic and aleatory), time-dependency, and the available information. Cost-benefit analysis results are given as both point value and as uncertainties. Uncertainty is considered for 25 variables of investment and operating costs, and benefits estimation. The presented methodology in smart city planning provides a way to better identify the critical parameters for achieving the defined objectives.

Re-use of built environment - Strategic planning of sampling locations for the environmental impact assessment of former airports: The use-case of the former Hellenikon airport in Athens, Greece

The interaction between the built environment and its surrounding ecosystem needs to be taken into account when reuse activities are planned. The bilateral influence of building assets on their surroundings creates a continuity of impacts that exists even when the building stock is replaced; the surrounding environment projects part of the prior impact to the new constructions. A special case of built environment reuse regards the redevelopment of former airports. Such major redevelopment projects require comprehensive environmental impact assessment studies, which necessitate significant resources for the collection of the required documentation and measured data. This work regards a methodology of strategic planning of sampling locations for the assessment of the environmental impact and pollution levels at former airports. It is developed and applied in the use-case of the former Hellenikon airport in Athens, but it can be used to other large-area redevelopment cases.

Planificación Estratégica para la gestión Universitaria, experiencia de la Facultad de Enfermería

In search of achieving better results in university management, the Faculty of Nursing of the University of the Republic has adopted changes in its way of thinking and doing management. Following a central policy of the University, a process of abandoning work by tasks began and began to work by objectives, applying the methodology of Strategic Planning. This article aims to report the experience in the stages of design, monitoring and evaluation of the first Strategic Plan of the Faculty of Nursing. Reports from professors and data from administrative systems were used as a source of information. Collective participation meetings were held for the different interest groups that make up the institution (students, graduates, teachers, and technical, administrative, and service officials) and online surveys. As a result, it was observed that the preparation of the Strategic Plan was a process of collective creation, which led to the incorporation of the objectives in the respective annual operating plans of the directors. Monitoring and evaluation were partially carried out by a specialized academic unit created for such purposes. The final evaluation also involved significant participation from all the Faculty's interest groups. Regarding the achievements of the objectives of the Plan, a satisfactory scope of 80 % was observed, while 11 % were partially fulfilled. The results of the process and the scope of the objectives show the benefit of using the Strategic Planning methodology for the management of the Faculty.

Authentication of Opinion on the Issue of Hearing of ‘Atā bin Abī Rabāḥ from Abdullāh bin ‘Umar

Topic: This research addresses the matter of hearing by Ataa ibn Abi Rabah from ibn Omer Objective: The research seeks to highlight whether or not the narration of ‘Ataa Ibn Abi Rabah from Ibn Umar is acceptable, through compilation of the sayings of the scholars on it and studying them. The nature of this research demanded that it has to be constituted of an introduction, three areas of research and a conclusion as follows: Introduction: I mentioned in it the significance of the topic, the previous studies, the research plan and my methodology. 1st Area: Statements of confirmers of hearing by Ataa from ibn Omer and their evidences and has two requirements: 2nd Area: statements of deniers of hearing by Ataa from ibn Omer and their evidences, and it includes two requirements: 3rd Area : The most probable statement and the reason for probability and I mentioned in it the evidences of weighting that appeared to me with its evidence. Conclusion: I mentioned in it the most important findings. Then I appended the research with an index of the resources and references and an index of contents.

A Methodology for Planning and Prioritisation of Rural Roads in Bangladesh

Local government bodies and other concerned agencies in developing countries spend a considerable amount of money on rural road development. However, in the absence of any robust and systematic methodology, road development largely relies on ad-hoc decisions and subjective judgement of public officials. Such a decision-making process often leads to inefficient resource allocation bypassing equity and long-term societal benefits. Although there are some established methodologies for road network planning, complexities exist in applying those methods. First, most of the established methods are not suitable for rural road development, particularly regarding the volume and nature of traffic on them. Second, some methods are highly complex and lack practical applicability. Third, road development planning should not be top-down alone but ensure the participation of local stakeholders. Given these limitations, this study proposes a methodology—Rural Road Planning and Prioritisation Model (RPPM). It consists of two major components (i) developing a core network in participation with local stakeholders and (ii) prioritisation of roads based on Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) and Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). The proposed method is piloted in one district, and a web-based software is also developed for practical implementation by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh. The paper also discusses the results of the pilot study.

Socio-Economic Situation in Latvia's Municipalities in the Context of Administrative-Territorial Division and Unexpected Impact of COVID-19

In this research, the authors analysed how the behaviour of people changed in various phases of the COVID-19 pandemic and how these changes affected the economic activity in municipalities, taking into consideration significant changes in people’s habits and employment conditions. The pandemic coincided with the administrative-territorial reform in Latvia, providing a unique opportunity to test and ascertain in a single research both the above-mentioned changes in the economic activity of inhabitants and the viability of the new administrative-territorial division vis-a-vis the new reality. The developed regional planning methodology based on the mobile phone activity data and socio-economic indicators (set of indicators provided by regional development state institutions) is used to categorize the 43 newly formed municipalities into similar groups. It is concluded that the aggregated indicators have a significant impact on the division of municipalities: Inhabitants, Dynamics indicator, Economic development level, Mobile phone activity on workdays, holidays and weekends.

Unexpected Change of Surgical Plans and Contingency Strategies in Computer-Assisted Free Flap Jaw Reconstruction: Lessons Learned From 98 Consecutive Cases.

BackgroundComputer-assisted surgeries (CAS) are increasingly being adopted as the treatment of choice for jaw reconstructions with osseous free flaps. Although unexpected change of surgical plans remains a major concern of CAS, there are few studies focusing on this unfavorable clinical scenario. The aim of the present study was to investigate the rate of unexpected change of surgical plans and potential influential parameters, and to discuss the contingency strategies.MethodsA retrospective study was performed to evaluate all the patients who underwent computer-assisted jaw resections and osseous free flap reconstructions. The postoperative radiographs were reviewed and compared with the preoperative surgical plans. Operating records were examined to analyze the reasons for unexpected change of surgical plans and the management. The potential influential parameters for the change of surgical plans were analyzed using Fisher-exact test. The difference was regarded as statistically significant for a p-value less than 5%.ResultsFrom Nov 2014 to Oct 2021, a total of 98 consecutive computer-assisted free flap jaw reconstruction cases with osseous free flaps were included in this study. Our experience showed that 5.1% of the patients (five cases) needed intra-operative change of the surgical plans. We summarized the unexpected change of surgical plans and the contingency strategies as four clinical scenarios, including extended resection and reconstruction, shortened resection and reconstruction, modified resection without changing reconstruction, and modified reconstruction without changed resection. None of the potential influential parameters was identified as significant in relation to unexpected change of surgical plans intraoperatively.ConclusionOur experience shows that with the comprehensive methodology for computer-assisted free flap jaw reconstruction surgery planning, we can minimize the possibility of unexpected change of surgical plans during surgery. The lessons learned from our 98 consecutive cases can help beginners prevent unexpected change of surgical plans and rationalize contingency strategies in computer-assisted free flap jaw reconstruction.

Organizational design: the case of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in a healthcare centre.

Only recently Anti-Covid-19 strategies have been applied through specific vaccines, that are a decisive support to modify the evolution of the disease and to reduce the contagion curve. Along vaccination campaigns, the necessity to guarantee rapidity and effectiveness is a critical challenge for all health organizations; their operative capability is applied to carry out govern plans, to ensure safety of the procedures, to adopt good clinical practices, to help with adhesion to vaccine administration and to monitor adverse effects. The "Centro Clinico Morgagni" is a private accredited diagnosis and treatment Centre with high specialty departments and several hospital beds. The challenge for its administration was to complete the vaccination of all the staff, so a COVID19 crisis unit was established to assure the control of all activities in the center throughout the pandemic. The goal was to complete the vaccination plan following the guidelines with no risks or harm. An original organizational model, based on different planning methodologies was developed, its task was to define a standard procedure and to give operational instructions based on ISO 9001 for monitoring the entire vaccination process. Also, the model had to define every responsibility role and it had to follow Joint Commission International's methodologies as far as error barriers, drug conservation risks, drug transport and drug administration were concerned.Furthermore, in agreement with the HACCP system, critical control points were highlighted during all the process. The results have been processed in the form of quick references and illustrative panels based on relevant process aspects, which were given to the staff involved in the operations as reference tools for prompt consultation. The vaccination operations at the Centro Clinico Morgagni took place quickly in only four days: 800 staff units were vaccinated - first and second doses with Covid19 mRNA BNT162b2 (Cominraty) - in three different vaccination centers without highlighting significant events that did not comply with the guidelines, nor deviations from the established goals. More precisely, starting from 277 bottles corresponding to six doses each, only 0.2% was wasted, while ADR monitoring reported a prevalence of adverse effects in females (78%) compared to males (22%). Adhesion for vaccination of qualified personnel, thanks to the activities of the Medical College set up for this purpose, reached 100% of the candidate staff through repeated personalized interviews with only one opposition, compared to the 30 communicated at the beginning. It was necessary to ensure the efficiency of the entire process and the model was tested positively. This model can also provide a security control of all the vaccinated personnel; its schematization allows an easy application and flexibility, thus making it an organizational tool that could be reproduced and transferred to other contexts.

A State-of-the-Art Review of Bridge Inspection Planning: Current Situation and Future Needs

Inspections are important to ensuring adequate safety and performance of a bridge throughout its service life. Bridge inspections are highly connected with maintenance decisions and can help in managing maintenance activities while maintaining a reliable bridge network. Routine inspections are the most common type of highway bridge inspections in the United States. The National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) requires that, for almost all bridges, a routine inspection should be conducted at least every 24 months. However, limitations of current bridge inspection practices impact the quality of information provided about bridge conditions and the subsequent decisions made based on that information. Much research in the field of bridge inspection planning has been conducted to assist bridge inspectors in the inspection planning process and improving routine inspections. Accordingly, the goal of this study is to provide an overview on current bridge inspection practices in the United States and conduct a systematic literature review on innovations in the field bridge inspections planning while investigating research gaps and future needs. This paper provides a background on the history of bridge inspection in the United States, including current bridge inspection practices and their limitations and analyzes the connections between nondestructive evaluation techniques, deterioration models, and bridge inspection management. The primary emphasis of the paper is a thorough analysis of research proposing and investigating different methodologies for inspection planning and scheduling. Studies were analyzed and categorized into three main types of inspection planning approaches, based on: reliability, risk-analysis, and optimization approaches. The study revealed gaps and limitations in the current proposed techniques for inspection planning. The findings of this review will help in characterizing the current state of bridge inspection programs and future research needs to enhance inspection programs and reduce the gap between inspection practice and research.

SUPPORT FOR CLUSTER INITIATIVES AND CLUSTER POLICY (CASE STUDY OF THE EUROREGION "THE LOWER DANUBE")

The purpose of the article is to investigate the essence and significance of the cluster initiative and the cluster policy as tools for strategic development and increasing of the economy competitiveness of the Euroregion “The Lower Danube” based on the analysis of factors providing state support for cluster initiatives in the context of the promotion of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region. The theoretical and methodological background is the works of Ukrainian and foreign academic economists studying general systems theory, systemic analysis, and also strategic planning methodology at enterprise, regional and national levels. The research is based on the fundamental provisions of economic theory, the theory of strategic planning, institutionalism, regional and global economics, cluster theory, the location theory, the growth pole theory, M. Porter’s competitive theory, networked economy theory, spatial economic agglomeration, as well as modern theoretical developments on the problems of formation and implementation of the Euroregional policy of the EU. The research hypothesis is the assumption that the cluster approach is the most effective mechanism for the development of international economic cooperation in modern conditions and, eventually, the meso-level of competitive cross-border integration systems and a necessary requirement for qualitative growth of Ukraine’s integration into the European Economic Area. The goal statement can be described as a meso-economic synthesis of concepts of the development of innovation clusters and international integration associations. Based on the analysis of problems of formation and development of clusters, the methods and tools of state support of cluster initiatives are explained, and the most important strategic directions of activity of executive bodies aimed at stimulating the processes of formation and development of clusters in the Euroregion “The Lower Danube” are formulated. Cluster policy aimed at stimulating cluster initiatives with a further formation of cross-border innovation clusters can be considered as one of the effective tools for intensifying innovation activity in the Euroregion “The Lower Danube”. The authors conclude that the creation of cross-border clusters in the Euroregion “The Lower Danube” with the participation of Odesa region of Ukraine is associated with the necessity to form a united cross-border area. At the same time, the state is given a leading role in ensuring a favorable cluster environment (including the reduction of barriers to trade) and stimulating international cooperation. It is proposed to develop meso-level integration processes within the Common Economic Space of Euroregions, with the active participation of Ukraine on the basis of a cluster approach, forming cross-border cluster systems based on competition, cross-border cooperation, virtualization of interinstitutional networks and formation of “clouds” of highly efficient intercluster interactions.

Multistage reliability-based expansion planning of ac distribution networks using a mixed-integer linear programming model

A new mathematical model for the multistage distribution network expansion planning problem considering reliability is proposed in this paper. Decisions related to substation and branch expansion are driven by the minimization of the total cost, which comprises investment and operating costs including the impact of reliability. The proposed model features two main novelties. First, a set of novel algebraic expressions is devised for a standard reliability index, namely the expected energy not supplied. As a result, the dependence of reliability on network topology is explicitly and effectively cast in the mathematical formulation of the planning problem at hand. In addition, the effect of the network is characterized by a computationally efficient piecewise linear representation of the ac power flow model that takes into account both real and reactive power. The resulting optimization problem is formulated as an instance of mixed-integer linear programming, which provides a suitable framework for the attainment of high-quality solutions with acceptable computational effort using efficient off-the-shelf software with well-known convergence properties. The effectiveness of the proposed planning methodology is empirically demonstrated by providing cheaper expansion plans that enhance system reliability and by achieving better computational results as compared with state-of-the-art models.

How stable are visions for protected area management? Stakeholder perspectives before and during a pandemic

Abstract Envisioning processes enable protected area managers to chart a course for future management to reach desired goals, but unexpected changes that could affect future visions are not usually considered. The global COVID‐19 pandemic provided an opportunity to explore changes in stakeholder visions, the values that underpin the visions, and their perceptions of landscape changes and the underlying drivers (e.g. climate change, mass tourism and demographic trends). Through a mixed‐methods approach in this post‐evaluation study, we gathered comparative data on these issues from stakeholders in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, Spain, between July 2019 (pre‐pandemic) and October 2020 (mid‐pandemic). Our qualitative analysis demonstrates that pre‐pandemic, differences in visions for protected area management were largely spurred by different perceptions of drivers of change, rather than differences in values or perceived landscape changes, which were similar across different vision themes. One year later, in the midst of the COVID‐19 pandemic, the majority of stakeholders reported that their values, visions and perceptions of drivers did not change despite this large‐scale disturbance. Of the 20%–30% of stakeholders that did report changes, visions generally shifted towards greater prioritization of biodiversity and nature conservation as a result of heightened perceptions of the impacts of drivers of change associated with an increase in the numbers of park visitors. These drivers included mass tourism, mountain recreation, lack of environmental awareness, and change in values and traditions. Our findings reinforce the importance of adaptive and inclusive management of protected areas, including enhancing transparency and communications regarding factors driving change in the landscape, and integration of local and traditional knowledge and stakeholder perceptions of changes and drivers. Furthermore, management plans integrating stakeholder values have the potential to stay relevant even in the face of wildcard events such as a pandemic. To enhance the relevancy of visions and scenarios in conservation and land‐use planning, scenario planning methodologies should more strongly consider different potential disturbances and how drivers of change in the near and far future can be affected by wildcard events such as a pandemic.

A Survey of Traditional and Customized Bus Transportation Planning Methodologies

Transportation planning is an area of public policy that is increasingly recognized for having a significant impact on human health and well-being. Passengers all across the world are choosing bus transit as one of the most cost-effective ways of transportation. The number of passengers who use this mode of transportation is steadily increasing. According to statistics, the bus was India's most popular mode of transportation in 2014. A bus was viewed as a mode of transportation by 66 percent of families in rural areas and 62 percent of households in urban areas. With increased demand, there is a concern about efficiently organizing this service. Because a lack of planning can generate major problems in the real world, such as traffic jams and high operating expenses, it is a source of concern for corporate and government entities who provide this service. In this paper, a review on various bus transit planning approaches and stages and methodologies used in each stage of the customized bus planning strategy is presented. This study will assist bus service organizing entities, whether private or public, in efficiently organizing bus service

An antifragile strategy for Rome post-Covid mobility

We are aware that we will have to live with COVID-19 at least until the vaccination of a minimum percentage of the population will guarantee the achievement of “herd immunity”. Until then, it is proved that the most effective strategy to limit contagion is social distancing. Despite the adoption of countermeasures, this strategy is having heavy effects on the economy and social relations, putting the issue of people’s mobility at the centre of attention (OECD, 2020a; Un-habitat, 2020). This moment must therefore represent the opportunity to build an urban resilience strategy around mobility policies based on necessary “anti-fragile” scenarios (Taleb, 2008; Blečić & Cecchini, 2016), seizing this phase for an urban and social transformation capable of strengthening the complex “city” system toward “a new normal” (OECD, 2020b). In some Italian and foreign cities, the partial reopening carried out from May 2020 led to the resumption of some productive activities. The consequent increase in the flows has given rise to a complex challenge related to the reorganization of mobility. Rome has put in place measures such as the strengthening of public transport during peak hours and the start of the construction of 150 km of cycle paths, already foreseen by the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) of 2019. However, it falls behind cities like Milan and Bologna, who have drawn up specific documents such as Adaptation Strategies and Emergency Plans for Sustainable Mobility, promptly engaged in the reorganization of mobility following the example of other European cities (such as Barcelona, Paris, Vienna) that pursue clear objectives and long-standing strategies of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Nevertheless, the backwardness of Rome also deals with the complexity of the urban “form” of the city and its immeasurable extension, as well as to the paucity of municipal mobility policies of the last decades. In view of a “post-COVID” phase, two essential factors are overriding: the demand for travel (Who should move? From where to where? How?) and the supply of urban and metropolitan mobility. However, it is necessary to counter immediately the risk of an uncontrolled return to the use of private vehicles, which, for Rome in particular, would mean the collapse of the city, also related to an immediate increase in atmospheric pollution and roads accidents. The paper is aimed at proposing an anti-fragile strategy for Roman mobility, starting from the functional and morphological analysis of the Roman settlement system, related to its articulation and specificities, which constitute a fundamental component in evaluating the potential and weaknesses of new mobility scenarios, highlighting the relationships between forms of the city and mobility models.The proposal for a planning methodology, based on the identification of the “elementary urban units” of the “theoretical grid” (Vittorini, 1987; Cerasoli, 2008), is supported by the international debate and practices of the last decades (Superillas in Barcelona; 15-minutes city model; Good Moove Plan in Bruxelles) and by the arising temporary practices in the Covid-19 phase. A planning methodology that will be able to easily switch from emergency to ordinary, combining ordinary and post-COVID extraordinary funds.