Rehabilitation Of Infrastructure Research Articles

ISSUES OF SLUM UPGRADING IN ITOKUN/IKIJA, ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigates the challenges of slum upgrading in the Itoku-Ikija area of Abeokuta North, Ogun State, with a view to propose suitable approaches for improvement. The objectives include assessing the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of residents, identifying existing conditions, examining housing quality, identifying development challenges, and recommending solutions. Data was collected using questionnaires administered on residents, town planners, public agencies, and stakeholders. A total of 400 questionnaires were administered, with 300 retrieved. Additionally, unstructured interviews with town planners were conducted to ensure comprehensive data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques via SPSS and Excel. The study unraveled comprehensive analysis of slum upgrading challenges in Itoku-Ikija area, Abeokuta, and presented a nuanced understanding of the challenges and potential solutions. The data-driven approach provides valuable insights into the socio-economic dynamics, infrastructure deficits, and governance issues affecting the area. The challenges of slum development are ranked, with the spread of diseases, unemployment, and overcrowding being the most severe. The research made the following recommendations: rehabilitation of infrastructure, creation of incentives for farmers, creation of job opportunities, provision of potable water, and provision of good educational systems, among others.

Pavement bearing capacity evaluation during pavement-fracturing using falling-weight impact acceleration

Inpavement infrastructure rehabilitation, a comprehensive evaluation of the pavement’s bearing capacity is essential. This paper explores a new attempt for real-time assessment of pavement fracturing effectiveness, combining theoretical and simulation analyses with practical application to four typical pavement structures. The study focuses on analyzing falling weight impact signals to assess pavement load-bearing capacity and fragmentation degree. The findings reveal that: (1) The discrete-continuous coupling method shows that stronger surface and support layers result in higher peak impact accelerations and shorter impact durations. (2) Field data from semi-rigid bases highlight a significant correlation between pre-fracturing resilient modulus and peak impact acceleration, while post-fracturing resilient modulus is closely related to impact duration. (3) In cement pavements, the pre-fracturing deflection corresponds with low-frequency peak values, whereas the post-fracturing deflection aligns with high-frequency peaks. This paper introduces a new approach for real-time pavement fragmentation evaluation, providing a basic reference for the future automation of fracturing techniques.

Self-regulation and socially responsible business: points of contact

The business environment is changing rapidly. The practice of adhering to the principles of socially responsible business is becoming more widespread every year (the number of companies that share and implement such practices is growing rapidly). Of course, in addition to changes in the worldview of business owners and management, external factors, including certain extraordinary events, also contribute to this. Businesses demonstrate the ability to self-regulate their activities and the need for further sectoral unification. The article aims to study the relationship between self-regulation and socially responsible business. The author analyses the specifics of the activities of self-regulatory organisations, which are a classic manifestation of self-regulation. The article analyses the provisions of the Memorandum of Intent to create a favourable environment, develop fair competition in the Ukrainian petroleum products market and meet consumer needs for the period of quarantine and restrictions; the Memorandum on ensuring stable operation of the food supply chain in Ukraine under martial law; and the Memorandum on bank lending for energy infrastructure rehabilitation projects. It is substantiated that memoranda (declarations) of market participants are one of the forms of self-regulation that set out additional obligations and/or new rules of conduct. The author also considers self-regulatory local acts of business entities (declarations of integrity, rules for verification of counterparties, codes of ethics, etc.), which are also part of the concept of self-regulation. The author provides a classification of self-regulation in the context of socially responsible business. The study proves that self-regulation is one of the principles of socially responsible management. It is noted that only companies that adhere to high standards of socially responsible behaviour can demonstrate the ability of business to self-regulate. It is also noted that initiative is one of the key elements of socially responsible business behaviour.

Riding the Dragon’s Rails: Unpacking the Impacts of Chinese-Built Railway in Nigeria

This research investigates the impacts of China’s development assistance on African development through Nigeria’s Abuja–Kaduna railway, West Africa’s first modern railway constructed with Chinese aid. Grounded in urbanization and dependency theories and utilizing interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs), and a comprehensive literature review, this study evaluates both positive and negative impacts. Findings reveal socio-economic benefits for Nigeria, including employment generation, improved connectivity, and infrastructure renewal, while also identifying challenges such as community displacement and limited technology transfer. This analysis sheds light on China’s role in African railway development, China–Nigeria relations, and the broader implications of Chinese involvement. By enriching empirical knowledge and presenting a balanced view, this study fosters a nuanced understanding of infrastructure development’s role in Africa’s progress.

Oновлення парку рухомого складу українських залізниць з орієнтацією на інтеграцію в європейські транспортні мережі

The strategic aim of further development of the Ukrainian railways is rolling stock and infrastructure renewal to meet the demands of the Ukrainian economy, including a rapid integration into the European transport service. The paper presents the results of recent studies conducted at the Department of Statistical Dynamics and Multidimensional Mechanical System Dynamics, the Institute of Technical Mechanics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the State Space Agency of Ukraine, with the aim to solve important problems in the development of the Ukrainian railway transport. The studies were aimed at developing scientifically substantiated decisions on Ukrainian rolling stock renewal oriented at integration into the European railway networks. To do this, a cycle of theoretical and experimental studies was conducted at the department. Consideration was given to the problem of wheel–rail contact pair improvement by identifying a wheel profile that would offer an acceptable car ride performance and acceptable conditions of car–rail interaction both on the Ukrainian and the European railways and reduce vehicle and rail wear. The car ride performance of an articulated passenger train was simulated mathematically for its motion at different speeds along a track of arbitrary alignment and profile, and the effect of different car and track parameters on the ride performance was estimated. Energy-absorbing devices were developed to increase the passive safety of a speedy locomotive-hauled passenger train and a multiple-unit train in emergency collisions with obstacles according to the Ukrainian Standard DSTU EN 15227. Service loads on the load-bearing components of swap-body freight cars were estimated, and recommendations were developed on fasteners that would provide safe transportation of various freights in swap-body cars. Based on the results of the studies, a number of design solutions were proposed for Ukrainian railway vehicle components. Their implementation will offer a sizeable economic benefit, increase the train speed and safety, improve the vehicle–track interaction, and facilitate the formation of an up-to-date home railway complex and its integration into the European railway networks.

Development of an anchor system for thick CFRP plates: Experimental and numerical investigation

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has been widely used in construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of civil infrastructures. Anchor system is one of the most crucial part ensuring load transfer between CFRP and the structures. However, for CFRP plate anchors, there is a contradiction between the anchor capacity and the anchor size. In this paper, a novel cylinder shaped anchor for thick CFRP plates was developed based on a detailed experimental and numerical study. The proposed anchor weighs only 6 kg and it can develop 98 % strength of the 3 mm thickness CFRP plates. The experimental and numerical results revealed that the anchor efficiency of the proposed cylinder shaped anchor system is significantly affected by wedge shape, anchor material, tooth shape, pretightening force and magnitude of interference. The proposed anchor system can significantly promote application of thick CFRP plates.

The Effects of Scales on Modeling of Flow Patterns Over Spillway

Climate changes leading to extreme events when the occurrence and intensity of severe phenomena have impeded the development and rehabilitation of hydraulic infrastructure, such as weirs and spillways according to these new conditions. The scale physical model is one of the most important methods for designing these hydraulic structures. The selection of the model scale is necessary for model operation accuracy and design performance because of the effect of this process on design parameters resulting from the model. Scale effects can be seen through the large effect of some forces on the model that are not effective in reality, such as surface tension and viscosity forces, whose effect can be seen on the model with a relatively small scale, but are not effective on the structure at the actual size. The present study is trying to know how the physical model scales affect flow patterns over the spillway of small dam (less than 15m height) and the extent of this effect. Three physical model scales (1/30, 1/75, and 1/100) were used and compared with the actual size of the structure by numerical model (FLOW 3D). The physical and numerical models were tested with discharge values of (250, 350, 500, 750, and 1000) m3/s to evaluate the rating curve, discharge coefficients, pressure distributions, and energy dissipation. The results show the scale has significantly impacted the results, and it is preferable to avoid small scales. The 1/30 scale aligned more closely with the numerical model (the actual dimensions of the spillway) and strikes a compromise between measurement precision and expense. Therefore; the present study recommended using the scale 1/30 physical model or more for small dam spillway design.

Determination of scenarios for the implementation of projects for the restoration of transport infrastructure facilities in the post-war period based on traffic flow modeling

The author analyzes the state of the art in theory and practice. It has been established that in the context of post-war restoration of transport infrastructure, it is important to ensure effective planning and implementation of transport infrastructure restoration projects for a given project environment. The purpose of the study is to substantiate an approach to determining scenarios for the implementation of transport infrastructure rehabilitation projects based on traffic flow modeling and, on its basis, to determine a rational scenario for the implementation of transport infrastructure rehabilitation projects for a given project environment. The approach to determining scenarios for the implementation of transport infrastructure rehabilitation projects is substantiated. It is based on the modeling of traffic flows using the Greenshield model and the OpenStreetMap (OSM) framework. The Greenshield model describes the relationships between speed, density, and traffic flow. It allows to identify bottlenecks in the transportation network and prioritize areas for rehabilitation. It is proposed to use the OpenStreetMap (OSM) framework, which provides access to open data on transport infrastructure, allowing the creation of detailed models of transport networks. Based on the proposed approach, a rational scenario for the implementation of transport infrastructure rehabilitation projects for a given project environment – on the priority streets of Kramatorsk, Donetsk region - has been determined. According to the modeling results, it was found that Scenario_1.1 showed the best results in terms of average speed (31.46 km/h) and average delay (3.79 sec/km) of vehicle traffic. The obtained results confirm the feasibility of using an approach to determining scenarios for the implementation of transport infrastructure rehabilitation projects based on traffic flow modeling. Further research in this area should be conducted in the direction of developing a decision support system based on the developed approach.

ВПЛИВ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙНИХ ЗМІН НА ЕФЕКТИВНІСТЬ ФУНКЦІОНУВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ПАРКІВ

Innovation parks are key elements of modern innovation infrastructure aimed at the development of science, technology and support of entrepreneurship. In the conditions of rapid transformational changes caused by the development of digital technologies, globalization processes, growing requirements for environmental sustainability and social responsibility, innovative parks are faced with the need to adapt their business models and management approaches to maintain competitiveness and increase efficiency. The purpose of the presented work is to determine the features of the impact of transformational changes on the efficiency of the functioning of innovation parks. Methods used in the work: logical method, method of comparison, methods of analysis and synthesis, methods of deduction and induction, tabular and graphic methods for visual presentation of research results. It is also substantiated that the impact of transformational changes is manifested in the need for the integration of the latest technologies, digital solutions, as well as the application of innovative formats of cooperation, which leads to the rapid renewal of park infrastructure, the development of new services and approaches to knowledge management. Changes in the labor market, increased requirements for the qualifications of employees, and the intensification of work on projects focused on environmental sustainability make innovation parks centers of socio-economic progress and adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development. The impact of transformational changes is manifested in the need to integrate the latest technologies, digital solutions, as well as the use of innovative formats of cooperation, which leads to the rapid renewal of park infrastructure, the development of new services and approaches to knowledge management. Changes in the labor market, increased requirements for the qualifications of employees, and the intensification of work on projects focused on environmental sustainability make innovation parks centers of socio-economic progress and adaptation to the requirements of sustainable development. Thus, analyzing the impact of transformational changes on innovation parks is an important task for determining their role in the modern economy and finding effective solutions to preserve their relevance and effectiveness in the face of constant changes.

A Sustainable City Made By Resident-Experts - How Designerly Intervention Enacted Rights of the Public and Urban Infrastructure

This paper proposes an investigation of how enacting infrastructure is intertwined with historically specific processes of constructing the public, which necessitates a focus on the co-production of public problems and the public, and the establishment of infrastructural connections. Intervening in the context where reflexive planning and design methodologies are deployed to implement urban regeneration through public engagement (what I call “designerly intervention”), this paper investigates what type of collectivity is constituted as infrastructural publics by designerly interventions and what forms of rights they can have. Drawing on ethnographic accounts of urban regeneration in Seoul, it shows how designerly interventions mobilize residents as possessing a novel form of expertise, as “resident-experts” who can design a sustainable city, problematizing the renewal of the worn-out infrastructure as how to stimulate the resilience of a city. This results in an infrastructural connection that focuses on immediate results and the ordinary scale of urban regeneration, which enacts the rights of the public as city-users’ rights, namely not as rights protected by law but as a practical capacity that infrastructural devices in everyday life provide. This paper explores how designerly interventions invoke an experimental approach that opens up the normative questions of public engagement with planning.

SPATIAL MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF WATER SOURCES IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SOKOTO METROPOLIS

This study aimed to assess the water quality in public secondary schools within Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria, with a focus on evaluating microbial contamination levels and identifying spatial disparities in water facilities. Comprehensive assessment checklist based on WHO and UNICEF standards was used to evaluate the availability and adequacy of water facilities. Water samples were collected from 13 public secondary schools using a stratified and proportionate sampling techniques, ensuring representation across different water sources, including boreholes, pipe-borne water, and dug wells. The samples were then transported to the Sokoto State Water Board laboratory for microbial testing. The analysis specifically targeted the presence of indicator bacteria, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliforms, and fecal streptococcus, to assess the microbial quality of the water sources. The findings revealed significant spatial disparities in the distribution of schools and highlighted areas with inadequate water facilities. Microbial analysis indicated varying levels of contamination across the different water sources, with dug wells having the highest E. coli count, averaging 11.33 CFU/100ml. The total average E. coli count across all water sources was 6.08 CFU/100ml, which exceeds the Nigerian Industrial Standard (NIS) Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) of 0 CFU/100ml, indicating a concerning level of contamination. These results suggest a substantial risk to public health, particularly for students and staff relying on these water sources. The study emphasises the urgent need for interventions such as reconstruction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure and regular water quality testing to ensure safe drinking water is provided in public secondary schools in...

Deciding how to decide: A conceptual model for consensually fostering urban infrastructure maintenance

Infrastructure owners face challenges in effective maintenance decision-making due to the process's multidisciplinary nature, spanning mathematics to cognitive science. This study delves into enhancing maintenance for complex infrastructure systems, specifically in scenarios where a single primary owner must consider the preferences and requisites of multiple stakeholders. In such unstructured problems characterised by diverse perspectives and potentially conflicting interests in uncertain environments, systematic decision analysis is paramount. In response, this paper proposes a generic conceptual model to outline the primary critical consideration of decision-making through a holistic scheme of the decision problem; it facilitates discovering shared views when defining the decision problem, eliciting objectives early in the decision-making process, and ensuring that selected agendas align with desired outcomes and core values. It provides valuable guidance for decision-modellers in infrastructure rehabilitation. These claims are reinforced with the application of the proposed model to case studies, illustrating its practicality in real-world settings.

Collaboration for implementation of decentralisation policy of multi drug-resistant tuberculosis services in Zambia

BackgroundMulti-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) infections are a public health concern. Since 2017, the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Zambia, in collaboration with its partners, has been implementing decentralised MDR-TB services to address the limited community access to treatment. This study sought to explore the role of collaboration in the implementation of decentralised multi drug-resistant tuberculosis services in Zambia.MethodsA qualitative case study design was conducted in selected provinces in Zambia using in-depth and key informant interviews as data collection methods. We conducted a total of 112 interviews involving 18 healthcare workers, 17 community health workers, 32 patients and 21 caregivers in healthcare facilities located in 10 selected districts. Additionally, 24 key informant interviews were conducted with healthcare workers managers at facility, district, provincial, and national-levels. Thematic analysis was employed guided by the Integrative Framework for Collaborative Governance.FindingsThe principled engagement was shaped by the global health agenda/summit meeting influence on the decentralisation of TB, engagement of stakeholders to initiate decentralisation, a supportive policy environment for the decentralisation process and guidelines and quarterly clinical expert committee meetings. The factors that influenced the shared motivation for the introduction of MDR-TB decentralisation included actors having a common understanding, limited access to health facilities and emergency transport services, a shared understanding of challenges in providing optimal patient monitoring and review and their appreciation of the value of evidence-based decision-making in the implementation of MDR- TB decentralisation. The capacity for joint action strategies included MoH initiating strategic partnerships in enhancing MDR-TB decentralisation, the role of leadership in organising training of healthcare workers and of multidisciplinary teams, inadequate coordination, supervision and monitoring of laboratory services and joint action in health infrastructural rehabilitation.ConclusionsPrincipled engagement facilitated the involvement of various stakeholders, the dissemination of relevant policies and guidelines and regular quarterly meetings of clinical expert committees to ensure ongoing support and guidance. A shared motivation among actors was underpinned by a common understanding of the barriers faced while implementing decentralisation efforts. The capacity for joint action was demonstrated through several key strategies, however, challenges such as inadequate coordination, supervision and monitoring of laboratory services, as well as the need for collaborative efforts in health infrastructural rehabilitation were observed. Overall, collaboration has facilitated the creation of a more responsive and comprehensive TB care system, addressing the critical needs of patients and improving health outcomes.

The construction of temporary and permanent housing after the Semeru eruption as a new strategy for post-disaster reconstruction

Mount Semeru in East Java erupted on December 4, 2021, which resulted in dozens of residents in Lumajang Regency dying and thousands of residents fleeing. The government is programming the rehabilitation of infrastructure and facilities, including reconstructing temporary and permanent housing for refugees. The research location is in the refugee relocation area in Sumbermujur Village, Candipuro District. In post-disaster reconstruction programs, permanent housings are built after temporary housings have been occupied for several months. However, in Lumajang Regency, the government accelerated the construction of permanent housing so that the developer completed the permanent housing earlier than the temporary housing. Two types of residential units were built simultaneously on a plot of site by different developers, so problems arose in combining the different housing types. After conducting literature studies and general observations, the researcher selected five cases for further observation. The criteria and technical specifications for temporary units are stated in Lumajang Regent Regulation Number 1 of 2022. The construction of permanent units uses RISHA technology. The two types of housing are planned to be directly connected in integration. This paper aims to explain the implementation of the construction of temporary and permanent housing and identify problems in combining the two types of housing in one plot. Researchers found four categories of issues, namely: differences in floor height at the connection between two building units, door and window openings that do not function because they meet the wall, two areas of the roof that are not connected properly, and there are gaps in the connection between units.

Optimizing the Use of Natural Fibers for Post-Flood Infrastructure Rehabilitation: Analytical Study in Disaster-Prone Areas

This study investigates the optimization of natural fibers for post-flood infrastructure rehabilitation, focusing on disaster-prone areas. The primary objective is to explore the potential of natural fibers as sustainable materials for repairing and reinforcing infrastructure damaged by floods. The research employs a qualitative analytical methodology, synthesizing findings from academic articles, field reports, case studies, and empirical studies to provide a comprehensive understanding of the efficacy of natural fibers in post-flood scenarios. The qualitative methodology involves systematically collecting and analyzing scholarly sources that discuss various natural fibers, their properties, and applications in infrastructure rehabilitation. The study categorizes the literature into key themes, such as the mechanical properties of different natural fibers, the environmental benefits of using natural fibers, and case studies of successful applications in disaster-prone regions. Thematic analysis is used to identify patterns and trends in the effectiveness of natural fibers for infrastructure rehabilitation. The findings indicate that natural fibers, such as bamboo, jute, and hemp, possess excellent mechanical properties, including high tensile strength and flexibility, making them suitable for reinforcing damaged structures. Additionally, natural fibers are biodegradable and environmentally friendly, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional construction materials. Case studies demonstrate that incorporating natural fibers in rehabilitation projects enhances structural integrity and resilience, thereby reducing the long-term costs and environmental impact of infrastructure repair.

Estimating the loss-reduction effects of disaster preparedness and mitigation: An empirical study of US coastal states.

As extreme weather events like floods and storms continue to increase, it is crucial to examine the degree to which various disaster preparedness and mitigation investments can lower these risks. In this research, we empirically examine the effects of multiple federal disaster aid programs on reducing subsequent flood- and storm-related damages across US coastal states. Our analysis distinguishes aid programs and their funded projects targeting different emergency management functions, including preparedness, nonstructural and structural mitigation, emergency response and protective measures, and rehabilitation of public infrastructure. We construct panel data of more than 1800 US counties over the years 2000-2019 and estimate a fixed-effects model with time-varying county-level socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. We find that disaster aid generally helps mitigate property damages, although this loss-reduction effect varies by program. Among all aid programs, the Emergency Management Performance Grant results in the largest reduction of future flood damages. The Public Assistance grants supporting emergency work are also found to exert a strong effect on risk reduction. We also find that the impacts of disaster aid are higher in coastal counties. Our study is one of the first few examining the resilience implication of disaster aid in coastal counties, and our results underscore the importance of investing in capacity building, contingency planning, and consistency in maintenance.

Održivost u gradnji cesta – Dvije studije slučaja

Sustainability in the field of traffic route construction should be considered against the background of intelligent resource conservation. A holistic assessment of sustainability, including life cycle considerations and assessments, is essential. In the first case study, the pavement structure at the heavily loaded Daimler intersection was constructed using concrete in the direct intersection area and using both concrete and asphalt in the connecting areas of all four axes. A 31 cm thick unbound frost protection layer with a grain size of 0/45 mm was placed over the existing road surface. This was followed by an 8 cm thick asphalt base course (AC 32), applied using an asphalt paver. Finally, a 26 cm thick concrete layer was placed over the asphalt base course. In the second case study, a horizontal hybrid construction method is presented using the German motorway BAB A61 in the Koblenz area as an example. Horizontal hybrid construction combines the advantages of asphalt and concrete to create a durable and resistant pavement surface capable of withstanding high traffic loads. This innovative construction method enables the optimum use of different materials and ensures efficient rehabilitation and improvement of motorway infrastructure.

Unveiling the Driving Factors of Emerging Trends in the Ghanaian Construction Industry: An Evaluative Analysis of Push and Pull Factors

There is a significant change in the Ghanaian construction sector, driven by the convergence of emerging trends. The study investigated the underlying factors influencing these emerging trends in the Ghanaian construction industry, focusing on both pull and push factors. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining survey data with qualitative analysis, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the drivers shaping the industry's development. The study was conducted within three cities (Cape Coast, Kasoa, and Winneba) in the Central Region of Ghana. Fifteen (15) construction companies were purposively selected based on their interest in technological advancements within the construction ecosystem. Five (5) categories of construction professionals, project managers, quantity surveyors, architects, structural engineers, safety officers, and site supervisors employed by the aforementioned fifteen (15) construction companies were considered for the study. Data collected were analyzed utilizing SPSS software version 20. Push factors highlighted environmental degradation, technological innovation, and infrastructure renewal as significant motivators. Pull factors emphasized the industry's extrinsic motivations, including community development, cultural considerations, and economic growth. The analysis revealed that both push and pull factors play crucial roles in driving the trends within the industry. Qualitative interviews conducted as part of the study provided deeper insights, identifying six key themes: regulatory compliance and market competition, technological advancements, skill development, economic considerations, leadership and strategic vision, and customer demand. These themes underscore the complex relationship between external pressures and internal motivations. Correlation and regression analyses indicated significant relationships between trend recognition and both push and pull factors, emphasizing the interplay between external pressures and aspirational drivers in shaping industry trends. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic forces driving change in the Ghanaian construction sector, offering substantial insights for stakeholders. These insights can help stakeholders navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities for sustainable growth and development. The findings underscore the importance of balancing technological advancements with socio-economic goals to foster a robust and forward-thinking construction industry in Ghana.

Develop an Action Plan for Pipeline Condition Assessment

Answering the right questions on pipeline condition assessment in light of system‐specific priorities helps utilities make cost‐effective decisions about infrastructure renewal.

Setting Sustainable and Predictable Water Rates

Key TakeawaysSetting water rates that are both sustainable and predictable can be challenging for water utilities coping with infrastructure renewal, inflation, and other challenges.Although most utilities conduct master planning efforts, the planning horizon is often too short, and the results are not fully integrated with long‐term financial planning.Without integrated planning efforts and an adequate planning horizon, sustainable and predictable rates cannot be achieved.