Mobility Policies Research Articles

Effect of treated wastewater irrigation on ornamental plants: Case study of Lantana and Hibiscus, Morocco

AbstractIn water stressed countries such as Morocco, the use of treated wastewater represents a strategic perspective for sustainable agricultural development. However, technological and management innovations are needed to make it feasible and effective. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of irrigation with treated wastewater compared with fresh water on the growth of two ornamental plants: Rosa Sinensis hibiscus and Lantana Camara. The study also aimed to examine the impact of treated wastewater on the hydraulic performance of different irrigation systems. To carry out this study, irrigation was applied by two irrigation systems: subsurface drip irrigation and surface drip irrigation. Also, two sources of water were compared: treated wastewater from the WWTP of M'zar (tertiary treatment) and well water, each for a duration of 2 months. The results obtained showed that the treated wastewater generally promoted a better development of agronomic parameters such as height, number of branches, leaves, and flowers for both plants. The same observation was also made regarding the esthetical parameter. For the irrigation system effect, the results obtained showed a better development under the subsurface drip irrigation system; thus, the combination of treated wastewater and subsurface drip irrigation provided the best results for both plants. Regarding the hydraulic performance of the irrigation system, no risk of clogging of the distributors was observed in relation to the water quality; the uniformity coefficient and distribution uniformity remained above 90%. It can therefore be deduced that the use of treated wastewater for irrigation of green spaces should be at the heart of water resource mobilization policies. in fact, it represents an excellent alternative for promoting national water management strategies.

Communities as Global Actors in Counterhegemonic Policy Mobilities: Lessons from the Community Land Trust Movement

Communities as Global Actors in Counterhegemonic Policy Mobilities: Lessons from the Community Land Trust Movement

Solutions in search of a problem: Opening policy windows for Business Improvement Districts in the Nordic countries

Policy mobility literature invites us to consider the power-laden processes of how urban policies are exported, mimicked, and transformed in different urban contexts. However, recent critique has highlighted the need for a fuller understanding of urban policy context to understand where and when policies come to be implemented in new settings and how they are transformed. The purpose of this study is to explore understandings of urban policy context in a comparative study of policy mobility, and specifically relations between internationally packaged concepts, local pilot projects and national level actors. We develop a framework for understanding these relations in policy mobility based on case studies of BID policy development in Sweden and Denmark drawing on both Policy Mobility literature and a Multiple Streams Approach. The main finding is that local pilots play a key role in translating packaged policy concepts but also serve as ‘proof of concept’ for further institutionalization. The way these pilots are discursively situated in relation to ‘problems’ is therefore of central importance for further implementation. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of policy entrepreneurs that connect local pilots (and discursive problems) with national level actors, and political opportunities.

Mobile Keynesianism: Linking policy mobility and state transformation in New Zealand, 1930–70

AbstractThe study of policy mobility has revealed the rich geographical life of policy, demonstrating the very real ways in which policy enacted in one place often references policy enacted elsewhere, and how in doing so, it changes and evolves as it is constantly adopted and adapted. One of its contributions has been the elaboration of neoliberalism as an interconnected process of neoliberalisation producing its variegated geography. But the policy settlement that neoliberalism replaced in the capitalist world, Keynesianism, is still approached in comparative or institutional terms rather than as a process. Applying a policy mobility lens to the study of Keynesianism is an opportunity to correct this. But this historical case is also an opportunity to consider policy mobility anew. Drawing on the relational urbanism that also contributed to policy mobility studies, this paper builds on topological approaches to argue for analysing mobile policy as a consequence and cause of the reworking of relations between and within policy territories. Using the Keynesian policy shift that occurred in New Zealand between 1930 and 1970 as a case study, it shows how relations were transformed but ongoing, and these transformations are both driven by and a consequence of mobile policies; that Keynesianism as an international phenomenon was a reworking of relations necessarily both between and within territories; and that Keynesianism produced a space of technical expertise and authority that continues to shape policy today.

The Role of Market Insights in Shaping Sustainable Mobility in Fast Developing Countries: The Case of Vietnam

Individual mobility represents one of the main contributors of air quality degradation in urban areas, with detrimental social and environmental impacts as well as economic loss. Mobility policies hence represent a key public instrument to curb congestion, pollution and health-related problems. In order to be effective, they need to rely on an adequate knowledge of demand, in terms of commuters’ attitudes, habit strength and perceived priorities. While most studies on the determinants of modal choice are rooted in Western countries or in developed economies little evidence is available for fast-developing countries, whose urban areas suffer from severe congestion and bad air quality. We test a comprehensive model to predict mobility behaviors in Vietnam, by means of an empirical investigation, with data from 898 participants (N = 898) collected via an online self-administered questionnaire. We discuss the implications for policy of the research findings, which provide an informational background representing a necessary prerequisite for the implementation of sound policies for the shift to more sustainable paradigms.

The cycle of migrants’ containment between Libya and Africa: navigating their life among dreams, resilience, and defeats

ABSTRACT During the last two decades, cooperation between Italy, the EU and Libya on migration management has been intended to establish a “cycle of containment” aimed at the externalisation and securitisation of the southern European border on Libyan soil. The escalation of the civil war in Libya since 2014 was one of the main reasons for the European attempt to replicate the international policies of containment southwards in Africa and to address them towards countries that were reputed as major producers of migrants, as in the case of the Horn of Africa. By comparing and discussing migrants’ life-stories collected in Tripolitania and Southern Tunisia, this study deconstructs some recurrent representations of migratory dynamics that are usually taken for granted in order to legitimate international policies of containment, and reveals the not-pre-made character of migrants’ journeys, their solidarity strategies, and the networks of (im)mobility mobilised to deal with the traps of containment. The international policies of containment and human mobility are two sides of the same reality that must be (re)connected to the wider regional or country context where this nexus is taking shape. This represents an analytical imperative and a methodological intersection between migration studies and African studies.

Scenarios for a National Household Travel Survey in the Province of Quebec

In 2018, the Quebec government adopted a national Sustainable Mobility Policy requiring that a national travel survey be implemented to allow monitoring key travel indicators over time at the Quebec-wide level. This paper presents the main findings of a research project aiming to propose scenarios for the implementation of a national survey in Quebec. It presents the main findings from the literature and the examination of various national surveys implemented across the world, presents their main features, discussed the challenges faced by existing regional surveys of the target area and formulates scenarios able to meet the expectations for strategic monitoring of nationwide strategies.

Designing Diversity-aware Sustainable Mobility Policies in Social Networks: a Data-driven Approach

To maximize the efficacy of governmental measures promoting electric vehicles (EVs) adoption, a careful consideration of socio-economic factors that influence EV acceptance is imperative. To do so within a diversity-aware approach, we present a data-driven framework to capture key individual elements driving EV adoption and design effective promotion policies that take such elements into account. Specifically, based on UK survey data, we construct a socio-economic characterization of individual attitudes towards EV adoption (the EV-DNA) and use it to shape interactions within a London-based social network. Employing optimal control and reinforcement learning, we evaluate strategies for promoting EV within the network, leveraging the reciprocal influence between the individuals themselves. The simulation results highlight the efficacy of implementing customized policies targeting social dimensions, thus going beyond the pure financial incentive schemes that are commonly adopted by several governments worldwide.

A case study on the environmental and economic impact of photovoltaic systems in wastewater treatment plants

Abstract Ibn Tofail University of Kenitra, Morocco, is committed to a national policy of control and mobilization of water resources and the adoption of a planning approach and integrated water management. Within this framework, the university, which contains 40,000 students, produces a quantity of wastewater of 200 m3 per day. After treatment, the water is used for watering the university’s green space. The treatment process chosen is a membrane bioreactor (MBR), which is considered to be energy intensive. Therefore, the production of energy for the station will be made by renewable energy wind and photovoltaic (PV). The dimensioning of the MBR was made by a research department, which estimated that the energy necessary for the station is 1061.76 kW h/day. The aim of this work is to dimension and optimize the platform for the production of energy, using the Matlab program for the wind turbine and the PVsyst program for PV. The results of coupling our plant with an on-grid PV system and wind turbine show that it was able to reach an electrical coverage of about 72% of the wastewater treatment (WWT) plant’s energy needs. Thus, an estimated reduction of electricity of 0.53 euro on each m3 of water produced by the WWT plant and thus 106.76 euro on the 200 m3 produced daily by the station.

Developing green urban mobility policies for sustainable public transportation in local communities: a Norwegian perspective

PurposeThe concept of green urban mobility has emerged as one of the best approaches for promoting environmental-friendly transportation in local communities. Green urban mobility aims to reshape public transportation system and enhance mobility, with emphasis on deploying digital technologies to promote sustainable public transportation. Therefore, this study aims to analyze existing public transportation policies by exploring how local communities can facilitate green urban mobility by developing a sociotechnical urban-based mobility model highlighting key factors that impact regions transitioning toward sustainable transportation.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigates “the role of data for green urban mobility policies toward sustainable public transportation in local communities” in the form of a systematic literature review and insights from Norway. Secondary data from the literature and qualitative analysis of the national transport plan document was descriptively analyzed to provide inference.FindingsFindings from this study provides specific measures and recommendations as actions for achieving a national green mobility practice. More important, findings from this study offers evidence from the Norwegian context to support decision-makers and stakeholders on how sustainable public transportation can be achieved in local communities. In addition, findings present data-driven initiatives being put in place to promote green urban mobility to decrease the footprint from public transportation in local municipalities.Practical implicationsThis study provides green mobility policies as mechanisms to be used to achieve a sustainable public transportation in local communities. Practically, this study advocates for the use of data to support green urban mobility for transport providers, businesses and municipalities administration by analyzing and forecasting mobility demand and supply in terms of route, cost, time, network connection and mode choice.Social implicationsThis study provides factors that would promote public and nonmotorized transportation and also aid toward achieving a national green urban mobility strategy. Socially, findings from this study provides evidence on specific green urban mobility measures to be adopted by stakeholders in local communities.Originality/valueThis study presents a sociotechnical urban-based mobility model that is positioned between the intersection of “human behavior” and “infrastructural design” grounded on the factors that influence green urban mobility policies for local communities transiting to a sustainable public transportation. Also, this study explores key factors that may influence green urban mobility policies for local communities toward achieving a more sustainable public transportation leading to a more inclusive, equitable and accessible urban environment.

Mapping policy pathways: Urban referencing networks in public art policies

This article examines the dynamics of inter-referencing between cities and develops the concept of the ‘Urban Referencing Network’ as a representation of the references made by cities to one another in policy documents. The study employs public art policies, specifically the Percent for Art policy, to investigate the structure of inter-referencing within the urban referencing network. Using a corpus of policy documents from 26 Anglophone cities with over one million residents, we analyse 150 documents containing 2178 inter-references. Combining network measurements and regressions, we explore the emergence of central nodes and the mechanisms influencing their formation. The broader field of arts and cultural policies, with its extensive inter-urban connections and professional networks, provides fertile ground for studying urban referencing networks. By integrating literature on policy mobility and urban networks, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the circulation of urban ideas and the interplay between cities in policy-making processes. The results demonstrate that only a few cities, including New York, Chicago, London, Seattle, Los Angeles, and Montreal, emerge as central nodes, attracting the other cities’ attention. Attributes of the referenced cities, like economic importance, iconicity and early adoption, determine to a great extent who are the most central nodes.

Beyond ‘fast’ and ‘slow’: explicating the multiple temporalities of policy mobilities

Research on ‘policy mobilities’ investigates the ways in which policies and ideas flow from one place to another across interconnected spatial and temporal boundaries. However, scholars have argued that policy mobilities literature has primarily focussed its analysis on the ‘spatial’ rather than the ‘temporal’. In evaluating the extent to which policy mobilities research has critically engaged with ‘time’, this paper aims to advance a temporal understanding of how policies and models circulate across the globe. Drawing from mobilities studies more broadly, the paper proposes four distinct temporal concepts – rhythms, tempos, synchronicity and disjuncture, and timing agents – to acknowledge the multiple and varied temporalities involved in the movement and assemblage of policies. After a comprehensive literature review, the paper sets out to operationalize the four temporal concepts in the context of COVID-19. Under the urgent conditions of a global health crisis, the pandemic has seen fast-shifting benchmarks and best practices circulate around the world aimed at suppressing the spread of the virus. Focusing on COVID-19 regulations in Singapore, the paper adopts a ‘multiple temporalities approach’ to interrogate how expertise and knowledge regarding pandemic response circulated within, to and from Singapore.

Inclusive climate resilient transport challenges in Africa

Delivering sustainable and inclusive low-carbon transport is a critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Yet transport infrastructure is vulnerable to the effects of climate change in low-income countries in Africa. This paper explores the status of inclusive mobility and climate-resilient transportation in Africa, focusing on the perceptions and importance amongst key stakeholders, their incorporation into existing practices, and the priority given to making transport more inclusive and climate resilient. A nested scale approach was used that included an online continental survey of 136 respondents from 17 African countries; 2 country-level Focus Group Discussions in Uganda and Zambia; and city-level semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in Lusaka and Kampala using the Delphi method. In addition, an online spatial questionnaire (Maptionnaire) was used to locate where infrastructure improvements were needed, and two city workshops held in Lusaka and Kampala. Providing more active travel infrastructure was a priority for both government and non-governmental groups. This is not connected to climate resilience but to immediate priorities of road safety and health. Our surveys highlighted that climate resilience and inclusive mobility policies are in place, but poor implementation and lack of transparency were undermining outcomes. Upgrading existing infrastructure was more cost-effective and workable than developing new robust alternatives. Lack of knowledge exchange was limiting agencies efforts to tackle this growing challenge. The paper underscores the need to raise awareness of relevant options to improve the climate resilience of transport infrastructure and expand accessible mobility solutions to tackle issues of inclusion and equity in African cities.

A Study on the Effects of Applying Cargo Delivery Systems to Support Energy Transition in Agglomeration Areas—An Example of the Szczecin Agglomeration, Poland

This article addresses certain issues related to the application of various cargo delivery systems that facilitate energy transition in cities and agglomerations. The main purpose of this article was to estimate the effects resulting from the application of a cargo delivery system that is an alternative to road transport within the area of the Szczecin agglomeration. The study applied the following research methods: literature review, mathematical computations, case study, and observation. The article estimated the volume of transport external costs’ reduction resulting from shifting cargo deliveries from road to rail transport in said agglomeration, applying the EU methodology to specify the amounts of external costs generated by individual modes and means of transport. The completed studies have demonstrated that the application of a rail-based cargo delivery system in the Szczecin agglomeration would enable a considerable reduction in the external costs generated by transport, thus supporting energy transition in said area. The findings also make it possible to conclude that the proposed solution may bring some other effects, such as a reduction in the number of diesel-powered heavy goods vehicles, reduced road congestion, and the increased safety of residents, as well as supporting electromobility and low-emission mobility policies in cities and agglomerations.

The Construction of the Measurement Model of Balanced Development of Compulsory Education Resources based on the Hierarchical Analysis Method

The balanced development of compulsory education is an important measure to fully implement the equalization of basic education public services, promote education equity, and maintain social justice. Among the paths to the realization of balanced development of compulsory education, the most crucial is to ensure the balanced development of compulsory education resources, so it should attract high attention. The purpose of this paper is to construct a measurement model of the balanced development of compulsory education resources, to explore the key factors affecting the balanced development of compulsory education resources, and to find a scientific path for the balanced development of compulsory education resources. Based on this, this paper uses the method of hierarchical analysis to construct a measurement model of the balanced development of compulsory education resources, analyzes the measurement model of the balanced development of compulsory education resources in a certain region, and concludes that the main factors include school conditions, teacher quality, and education funding. Accordingly, this paper further proposes effective strategies for the balanced development of compulsory education resources from the aspects of increasing education funding, refining the assessment indicators of relevant staff, improving the personnel system of teachers, implementing the mobility policy of teachers, and strengthening the construction of basic resources. The research of this paper, on the one hand, can provide a guarantee for the development of balanced compulsory education resources in a certain region, and on the other hand, it can also provide certain references for the solution of the problem of balanced development of compulsory education resources in other regions with similar situations, and it has strong practical significance for the effective realization of balanced development of compulsory education.

A potential paradigm shift in global mobility? The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected the global mobility (GM) policies of multinational enterprises (MNEs). Through interviews with policy decision-makers in 32 companies, we applied Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to examine how the pandemic accelerated changes in MNE policies and the management of GM. Our framework builds on contingency theory, traditionally concerned with aligning organizational policies with macro- and meso-level contextual factors. We extend this by integrating micro-level individual variables, such as career aspirations and well-being, as contingent factors influencing GM practices. There is variation in GM responses in relation to the volume of GM activities, GM-related policies, investments in digitalization and technology, and variations in mobility types. We observed a potential paradigm shift that affords employees greater agency in their global mobility paths, thereby greater granularity to contingency theory. This nuanced approach opens new research avenues and equips organizational leaders with a comprehensive set of variables for GM decision-making. Our findings indicate lasting global mobility changes but foresee gradual implementation due to associated risks.

일본 모빌리티 산업동향 및 토요타자동차 전략

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to look at trends in the Japanese mobility industry, analyze Toyota Motor’s mobility strategy, and then seek implications for the Korean government and companies. The reason for looking at Japan’s industrial trends is that not only has Japan made various efforts early on in this field, but Korea is similar to Japan in demographic structure, and so there are many things to refer to from Japan’s industrial trends. Also, looking at Toyota Motor’s case in relation to corporate strategy, we can find that the company not only clearly presents its strategy as a mobility company, but is actually implementing it by launching various products and services.
 Research design, data, and methodology: As to the Japanese mobility industry trend, we first briefly look at the Japanese government’s policies, and then look at the trends by components of the mobility industry such as electric vehicles, autonomous driving, personal mobility, and flying cars. And regarding Toyota Motor’s mobility strategy, we look at electric vehicle strategies and development organizations, and look at strategies for each field, including automobiles, MaaS, personal mobility, and flying cars.
 Results: As a result of analyzing trends in the Japanese mobility industry, the following points were confirmed. At first, the basic direction of mobility policy in the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry was securing mobility services that provide new value, realizing carbon neutrality and reducing traffic accidents, and strengthening the industry’s international competitiveness. In the automobile industry, we find that the electrification of automobiles had a significant impact on the industrial structure, resulting in the weakening of the vertical division of labor and the advancement of the horizontal division of labor. In the mobility field, not only automobiles but also personal mobility plays an important role. The Japanese government was promoting deregulation in this field, and startups were playing a large role in the private sector. In addition, in the field of UAM, or flying cars, the government and the private sector were cooperating to improve various standards. In addition to industry trends, this study examined the strategy of Toyota Motor Corporation, and found that the company is advancing into each field that makes up the mobility industry and pursuing business in all directions. First, in the automobile sector, the company was a little late in moving to electric vehicles, but it set a new direction by announcing a large-scale electric vehicle investment plan in December 2021. In addition to investing in electric vehicles, the company was pursuing a transformation of its automobile business from hardware-centered to MaaS-centered, the key elements of which were MSPF and Autono-MaaS. The company also actively entered the personal mobility field and the UAM or flying car business.
 Implications: This study presented the following implications for Korea through consideration of the Japanese mobility industry. First, there is a need to actively refer to Japanese policies when establishing mobility-related policies at the Korean government level. Second, Korean companies also need to actively utilize the experience of Japanese companies, especially in the service sector, when establishing mobility strategies. Thirdly, there is a need for companies in the two countries to jointly solve social problems of both countries and to explore the global market through cooperation, and to this end, the government’s efforts to revitalize exchanges between companies from both countries are needed.

JUSTIFICATION OF COMPONENTS IN THE ENTERPRISE'S TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS SYSTEM

Speed and technology of cargo delivery, mobility and quality of transportation, timeliness and price policy – all these and many other parameters are provided by the transport and logistics system of the enterprise. To improve the management of such a system, it is necessary to understand its components in order to take into account all possible factors that determine its effectiveness. That is why the issue of substantiating the components of the enterprise's transport and logistics system is relevant.
 The following methods were used to implement the goals of the article: the information on the definition of the "transport and logistics system" was analyzed and synthesized, and it was established that the authors agree on the purpose of this system, but differ on the definition of its components. With the help of a system and information-logical approach, it was determined that the transport and logistics system of the enterprise should consist of elements that can be considered as resources, subsystems of managing these elements and processes of service provision. In the course of the study, analytical methods, graphical methods and synthesis methods were also widely used to form the structure of the transport and logistics system of the enterprise.
 The article further developed the components of the enterprise's transport and logistics system, which, unlike the existing ones, are supplemented with service provision processes that play a significant role in the efficiency of the transport and logistics services provision.
 The proposed improvements will make it possible to stabilize the process of managing the transport and logistics system of the enterprise and to form a comprehensive view of the system and the factors that affect it.
 The obtained results, consisting in the development of an improved transport and logistics system of the enterprise, allow further research on the digital transformation in the existing system of the enterprise.

Individual and organizational effects of international mobility policy: Effects of Mexico’s Scholarship Program in nanotechnology

Abstract This paper addresses policy effects of international mobility in developing countries. It proposes a multilevel approach to study research training policies, specifically focusing on international mobility schemes as capacity-building instruments, where effects need to be identified at both individual and organizational levels. The paper asserts that current categorizations of country efforts to build a solid scientific base should consider transference of effects in domestic research contexts. Using a survey and interview-based study of a mobility policy in Mexico, and nanotechnology-related disciplines and sectors, this paper’s findings suggest that mobility policies are crucial in creating high-quality individual research skills, but that their impact on building domestic research capacity may be modest. This paper contributes to the evaluation literature on national research training programs and their influence on research capacity in two ways. First, it mobilizes a multilevel analytical approach to examine the effects of policies on individuals and organizations, offering a broader conceptualization of impact. Second, by introducing these individual and organizational effects, the paper provides insights into how effects are enacted and transferred.

Are urban mobility policies favoring the purchase of new vehicles?

This research aims to determine the extent to which citizens are uncertain about the mobility policies adopted by regulators and how the decision to purchase new vehicles may be motivated by doubts that individuals develop regarding the vehicle type to purchase. The automotive industry's technological innovations, promoted by governments, may not have the environmental impact desired in certain regions. To address this issue, a survey was conducted in the city of Madrid. An exploratory factor analysis, followed by a discriminant analysis, was used to validate the constructs and predict the decision-making. The results confirm that the policies adopted by regulators generate uncertainty among individuals regarding which vehicle to purchase. As such, the purchase of a new vehicle may be postponed. This has the opposite effect that is intended, since a delay in the decision to purchase a new vehicle increases the average age of the vehicle fleet, thus contributing to more pollution from the mobility environment. These results highlight the need for governments to work on policies that align environmental needs with the social and economic context in order to achieve the most efficient transition possible, and an global discussion on the technology and innovation applied to consolidate sustainable mobility.