Need For Infrastructure Development Research Articles

Remote Solar Parks for Building Decarbonisation: A Lithuanian Case Study on Virtual Prosumers

To reduce the carbon footprint of buildings, the concept of virtual prosumers (consumers who both consume and produce) using remote solar energy parks represents a novel method in Europe. In 2019, Lithuania became the first country in Europe to introduce a digital platform that enables the buying or renting of parts of a remote solar park, making it the first such platform in the world to operate on a national scale. This study examines the effectiveness of this model in Lithuania, assessing the model's success, public engagement, and success factors. The main study focus is on evaluating the impact of remote solar parks on the decarbonization of buildings, particularly through the prism of virtual prosumer participation.Applying a mixed research method, this study integrates both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative analysis includes a detailed case study, evaluating the amount of energy produced by two selected remote solar parks in Lithuania, as well as their impact on the carbon dioxide emissions and primary energy use of the two individual houses (a detached house and a unit within an apartment building) connected to these remote power plants. Concurrently, qualitative methods involve analyzing the existing legal and economic frameworks in Lithuania and Europe, which either facilitate or impede the prosumer model, in addition to examining the necessary technological infrastructure.Key findings of this study highlight the potential of remote solar energy parks to significantly reduce the carbon emissions of buildings. This model is especially beneficial for structures where onsite solar energy solutions are impractical. It fosters greater inclusivity in adopting renewable energy, enabling a variety of stakeholders to participate in and benefit from clean energy production. However, the study identifies several major challenges, including regulatory restrictions, the need for infrastructure development, a shortage of developers, state contributions, public awareness, and the creation of a unified platform.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL AREA INFRASTRUCTURE IN NATAL SUB-DISTRICT, MANDAILING NATAL REGENCY, INDONESIA

The study highlights the critical need for infrastructure development in coastal areas to support the fisheries sector and services trade. Through various methods such as assessment of current conditions and literature review, it's clear that improving infrastructure is a top priority.Objectives: This study aims to identify the infrastructure that supports the development of coastal areas in Natal Sub-district, Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatera, IndonesiaMethodology and Results: The research methods include descriptive analysis to identify existing infrastructure and importance-performance analysis to evaluate the importance and performance of infrastructure.The study results show that the infrastructure is divided according to its level of importance. First, within Quadrant I, infrastructure such as fish auction sites (TPI), village unit cooperatives (KUD), cold storage, and ice factories in the Natal coastal region stand out as the main focus. Recommendations include the revitalization of TPI and KUD, and the construction of cold storage facilities. Second, in Quadrant II, infrastructure such as transport support facilities, waste management, and sanitation require attention to maintain their performance. Third, in Quadrant III, gas station facilities in Sikara Kara Village are of medium-to-low priority. Finally, in Quadrant IV, infrastructure such as waste and drainage systems need to be reviewed. The revitalization of the Setia Karya dumpsite and the construction of a drainage system are part of the recommendations to improve Natal's coastal environment.Conclusion, Significance and implications: The improvement of coastal area infrastructure in Natal Sub-District, Mandailing Natal Regency, Indonesia emphasizes on addition, repair and revitalization. It is also recommended to strengthen the involvement of local and village governments in collaborative efforts. Further studies are needed, particularly on effective implementation of infrastructure development in the same research area.

Analysis of Risk Factors and Gaps in Government Risk Allocation with Private Investor Risk Perceptions in the Toll Road Sector Using the PPP Scheme in Indonesia

Infrastructure development has an important role in a country's economic growth. Based on the 2020-2024 APBN plan, the total budget requirement for providing infrastructure is IDR. 2,058tn, where the government budget is 30% of the portion of budgeted funding needs. Due to the need for infrastructure development, the government initiated Government Cooperation with Business Entities (KPBU) in various infrastructure sector to accelerate infrastructure development in Indonesia, including toll road. This research was conducted to investigate identified risks along with risk mapping analysis to find out whether there is a gap in risk allocation between the government and private investors in implementing toll road PPPs in Indonesia. The method of this research is a qualitative study with data collection methods through interviews and questionnaires. From the research conducted, it is known that there are 7 (Seven) risk categories with 17 (Seventeen) risk events that are considered important by private investors. From the research conducted, it is known that there are 11 risk allocations that are appropriate and 6 allocations that are not in accordance with the risk perception of private investors in the toll road sector with the PPP scheme in Indonesia, namely the risk of differences in interest on land bailout loans, increases in construction costs, the risk of inflation rates and interest rates, the risk of rate adjustments being lower than projected, the risk of general regulatory (and tax) changes and the risk of political force majeure.

Enabling sustainable freight transport with longer, heavier vehicles in India

This groundbreaking study focuses on understanding the environmental impacts of longer, heavier vehicles (LHVs) in India's transportation system. Through a comprehensive life cycle assessment using the OpenLCA program and ecoinvent database, the research reveals that LHVs have lower negative life cycle impacts than conventional trucks. Increasing the modal share of LHVs by 40% in India's road freight transportation significantly reduces the overall environmental harm compared to the current freight transport mix. Additionally, the study demonstrates that even without market expansion, a 40% increase in LHVs' presence leads to a remarkable 12% reduction in global warming effects. The findings emphasize LHVs' potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for India's freight transportation while highlighting the need for infrastructure development to capitalize on these benefits fully. Although the study acknowledges limitations related to data sources, it offers valuable insights into shaping a greener and more efficient transport system for the nation's future.

What do remote outer island populations in the Pacific think about foreign aid? Insights from Mauke, Cook Islands

AbstractMotivationPacific aid research has largely focused on national issues and social justice, rather than spatial justice and the development of remote outer islands. In particular, the perspectives of remote outer island populations on aid have not previously been assessed.PurposeThis study explores the experiences and views of the population of a remote Pacific outer island, Mauke in the Cook Islands, on the foreign aid they receive. By listening to and learning from local people living with aid on a remote outer island, this article seeks to address spatially insensitive Pacific aid research and policy. Based on these insights, the article derives policy implications for aid and development actors working on Mauke and other remote outer islands in the Pacific.Methods and approachEmploying a mixed‐methods approach, this article draws on field research conducted on Mauke, involving in‐depth semi‐structured interviews and a quantitative survey.FindingsThe people of Mauke are divided about whether the island should receive more or less aid. Those calling for more aid tend to be younger; they stress the need for infrastructure development. Those advocating for less aid tend to be older; they argue that aid has harmed Mauke by decreasing endogenous initiatives and creating social tensions, both of which reduce social cohesion among the remote island population.Policy implicationsRather than investing in “community‐based/−led development”—doing development with the community, aid to remote Pacific outer islands should focus more on “community development”—with the aim of enhancing social cohesion among peripheral islands. Donors, governments, and development partners must carefully reflect on the degree to which their interventions may harm social cohesion and the endogenous development potential of remote outer island populations. These implications matter given the persistence of uncritical (mis)representations and (mis)conceptions of remote Pacific outer island populations as harmonious and mutually supportive.

The Significance Of Student Associations To Leadership Development

Student Associations are an invaluable tool for fostering leadership skills and growth. Student associations usually exist to fulfil students' needs in their study journey while at the university. Whether it is the need for infrastructure development or good academics results in enjoyable student-to-student social experiences. The students of the student association engage with stakeholders, and school faculties, hold meetings, organize sporting events with other universities and so forth. While these students join the associations to support each other as experts, outcomes are also a win-win situation as they inherit various expertise and skills for their future careers. These include leadership skills, character building, increased confidence, and expert guidance to accomplish their goals and tasks. Student associations also offer a platform to practice communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. Through collaboration with peers, students can learn to navigate difficult conversations and find creative solutions to challenging problems. This type of experience is invaluable for developing future leaders. This literature discusses the influences of student associations when it comes to the leadership development of a student.

CPEC: Challenges, Opportunities and Socio-Economic Impact on The Muslim World

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project within China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It stands as a corridor encompassing road, railway and maritime infrastructure development, primarily aimed at fostering economic growth. This vast network extends its reach across the Asian continent, with Pakistan at its center, while also involving other Muslim-majority nations, including Iran, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and several Central Asian States. The key promise of CPEC lies in its potential to revitalize the economies of developing countries at large and Muslim-majority nations in particular. The allure of CPEC for participating nations is evident, especially for those facing financial constraints and a dire need for infrastructure development, as it presents a lifeline for economic progress. However, beneath the surface of economic opportunity, there loom socio-economic challenges that warrant careful consideration. These challenges have the potential to impact the relationships between Muslim-majority countries and the Western world, with a specific focus on the Middle Eastern countries. It is within this complex and dynamic context that this research article seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis. The article intends to shed light on two fundamental aspects: firstly, it aims to gauge the willingness of Muslim-majority countries to become integral parts of the CPEC project, evaluating the extent to which they embrace this economic endeavor. Secondly, the research delves into China's role in the region by examining how its economic support and infrastructural development initiatives influence Muslim-majority states. This examination is critical for understanding the opportunities and challenges that the CPEC project presents to the Muslim world and its relationships with the West, especially Middle Eastern nations.

Sustainable Rural Infrastructure Development in Tosari District, Pasuruan Regency, Indonesia

Tosari District is one of the tourist villages in Pasuruan Regency that has potential ecotourism because it is the gateway to Mount Bromo National Park. There are protected areas with the socio-cultural values of the Tenggerese Tribe. Ecotourism is an appropriate concept because it prioritizes sustainability, environmental conservation, and the uniqueness of tourist attraction objects. Developing sustainable rural infrastructure is the key to inclusive development to improve the concept of Ecotourism, thereby increasing economic resilience and engaging community productivity. This study aims to analyze the development of rural infrastructure that can improve ecotourism management. This study uses a qualitative approach to identify problems that are closely related to the provision of the physical infrastructure to reduce disaster levels, infrastructure that can boost agricultural productivity, and social infrastructure that needs to be established for ecotourism purposes. The need for infrastructure development is translated into the provision of waste management, disaster protection infrastructure, and improvement of road and communication infrastructure. The concept of a cultural approach requires carrying out tourism operations and preserving the culture of the Tengger tribe.

Implementation of genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in the Caribbean: Lessons learned for sustainability in resource-limited settings.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of global genomic surveillance to monitor the emergence and spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants and inform public health decision-making. Until December 2020 there was minimal capacity for viral genomic surveillance in most Caribbean countries. To overcome this constraint, the COVID-19: Infectious disease Molecular epidemiology for PAthogen Control & Tracking (COVID-19 IMPACT) project was implemented to establish rapid SARS-CoV-2 whole genome nanopore sequencing at The University of the West Indies (UWI) in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and provide needed SARS-CoV-2 sequencing services for T&T and other Caribbean Public Health Agency Member States (CMS). Using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencing platform and ARTIC network sequencing protocols and bioinformatics pipeline, a total of 3610 SARS-CoV-2 positive RNA samples, received from 17 CMS, were sequenced in-situ during the period December 5th 2020 to December 31st 2021. Ninety-one Pango lineages, including those of five variants of concern (VOC), were identified. Genetic analysis revealed at least 260 introductions to the CMS from other global regions. For each of the 17 CMS, the percentage of reported COVID-19 cases sequenced by the COVID-19 IMPACT laboratory ranged from 0·02% to 3·80% (median = 1·12%). Sequences submitted to GISAID by our study represented 73·3% of all SARS-CoV-2 sequences from the 17 CMS available on the database up to December 31st 2021. Increased staffing, process and infrastructural improvement over the course of the project helped reduce turnaround times for reporting to originating institutions and sequence uploads to GISAID. Insights from our genomic surveillance network in the Caribbean region directly influenced non-pharmaceutical countermeasures in the CMS countries. However, limited availability of associated surveillance and clinical data made it challenging to contextualise the observed SARS-CoV-2 diversity and evolution, highlighting the need for development of infrastructure for collecting and integrating genomic sequencing data and sample-associated metadata.

Industrial infrastructure and economic platform development for social and sustainable enterprise encouragement of cottage industries: case study of Bishnupur West Bengal

Indian rural cottage industries have been a significant income source for non-farming populace but have faced numerous problems related to collaboration of the state and business to pursue SDGs, including lack of facilitation of pro-active contribution of MSMEs towards sustainability through capacity building and strengthening of sustainability element to reach various possibilities of growth and management. Conceptualising the need for infrastructure development in the sector for involvement of both supply chain and community level through stakeholder identification is lacking. Bishnupur is encountering similar circumstances and thus losing artisans to urbanisation and negligible profit. They are not only economically dependent but also infrastructurally indigent. The research aims at analysing the economic involvement scale and sustainability of Bishnupur municipality's cottage industries through socio-economic impact assessment outlining problems, their covariance and regression to business principles as well as difference using ANOVA analysis; helping generate framework of policy and understand applicable ways to achieve SDGs.

Production of α′H-belite-CSA cement at low firing temperatures

A global increase in population creates a need for infrastructure development to stimulate economic growth and improve quality of life. Concrete plays a significant role in this development due to its availability and mechanical strength. Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) has been the most utilized binder in the construction industry since its formulation. However, OPC production has an enormous energy demand and generates large quantities of CO2. This research investigates the production of a clinker, containing mainly the hydraulically activated alpha'H-belite polymorph and calcium sulfoaluminate (ye'elimite or C4A3Ś), at a lower firing temperature, using a combination of fluoride and boron oxide. This novel clinker addresses the problem of creating high strength cements at extremely low firing temperatures of 1000–1050 °C (a decrease of 450–500 °C as compared to OPC, and a decrease of 200–250 °C as compared to calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cement). This clinker reduces CO2 emissions from energy consumption and by producing phases with lower limestone requirements. The combination of lower firing temperatures and clinker phases that require lower limestone requirements provide a means to reduce CO2 emissions.

Impact of partial replacement of coarse aggregate with electronic plastic waste on compressive strength of concrete

The need for infrastructure development, electrical equipment, and plastic-manufactured goods has increased exponentially with the arrival of the twenty-first century. Demand growth was followed by a notable increase in construction debris and electronic-plastic (e-plastic). Due to its nonbiodegradability and dangerous metallic waste, e-plastic waste, which consists primarily of wires and discarded plastic components from TVs, refrigerators, and other electronic devices, poses a serious ecological threat. Being the primary component of construction waste, cement considerably contributes to CO2 emissions, which cause global warming.. Situations become more distressing for towns with a large population when such waste is dumped or burned, either of which pollutes the environment. Thus, the purpose of the article is to evaluate whether e-plastic waste can substitute some of the coarse aggregates in concrete. In the experiment, the compressive strength of an M40 concrete mix with weight replacements of coarse aggregates of 5 percent, 10 percent, 15 percent, and 20 percent made from e-plastic waste was measured and compared to a control mix. In the experiment, e-plastic wastes were made up of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a high-density polymer plastic, and polypropylene (PP), a low-density plastic primarily found in electronic gadgets. For efficient test results, a total of 30 cube specimens with varying proportions of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, and eplastic were created. According to the conclusions drawn from tests carried out in accordance with Bureau of Indian Standard (IS), a noticeable increase in compressive strength was seen at a 5 percent replacement of e-plastic. Nevertheless, a further rise in replacement showed a fall in compressive strength.

BETON RAMAH LINGKUNGAN DENGAN CANGKANG TELUR SEBAGAI PENGGANTI SEBAGIAN SEMEN

The world of construction is progressing very rapidly. The higher the need for infrastructure development, the energy absorption to support these activities will certainly be very large. To minimize this need, it is necessary to have innovations that can reduce the production of materials, such as cement. Therefore, it is necessary to have an alternative to take advantage of wasted waste such as egg shells to be used as a partial or complete substitute for cement, especially as a mixed material in the manufacture of concrete. This study aims to maximize the use of chicken egg shell waste for concrete mixtures. Egg shell powder to be added as a partial substitute for cement is made with a composition variation of 0%; 2.5%; 5%; 7.5%; 10%. Where each variation is made into 3 samples, so that the total sample is 15 samples and the compressive strength of the concrete is tested after 28 days. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the mixture of concrete with egg shells at a percentage of 2.5% is called the optimum state. The optimum condition is a condition where the compressive strength of the resulting concrete is greater and maximum when used to make environmentally friendly concrete.

A RETROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE PATTERN OF CANCER CASES IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

INTRODUCTION- Cancer is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in present day world. Epidemiological studies are important to nd out the pattern of distribution of cancer cases in a population. These data will be helpful to measure disease burden, establish the etiopathogenesis of cancer cases in a geographical region and ascertaining the need for development of infrastructure for comprehensive cancer care. AIMS &OBJECTIVE- Material & Methods- To asses the pattern of cancer cases in a tertiary hospital in Paschim Midnapore, West Bengal. I reviewed the hospital records of all histology or cytology proved cancer cases attending the Radiotherapy OPD of Midnapore Medical College in between January 2018 to December 2019 Total 513 cases were evaluated. M:F- 1:1.12. Overall c Results- ommonest types were Head & neck cancer, . Breast, Lung, Colorectal, Ovary, Sarcoma and others. Among male common types were Head & neck cancer(43%),Lung(22%) Stomach(5%) Genitourinary(5%) . Among female the common types were Breast(37.2%) Head & neck cancer(11.1%) Lung(7.4%) Ovary(11%) Cervix (6%), Colorectal (6.6%). Commonest age group involved was 41-60 yrs in both male and female. Cancer i Conclusion- s a signicant health problem in this region. Extensive research is needed to achieve further information . Affordable health facilities should be made available for prevention, screening and multidisciplinary treatment of cancer.

Aspects of design and calculation of a railway track intended for dedicated passenger lines

The article considers issues of application of dedicated passenger lines for intertown and interregional transportation on the railways of the Russian Federation, which in the future will accelerate passenger traffic due to changes in transportation technology, increase the carrying and throughput capacity of railways, reduce construction costs and current maintenance, and optimize the need for infrastructure development. The structures of the track superstructure used for the transportation process at the present time were developed and implemented taking into account the mixed traffic — passenger and freight. Growth of axle loads in freight traffic, as well as the length of trains, presupposes the strengthening (weighting) of the standard structures of the railway track to possibly ensure the guaranteed safe passage of more than 1 billion gross tonnage. At the same time, exclusively for passenger traffic, the typical design of the railway track is redundant and can be optimized in terms of reducing the materials of the track superstructure with a simultaneous change in the configuration of repair schemes and current maintenance conditions. The article presents an assessing the possibility of using a “passenger” track structure on dedicated passenger lines for intertown and interregional transportation according to the criteria of the allowable margin of safety in the environment of fnite element analysis — the most progressive method for calculating structures undergoing complex loading. The article presents the results of calculations of the stress-strain state of a railway track of various confgurations, including promising lightweight versions with R50 rails and reinforced concrete sleepers with under sleeper pads. Based on the calculations performed, recommendations are given for the areas of application of the considered track confgurations from the point of view of permissible stresses in its elements.

The strategic diagnosis of the potassium fertilizer industry in Brazil

Fertilizers and crop nutrition play a key role in fulfilling the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. Brazil is the world’s fourth largest consumer of fertilizers. Between 1998 and 2018, the apparent consumption of potash fertilizers (in terms of K2O content) almost tripled, while the production of potassium chloride decreased in Brazil. Two important projects (Carnalita and Autazes) are still in the design phase, and there is considerable uncertainty surrounding them. Potassium producers located in Canada, Russia and Belarus have competitive advantages when compared to Brazil. The aim of this paper is to make a strategic diagnosis of the potassium fertilizer industry. The major variables that characterize the status of the Brazilian fertilizer industry could be identified, on the basis of data collected from annual business reports, reports from consulting firms, government websites, books, newspaper articles, sectoral studies and scientific articles. This paper concluded that, after detection of the current fragility of this sector, which is essential to the agribusiness production chain, public policies have to be formulated with a view to boosting this industry, based on the competitive advantages related to proximity to the Brazilian consumer market. However, there are disadvantages, namely, access to raw material, the need for infrastructure development and entry barriers caused by factors of scale and idle installed capacity in the major global players.

PPPs and challenges for competition law and policy in ASEAN

This paper studies the rising roles of private–public partnerships (PPPs) and potential challenges for competition law and policy in ASEAN infrastructures. The PPPs policy is established to serve the need for infrastructure development in ASEAN. Various infrastructure sectors in ASEAN are under the control of monopoly state enterprises. The usage of PPPs policy transforms the monopoly structure ASEAN infrastructure toward more market competition and liberalization. By this, the rise of PPPs is an important factor assisting effective market governance in coherence with the set objective of ASEAN competition law and policy. However, the rise of PPPs can also create difficulties in competition law and policy because private investors under PPPs can assume monopolistic power, which is a challenging issue in reframing competition law and policy for ASEAN infrastructure sectors. The paper presents some challenging concerns on the PPPs and the competition law and policy in ASEAN. Some case studies in ASEAN member countries provided an overview of the challenges. Policy implications are proposed to address the challenges.

An analytical study on municipal wastewater to energy generation, current trends, and future prospects in South Asian developing countries (an update on Pakistan scenario).

The water scarcity and energy crises are major challenges, particularly for South Asian developing countries. Wastewater resource recovery always remained an untapped potential for South Asian countries, especially in Pakistan. Globally, municipal wastewater's global generation rate is about 331 km3/year; only a small proportion is treated and safely reused. Wastewater also has high energy content and can be greatly productive, whereas most of the wastewater treatment plants currently employed in developing regions are non-functional or taking high energy inputs. Many global level studies are being conducted for energy use reduction and the production of renewable energy from wastewater. In this review, installation of wastewater treatment plants is suggested in the context of economic and environmental feasibility for South Asian developing countries. Multiple factors showed the need for and high potential to installation of wastewater treatment plants for providing clean water under sustainable development goals and further to recover valuable contents from municipal wastewater. The tremendous need for infrastructure development became obvious to deliver clean water to communities that are using wastewater directly or indirectly for various purposes. Based on technical grounds, economic, social, and environmental challenges can be tackled with viable wastewater treatment plant design options in each country context. With each step of wastewater treatment, control strategies would minimize energy use and enhanced resource recovery will reduce pressure on the current natural resource base. Overall, the cost assessment, funding opportunities, research and development, and social acceptability remained the big factors to energy generation from municipal wastewater in South Asia. Graphical presentation of the study.

WITHDRAWN: Exploration on geopolymer concrete using GGBS and silica fume

The demand for concrete is increasing daily and cement is used to satisfy the need for infrastructure development. The manufacturing of cement product emits large amount of carbon dioxide which affects environment, causes pollution and harmful to human beings. In order to decrease the need of cement and CO 2 emission, In this research the alternating cementing material like fly ash, silica fume Ground- granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) were used. Sodium hydroxide and Sodium silicate of alkaline solution are used for polymerization. Cubes and cylinders are casted, the demoulded specimen after casting are kept in steam curing for one day at 60˚c. Hence it is concluded, that the comparison of compressive strength, and split tensile strength of casted concrete.

Finance infrastructure through blockchain-based tokenization

The infrastructure finance gap has long-standing implications for economic and social development. Owing to low efficiency, high transaction costs, and long transaction time, conventional infrastructure financing instruments are considered to be major contributors to the increasing mismatch between the need for infrastructure development and available financing. Implemented through smart contracts, blockchain tokenization has shown characteristics that are poised to change the capital stack of infrastructure investment. This study analyzed the first SEC-compliant energy asset security token, Ziyen-Coin, from the perspective of the key participants, relevant regulations, and token offering procedures. Results show that tokenization can improve infrastructure assets liquidity, transaction efficiency, and transparency across intermediaries. Conventional infrastructure financing instruments were compared with blockchain tokenization by reviewing the literature on infrastructure finance. The benefits and barriers of tokenizing infrastructure assets were thoroughly discussed to devise ways of improving infrastructure financing. The study also found that the potential of tokenization has not yet been fully realized because of the limited technical infrastructures, regulation uncertainties, volatilities in the token market, and absence of the public sector. This study contributes to the present understanding of how blockchain technology can be implemented in infrastructure finance and the role of tokenization in the structure of public–private partnership and project finance.