Public Works Research Articles

Spanish Translation, Adaptation and Psychometric Analysis of a Short Version of the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale in Chilean Public Workers.

Chile has been facing socio-cognitive, affective and cultural tensions and changes due to the constant increase of the migrant population in Chile over the last two decades. This means that local public policy workers must interact and achieve effective communication with migrant users living in their territories. Intercultural sensitivity is understood as the affective dimension of intercultural communication. This dimension facilitates the awareness that people differ in their behaviors, perceptions and feelings during intercultural communication processes, promoting acceptance and respect towards these differences. The aim of this paper was to analyze the factor structure, psychometric properties and invariance of the Intercultural Sensitivity scale (Chen & Starosta, 2000) in a sample of Chilean workers. The sample consists of 337 workers from five municipalities in two regions of Chile. The sample has a mean age of 42.8years (SD = 10.4), and 62.9% report being female. To determine the factor structure, an unweighted least squares (ULS) parameter estimation method was used, which is recommended for relatively small sample sizes, as is the case in this study. The overall structure of the original scale, although showing adequate indicators in a confirmatory factor analysis, presented serious conflicts in the covariance matrix used. Therefore, the 5-factor structure seen in other studies is disconfirmed. Because of this, it was decided to construct an abbreviated version, but reducing the limitations encountered during the validation process. The final result is a 4-dimensional structure, corresponding to four of the original dimensions, with a total of 13 items. The goodness-of-fit indices (CFI, TLI, RMSEA and SRMR) had optimal levels. The Manifest and Subtle Prejudice scale was used for its divergent validity, presenting all the dimensions of the instrument, and its total score, inverse and significant correlations with manifest prejudice, subtle prejudice, and total prejudice, as expected.

Louveira Digital City

The Louveira Digital City is a municipal information network designed to promote digital appications development, offering e-government services in areas such as health, education, social assistance, safety, and public works. The project began as an academic initiative focused on Louveira's Information Highway, which was presented to the City Council in August 2010. It outlines the key components of the information highway, including the optical backbone architecture, feasibility study, radio link specifications, logical network design, equipment specifications, and project budget. This digital infrastructure enables all residents to access various communication services and applications, such as data, video, and voice traffic. The network is comprised of radio and fiber optic links, designed to benefit various areas of public administration, including health, safety, education, and planning. Additionally, it aims to enhance public access to information, culture, education, and leisure, laying the groundwork for a smart city. This project showcases the implementation of the information highway in Louveira, highlighting how academic institutions can contribute to the economic, social, and technological development of society and serving as a model for similar initiatives.

The Impact of Regional Infrastructure Sector Investment on Economic Growth and Regional Inequality in East Kalimantan Province, 2012–2023

The study explores the impact of regional infrastructure investment on economic growth and regional inequality in East Kalimantan Province from 2012 to 2023. Motivated by the ongoing development disparities in Indonesia, especially outside Java and Sumatra, this research examines how infrastructure spending—particularly in public works, housing, and transportation—affects East Kalimantan’s economic growth and regional inequality. Using a quantitative methodology, the analysis leverages secondary data obtained from local government agencies. The research employs SPSS 23 for path analysis to evaluate relationships among variables, focusing on East Kalimantan’s fiscal allocations and their impacts on economic dynamics. The results indicate mixed impacts across sectors: while housing and transportation investments significantly promote economic growth, public works spending shows no significant effect.

Review on need for designing sustainable and biodegradable face masks: Opportunities for nanofibrous cellulosic filters.

The surge in microbial illnesses, notably seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to the global use of face masks-cloth, surgical, medical, and respirator types-to curb respiratory pathogen spread. Widely used by the public, patients, and healthcare workers, masks play a key role in reducing airborne transmission. However, synthetic, non-biodegradable materials in these masks have sparked environmental concerns due to disposal issues. Moreover, challenges like limited microbial filtration, poor fit, breathing resistance, and low reusability raise further issues, as does the failure to neutralize trapped microbes. Addressing these issues calls for high-performance, biodegradable masks crafted from renewable nanofibrous materials using advanced technology. Antimicrobial nanomaterial coatings can further reduce contamination risks for users and the environment. Nanofibrous materials, with their high surface area, enhance filtration, allow customization, and improve capture efficiency. Research is progressing on sustainable, biodegradable filters, particularly with cellulose materials. This review outlines mask types and limitations, spotlighting nanofibrous filters for their filtration efficiency, breathability, and sustainability. It also delves into nanofiber manufacturing and assesses bacterial cellulose-a promising renewable nanofibrous material suited for air filtration.

Prepared for service? A mixed-methods study on psychosocial support in the UK public library, with a focus on staff perceptions and training

This mixed-methods study considers the ways in which the public library is increasingly supporting the mental, emotional and social – or ‘psychosocial’ – needs of individuals within its local communities; reflecting on an emerging body of US research which is exploring this topic. This research aimed to determine how prepared UK public library services are to support the psychosocial needs of users, with a focus on staff perceptions, confidence and training. The research identified the psychosocial services and relevant staff training currently taking place in Southeast England, through an online survey with public library staff. This data provided a background of understanding, before in-depth, semi-structured interviews were completed with nine public library staff within one library service, to uncover staff perceptions and attitudes around this area of work. The quantitative and qualitative data revealed findings which largely reflected the research that has taken place in the US. Public library staff are committed to delivering psychosocial support by providing information, signposting, delivering library groups and activities, and showing compassion to users. However, staff experience feelings of uncertainty around this work, particularly when responding to users with complex needs or those in crisis, and they have a strong desire for more targeted training in this area. This paper concludes that this aspect of modern public library work necessitates the development of targeted staff training and further research in this area.

‘Par mesure de prudence’. Flood prevention and river regulation in Demer-Dijle confluence area (NE Belgium), 1840s–1880s

Abstract This article analyses the views of experts and political discourse on river regulation, its objectives, and flood prevention in the rural Demer-Dijle catchment areas, the 1840s–1880s – a period marked by climatological extremes and agricultural transition. Via a close read of state archives and parliamentary discussions, we unravel different opinions and interests and find that not all flooding was unwanted. While the Ministry of Public Works, at first, aimed to better regulate water discharge and to improve watercourses for navigational purposes, it later prioritised agricultural interests. However, managing rivers coherently and efficiently was challenging because river powers were dispersed over ministerial departments, provinces, and municipalities that made coordinating upstream and downstream river works difficult. Floods often resulted in the drawing up of new plans, but their implementation often failed to materialise because the government had other worries and insufficient resources available while parliamentarians prioritised the interests of their constituencies.

Semi-Aerobic Landfill System as Alternative Solution for Indonesian Landfill

Indonesia has been encountering pressing problems in managing municipal solid waste (MSW). According to data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), up to 35.46% of landfills were run as open-dumping landfills until May 2022 because proper sanitary landfill concepts were not fully implemented and the condition of landfills in Indonesia is on the point of being overcapacity. With the development of landfill technology, the Ministry of Public Works is currently starting to develop other alternative landfill systems. From the general findings of this study, it can be concluded that the semi-aerobic landfill system is an available method to be used as an alternative solution for Indonesian landfills. This is based on the results of the SWOT matrix, which shows strategic factors derived from internal and external factors originating from previous studies and issues regarding landfills in Indonesia. The analysis of these factors shows that the semi-aerobic landfill system produces better performance by reducing the potential for environmental pollution of water and air and greenhouse gas emissions. The implementation of a semi-aerobic landfill system is a viable method to be used in developing countries.

Environmental Health Risk Assessment in Tabing Banda Gadang Subdistrict, Padang City

Sanitation problems in Indonesia still involve deviant social behavior, namely defecation habits anywhere. According to World Health Organization, around 2.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to proper sanitation facilities. Indonesia itself is ranked second after India, with a high number of people still defecating in the open; this is due to people's habits, which are very difficult to change because they have been inherited. The use of surface water sources, namely river water, with physical water quality that does not meet requirements, the absence of facilities for wastewater disposal, and the absence of household waste management can cause health hazards to the environment. The research aims to know the risky health environment in the sub-district Tabing Banda Gadang, Padang City. Study method This Quantitative nature descriptive analytic with approach Studies Evaluation Risk Health Environment is a participatory study to understand the condition of sanitation and hygiene facilities and community behaviors at the household scale, the results of data processing and analysis that can describe the determination of risk areas from each region to the village/sub-district level. The results of the study found that the risk areas were Water Sources with results of Not enough risk (value 28), Domestic Wastewater with Medium risk (value 68), Medium Risk Waste (value 51), high risk of waterlogging (value 58) and Clean and Healthy Living Behavior is not enough risky (value 32) it can be concluded that the sanitation risk index of Tabing Banda Gadang Village is included in the Current Risk with a value of 237. Tabing Banda Gadang Village is at high risk of waterlogging, so it is recommended that the Village facilitate the construction of drainage by coordinating with the Department of Housing and Public Works to resolve the waterlogging problem.

Challenges and Opportunities

In this article, the authors consider the future possibility of public administration in South Africa being transformed by artificial intelligence (AI). It discusses the difficulties and advantages of AI/ML in this set up. They can use artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the productivity of the public sector, quality in decision, and contribute to people's participation. The results show that AI can reduce paperwork, anticipate public health trends, make recommendations for people to get the best chance of recovery, and even optimise resource allocation – all with a view towards improving service delivery and governance. Problems with infrastructure, gaps in digital access, as well as scarcity of AI expertise within the public service work against any real integration of artificial intelligence. The study underscores the significance of strategic planning, large-scale infrastructural investments, and robust policy reforms in order to harness the full range of benefits from artificial intelligence (AI) with a fair share accruing to all.

ANALISIS IMPLEMENTASI KEBIJAKAN ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM PAJAK ORANG PRIBADI APARATUR SIPIL NEGARA PADA DINAS PEKERJAAN UMUM DAN PENATAAN RUANG KOTA DEPOK

Technology Development plays the role in influencing modernization of tax system one of them is e-Filing System. E-Filing is a tax filing system electronically that facilitates taxpayers in submitting Tax Return anytime and anywhere. The objective of this study is to analyze the implementation of policy on individual tax e-Filing, obstacles encountered and efforts undertaken in coping with such obstacles at the Public Work and Spatial Planning Office of Depok. This study used qualitative descriptive research method. Result of this study identified that the implementation of e-Filing has been good enough. Some obstacles which can be overcome with efforts carried out from the implementor and taxpayer.

Multiple Personal Income Taxes and Financial Well-Being of Employees in Tertiary Institutions

This study aimed to interrogate the relationship between multiple personal income taxes and public workers’ financial wellbeing. The paper therefore examined the relationships between pay as you earn, Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme, Education Trust Funds and worker’s disposable income as proxies for objective financial wellbeing in (the public) tertiary institutions of Bayelsa State. The study adopted a quantitative design, and data were collected through the Salary Structure of teaching and non-teaching staff from Bayelsa State owned University of Africa and Niger Delta University in Nigeria. The data were analyzed by applying simple regression and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that there was a positive significant relationship between multiple personal income taxes and workers’ financial wellbeing in Bayelsa State tertiary institutions. However, at the entity level, the Bayelsa Health Insurance Scheme (BHIS) variable had a positive substantial impact on workers’ financial wellbeing; whilst, Pay as You Earn (PAYE) has a negative significant effect on workers’ financial wellbeing. Whereas Education Trust Funds (EDTF) variable had an inverse non-significant association with workers’ financial wellbeing in Bayelsa State. Therefore, we recommend a fair and equitable tax policy framework to sustain adequate pay for public servants and reduce employees’ turnover in the state.

Impact of Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Household Welfare in Southern Ethiopia: A matching estimator approach

Cash transfers (CTs) are now high on the agenda of most governments in low- and middle-income countries. Chronic food insecurity is one of the problems that has plagued millions of Ethiopians for centuries. This study evaluated the impact of participation in the conditional cash transfer (CCT) component of the PSNP (Public Works or PW) on household welfare in Karat Zuria District, Konso Zone, Southern Ethiopia. The cross-sectional survey data was gathered from 244 sample households, which were taken from beneficiary and control groups by using a multistage sampling procedure. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to evaluate the program's impact on livestock holdings and total income. The result obtained from logit regression indicated that participation in a conditional cash transfer program was negatively influenced by access to credit and cultivated land size, whereas it was positively influenced by shock experience and an iron-roofed house. The econometrics model result shows that, as compared to control households, the program intervention increased the beneficiary households’ livestock holding (measured in TLU) by 24.8 percent (0.53 TLU) and total income by 33 percent (1705.095 ETB), respectively. This study demonstrated how the program had a considerable impact on household livestock holdings and total income.

In-Depth Examination of the Functionality and Performance of the Internet Hospital Information Platform: Development and Usability Study.

Internet hospitals (IHs) have rapidly developed as a promising strategy to address supply-demand imbalances in China's medical industry, with their capabilities directly dependent on information platform functionality. Furthermore, a novel theory of "Trinity" smart hospital has provided advanced guidelines on IH constructions. This study aimed to explore the construction experience, construction models, and development prospects based on operational data from IHs. Based on existing information systems and internet service functionalities, our hospital has built a "Smart Hospital Internet Information Platform (SHIIP)" for IH operations, actively to expand online services, digitalize traditional health care, and explore health care services modes throughout the entire process and lifecycle. This article encompasses the platform architecture design, technological applications, patient service content and processes, health care professional support features, administrative management tools, and associated operational data. Our platform has presented a set of data, including 82,279,669 visits, 420,120 online medical consultations, 124,422 electronic prescriptions, 92,285 medication deliveries, 6,965,566 prediagnosis triages, 4,995,824 offline outpatient appointments, 2025 medical education articles with a total of 15,148,310 views, and so on. These data demonstrate the significant role of IH as an indispensable component of our physical hospital services, with deep integration between online and offline health care systems. The upward trends in various data metrics indicate that our IH has gained significant recognition and usage among both the public and healthcare workers, and may have promising development prospects. Additionally, the platform construction approach, which prioritizes comprehensive service digitization and the 'Trinity' of the public, healthcare workers, and managers, serves as an effective means of promoting the development of Internet Hospitals. Such insights may prove invaluable in guiding the development of IH and facilitating the continued evolution of the Internet healthcare sector.

The permanent adjustment process: A theoretical approach to structural change in commercial ports from the nineteenth century onwards

This article proposes a theoretical approach to the development of Western commercial ports from the Industrial Revolution onwards. It is based both on a bibliographical corpus devoted to port history and on personal research into the main French ports of the nineteenth century. This work was based on two main sources: firstly, the Annales des Ponts et Chaussées, which recorded the experiments and theoretical work carried out by the engineers of this government body; and secondly, the Actes législatifs et Dépenses concernant les Travaux de Navigation Intérieure et Maritime de 1814 à 1900, a document published by the Ministry of Public Works which provides information on the budgets allocated to the main French ports. This reflection shows that since the nineteenth century the development of ports has been subject to a permanent adjustment process, with four main characteristics: disruptive innovation, spatial adaptation, selective adaptation and one-way adaptation.

Life Histories of Taboo Knowledge Artifacts

Communicating about some vital topics---such as sexuality and health---is treated as taboo and subjected to censorship. How can we construct knowledge about these topics? Wikipedia is home to numerous high-quality knowledge artifacts about taboo topics like sexual organs and human reproduction. How did these artifacts come into being? How is their existence sustained? This mixed-methods comparative project builds on previous work on taboo topics in Wikipedia and draws from qualitative and quantitative approaches. We follow a sequential complementary design, developing a narrative articulation of the life of taboo articles, comparing them to nontaboo articles, and examining some of their quantifiable traits. We find that taboo knowledge artifacts develop through multiple successful collaboration styles and, unsurprisingly, that taboo subjects are the sites of conflict. We identify and describe six themes in the development of taboo knowledge artifacts. These artifacts need resilient leadership and engaged organizations to thrive under conditions of limited identifiability and disjointed sensemaking , while contributors simultaneously engage in emergent governance and imagining public audiences . Our observations have important implications for supporting public knowledge work on controversial subjects such as taboos and more generally.

Who counts in civically engaged research? Rethinking expertise and authority in politics

ABSTRACT Calls for political science and related disciplines to inform public debates and contribute to public policy have proliferated in recent years. Scholars increasingly work with high-level policymakers and top government agencies, international organizations, private foundations, and corporations. This article highlights the need to broaden the mainstream of public and policy-facing work, putting local communities at the center of research and research-policy relations. To demonstrate the importance of putting communities first in civically engaged research (CER), we put forward a conceptual framework that takes stock of problems associated with the traditional research process as well as with narrow engagements with elite actors. Through illustrative vignettes, we show how CER is uniquely positioned to disrupt these dynamics and amplify the expertise within communities that are directly connected with, and impacted by, research and research-policy relations. We argue that an understanding of research problems that aligns with the perspectives of communities, and the incorporation of local and contextually nuanced insights, is essential for equalizing and localizing the benefits of research to participants and broader communities, and for generating better scholarship and better policy.

Optimization of Water Purification Infrastructures in Supiori Regency

Clean water is one of the important aspects that must be prioritized in urban planning. The higher the standard of living of the community, the need for clean water will also increase. However, the fulfillment of adequate clean water needs in Supiori Regency is still not optimal. Based on the Minister of Public Works Regulation No. 14/2010, the coverage of drinking water services in Supiori Regency is classified as poor, with a clean water service level of less than 50%. Optimization efforts are needed to optimize and distribute clean water services in Supiori Regency meet the target of clean water services and create a sustainable community life. The research method uses three types of analysis. First, the ratio of clean water services in the settlements of Supiori Regency was analyzed using a calculation method that refers to the standard of clean water needs and availability. Second, the analysis of clean water services was conducted based on community perceptions. Third, this study analyzed the factors that influence clean water services using multiple linear regression. Descriptive analysis was used to identify optimization steps. The results showed that the ratio of clean water services in South Supiori District only reached 30.38%, while in East Supiori District, it was lower, at 19.78%. Based on community perceptions, 93% of the population in South Supiori District and 75% in East Supiori District have not used the Water Supply System. Regression analysis shows that in Supiori Selatan District, factors affecting clean water services include pipe distance, community participation, and number of family members. In East Supiori District, the influencing factors are pipe distance, management, and maintenance of clean water. So, there are optimization efforts that can be done, among others, through mapping services based on regional conditions. For areas that are difficult to reach by SPAM services, the community can utilize the nearest water source to meet their clean water needs independently.

Migrant labor and community work-sharing as an alternative to social grants and public works programs: notes from South Africa

Migrant labor and community work-sharing as an alternative to social grants and public works programs: notes from South Africa

Refinement of the volcanic slope rating approach for determining slope stability in volcanic rocks of the Canary Islands

AbstractDue to their genesis, volcanic rocks present some singularities that make their geotechnical characteristics significantly different from other, more common types of rock masses, such as sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The formation mechanisms of volcanic rocks are varied, rapid and generally high energy. These processes give this type of rock geotechnical behaviour and geomechanical properties that are completely different from those of nonvolcanic materials, due to their high heterogeneity and anisotropy. In volcanic rock slopes, applying widely used geomechanical classifications to assess the quality of any rock mass present several challenges due to their distinctive and singular characteristics, which detract from their validity. For this reason, the Center for Studies and Experimentation of Public Works (CEDEX) of the Ministry of Public Works, under the agreement signed with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport of the Government of the Canary Islands, carried out during 2017 and 2018 an exhaustive analysis and reviews of existing geomechanical classifications and their applications to volcanic terrains. They developed a new geomechanical classification called VSR (volcanic slope rating), based on data obtained from 85 slopes across the Canary Islands, which allowed for the estimation of the stability of volcanic rock slopes by evaluating seven geotechnical parameters. This article presents the work conducted to review and calibrate this tool, based on the study of 94 slopes of different lithotypes throughout the Canary Islands (lavas, pyroclasts, heterogeneous), culminating in the proposal of a new classification for pyroclastic massifs (with new parameters and different weightings) and the adjustment of the current classification for the other slopes (regarding the Surface Regularity parameter). Therefore, the VSR geomechanical classification was applied to assess the stability of these 94 slopes, revealing a strong fit for Types A and C (R2 > 0.97), while the tool overestimated stability in Type B slopes, prompting a new classification proposal for this category.

Job Satisfaction and Associated Factors Among Public and Private Pharmacy Professionals in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia.

The quality of the healthcare system and the achievement of specific patient outcomes rely on the contentment of pharmacy experts working in both public and private pharmacies. This study aims to evaluate and compare the levels of job satisfaction among pharmacy professionals employed in public and private medication retail outlets in Gondar town, northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess job satisfaction and associated factors among pharmacy professionals in public and private pharmacies in Gondar town from July 20 to August 1, 2022. All pharmacy professionals were included in the study and no sample size was calculated. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with job satisfaction and a p < 0.05 was considered significant with 95% CI. A total of 217 private and public pharmacy professionals were included in the study, and 183 volunteered to participate with a response rate of 84%. Among the study participants, 52.5% were dissatisfied with their job. The majority of the respondents (92.3%) believed that the job has a good future, 72% of them received good recognition from the community for their job and more than half (57.3%) received a good salary. Private pharmacy workers were found to be more satisfied than public pharmacy workers (AOR: 2.770), pharmacy professionals who had good salaries and benefits, (AOR: 0.302), and individuals who were closeness of their workplace to home (AOR: 0.298) were significantly associated with job satisfaction levels. In this study, more than half of participants were disatisfied with their job. Pharmacy professionals working in private medication retail outlets, who had good salaries and benefits, and lived close to their homes were significantly associated with job satisfaction levels.