Road Infrastructure Projects Research Articles

Predicting Extension of Time and Increasing Contract Price in Road Infrastructure Projects Using a Sugeno Fuzzy Logic Model

Road infrastructure plays a crucial role in the development of countries, significantly influencing economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability. Major infrastructure projects are frequently challenged by substantial risks and uncertainties, leading to delays, budget overruns, and compromised quality. These issues can undermine the economic viability and efficiency of projects, making effective risk management essential for minimizing negative impacts and ensuring project success. For these reasons, a study was conducted using a Sugeno fuzzy logic system applied to completed projects. The resulting model is based on 10 project characteristics and provides highly accurate predictions for Extension of Time (EoT) and Increasing Contract Price (ICP). By utilizing this model, project management can be significantly improved through more accurate forecasting of potential delays and cost overruns. The high precision of the Sugeno fuzzy logic system enables better risk assessment and proactive decision-making, allowing project managers to implement targeted strategies to mitigate risks and optimize project outcomes.

Sustainability assessment indicators of road infrastructure projects: a systematic literature review

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify sustainability assessment indicators of road infrastructure projects by analyzing and synthesizing existing literature, considering that, despite being essential to achieving the sustainable development goals, sustainability performance in road infrastructure projects is a persistent challenge. Therefore, determining how sustainability can be assessed in these projects is crucial, necessitating a systematic review of the sustainability assessment indicators of road infrastructure projects. Design/methodology/approach Using PRISMA principles, 54 peer-reviewed papers from 2010 to 2022 were retrieved from three search databases (Scopus, Research for Life and Google Scholar) as part of a systematic literature review. Data analysis techniques included both descriptive and content analysis. Findings The study identified 22 indicators. The results emphasized that the sustainability of road infrastructure projects should consider all three sustainability dimensions to provide development while meeting human needs, preserving the planet Earth and enhancing economic growth. Similarly, indicators should be incorporated from the design phase to implement and attain sustainability successfully. Practical implications The outcome of this study will serve as a guide to road infrastructure stakeholders to understand the relevant sustainability indicators to assess the sustainability performance of their projects. Originality/value The study’s findings provide the sustainability assessment indicators for roads, which serve as a foundation for developing a sustainability assessment indicator framework for road infrastructure projects. Future research can look at establishing the indicators for the end-of-life phase of the project lifecycle.

Social impacts arising from road infrastructure projects in Sub-Saharan Africa: better management of social issues is needed in road construction, upgrading and rehabilitation

ABSTRACT Despite the use of environmental and social impact assessments for road projects, severe social impacts continue to occur. We discuss the social impacts associated with the construction, upgrading, widening and/or rehabilitation of roads in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to a literature review, we analysed 10 road projects in Uganda by examining project planning documents, and undertaking in-depth interviews, group interviews and field visits. While there were some benefits from these road projects, especially dust reduction where roads became sealed, the significant land acquisition necessary for these linear projects has led to physical displacement, economic displacement, and disruption to the livelihoods of local people. Other issues included: inadequate community engagement; delayed payment of compensation and inadequate compensation; gender-based violence; poor road construction practice causing community safety concerns; project-induced in-migration or influx; sexual harassment; impacts on children; and issues around sex work. The lack of local community acceptance (social licence to operate) of the projects resulted in construction delays and increased costs. For more acceptable road projects, better community engagement, improved planning and management, and adequate funding for resettlement and compensation are essential.

Building Information Modeling Uses and Complementary Technologies in Road Projects: A Systematic Review

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been widely adopted in the building sector. However, it is still an emerging topic in road infrastructure projects despite its enormous potential to solve ongoing issues. While there have been several recent studies on BIM implementation in road projects, there is a lack of research analyzing the actual BIM Uses in road projects as reported in academic and technical documents. Considering this gap, this paper presents a systematic review of BIM Uses and complementary technologies to BIM in road infrastructure projects. The research method consisted of a systematic review composed of five stages: (1) question formulation, (2) searching of relevant documents, (3) document selection, (4) evidence collection, analysis, and synthesis, and (5) results report. A total of 384 documents were collected, from which 134 documents reporting BIM Uses on roads were analyzed. This study has two main contributions. First, 39 BIM Uses were identified, which are classified into nine categories: road design, traffic analysis, soil aspects, road safety, environmental issues, other engineering analysis, construction planning and analysis, cost analysis, and construction monitoring and control. Second, a set of 26 technologies complementary to BIM adoption in roads were identified, among the most prevalent of which are geographic information systems (GISs) and laser scanning. The results serve as a basis for researchers to learn about the status and propose future developments on BIM adoption in road infrastructure.

Public–Private Partnership (PPP) in Road Infrastructure Projects: A Review of Evolution, Approaches, and Prospects

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are a widely used procurement method for constructing, maintaining, and operating roads, constituting an alternative to the traditional public works model (TPW). This is because the efficiency of the PPP model has been highlighted over the TPW model. This study carried out a bibliometric analysis of 734 public articles from Scopus on PPPs in road infrastructure projects between 1993 and 2022. The results allow us to identify the general characteristics of the research; the most relevant articles; the most productive journals; and the most prolific authors, institutions, and countries and their main international cooperation networks, as well as to detect the main current research topics, which are: financial management, costs and pricing systems, privatization of transport infrastructure services, and sustainability. Consequently, this study provides a comprehensive overview of research on PPPs in road infrastructure projects over the last 30 years. This can reinforce and complement previous bibliometric analyses on PPPs in road infrastructure projects.

The impact of road infrastructure development on ecosystems and communities

Background: Road infrastructure is essential for economic growth and improving connectivity between regions. This study looks at how environmental, social, and financial communities are affected by the development of the Arfai-Pami road infrastructure in Manokwari Selatan District, Manokwari Regency. Methods: This research uses qualitative and quantitative methods with the philosophy of positivism. Data were collected in several places in the Arfai and Pami areas, including South Manokwari, through observation, interviews, and document analysis. Result: The results showed that road construction improved accessibility and local economic growth, with an increase in the value of social variables by 0.365 and economic variables by 0.759, respectively. However, apparent consequences include a 33.87% decrease in forest area, a decrease in green space, an increased likelihood of flash flooding downstream due to land use change, and a decrease in infiltration surface area. In addition, road construction causes pollution, habitat disruption, and changes in water flow patterns, which can lead to erosion. Changes in the lifestyle and employment of local people is one of the significant social impacts. Residents benefit from increased employment opportunities, while others face increased living costs and loss of agricultural land. Relocation or compensation is a frequent social issue. The conclusion of this study emphasizes how important it is to balance ecosystem preservation and road infrastructure development. Especially in Arfai-Pami, road infrastructure development should be done holistically considering environmental, social, and economic impacts. Conclussion: To maximize benefits and reduce adverse effects, communities, government, and industry players need to be involved in the planning and implementation of road infrastructure projects.

Integrating Resilience in Construction Risk Management: A Case Study on Peruvian Road Infrastructure

This research work describes the process of applying resilient risk management on a Peruvian road, as well as the results obtained in the application of this methodology in terms of cost parameters and the perception of project members through surveys. The sample corresponds to the road infrastructure project called "Improvement of the Oyón - Ambo National Road, Section II" located in the high Andean zone of the Pasco region in Peru from 3300 m above sea level to 4800 m above sea level. The research covered a period of 13 months, from June 2020 to June 2021, identifying up to 61 types of frequent risks. The presence of high rainfall was the risk with the greatest impact during the execution of the work; but identifying it, analysing it and planning the anticipated response through a resilient approach allowed corrective actions to be taken that led to recovering the maximum delay in the execution.

Limits to participation in road infrastructure planning: Which choices do citizens make when their valued landscapes are under pressure?

There is only a finite amount of land, which is why the decision to allow a particular land use often results in a trade-off with other potential land uses. Traditionally, trade-offs have been assumed by planning professionals (i.e. ‘experts by profession’), while citizens, who experience the landscape on a daily basis (i.e. ‘experts by experience’), are only involved to a limited extent. Several researchers suggested that assessment and mapping of these trade-offs should be done at landscape level. The aim of this paper is to examine citizens’ trade-offs between different valued landscapes when under pressure due to road infrastructure development. Using the ‘Place Value Identifier’ (PVI), an online Public Participatory GIS (PPGIS) approach applied in the Netherlands (n = 1044), we analyse: (1) the general sustainability, infrastructure and land-use related values of citizens, (2) their valued landscapes, and (3) their trade-off choices between the different valued landscapes when these are under pressure of spatial developments. Our results show that respondents had difficulty making a distinct choice for a valuable place to be saved or sacrificed; only 23,8% had a strong preference for one place to save. However, the collective result of the individual choices seems to hold important information for planning. As a way forward, we developed information-rich maps (PVI-maps) visualising how landscapes are valued by the citizens around three Dutch road infrastructure projects. The PVI-maps include details on the degree of resistance to sacrificing different places, thus contribute to context-sensitive planning.

Size matters! Using conjoint analysis to uncover public preferences for design optimisation in road infrastructure EIAs

The planning and realisation of road infrastructure projects is often societally controversial because of the impacts and the difficult trade-offs between alternative project designs. Neither in current literature nor in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practice do we find any clear method to engage the public in integral trade-off choices. This paper aims to uncover public preferences about integrated road infrastructure projects, not by focusing directly on the – often contested – alternative project designs but by focusing on the size of the impacts. This paper examines the preferences for combinations of impacts and the corresponding orders of magnitude. We do so by employing Conjoint Analysis (CA), a well-established method in consumer studies which, to date, has rarely been used in infrastructure planning. CA systematically estimates public preferences for (1) the relative importance of selected impacts and (2) the corresponding Willingness-to-Pay and Willingness-to-Accept. We used the total range in sizes of impacts of three existing EIAs for infrastructure projects and asked 600 citizens to trade off the impacts involved. First, we find that public and policy preferences do not necessarily align. The CA results show that loss of ‘forest and green structures’ and ‘agricultural land’ are considered to be the most important impacts. Conversely, in each of the projects, travel time gain is regarded as the least important impact. Second, the order of magnitude of the impacts seems crucially important: the greater the magnitude of the impact, the higher its relative importance. Third, when comparing our results with the alternatives in the original EIAs, it appears that the project alternative with the highest weighted public preference required an optimised project design. We find that our systematic approach to uncover public preferences at this stage in the EIA-process can contribute to further design optimisation of the project. This stage is often overlooked in the process while it is the last EIA stage before the final approval decision is made, but the first time that the forecasted size of the impacts of the different alternative designs of a project are available and presented. Such an approach may enhance the development of alternatives that are more widely accepted by the communities and that thus potentially alleviate or even prevent social contestation.

Seeking the Optimisation of Public Infrastructure Procurement with NEC4 ECC: A Peruvian Case Study

The modern civil engineering and construction sector requires collaborative work environments, learning and trust among all parties involved, qualities that are absent in the Peruvian reality. This study, which is based on an extensive literature review, investigates this challenge. The study reflects upon (i) the current situation of public works procurement in Peru and (ii) the New Engineering Contract (NEC), which has recently been implemented in Peruvian Special Public Infrastructure Projects. Comparisons are presented between the characteristics, documentation and roles of these two systems, with the purpose of understanding and representing the advantages, disadvantages and possibilities of integrating the good contractual management practices of the NEC4 Engineering and Construction Contract into the traditional Peruvian State Contracting Law (Ley de Contrataciones del Estado: LCE). The research is validated through the case study of a high-impact road infrastructure project in the city of Arequipa, Peru, which revealed five main deficiencies from Peruvian procurement processes which hinder good contractual management and, also, facilitated an initial assessment of the challenges and improvement opportunities in public infrastructure procurement. Thus, a contribution is made to closing the knowledge gap regarding the implementation of the NEC4 ECC in public sector works.

Project Cost Estimation Using a Stepwise Approach: a Case Study of an Infrastructure Project in Gresik Regency, East Java

There are many studies related to cost estimation applied in a project, but only a few employ using “stepwise” method. This approach is expected to assist in solving complex problems by establishing a criteria hierarchy, subjectively assessed by interested parties, and incorporating various considerations to develop weights or priorities. The foundation of the stepwise approach relies on well-documented findings, which assert that 80% of the total project cost corresponds to the 20% most expensive components of the work. The research systematically collected data for project development estimates based on the bill of quantities from each year, as well as the HSPK (activity main unit price) in Gresik Regency from 2016 to 2018. This research aims to develop a conceptualized estimation model that provides clear, rapid, and relatively accurate initial project cost information. The results of this research include analysis of stepwise approach on cost realization, analysis of accuracy of the cost estimation model for buildings using the stepwise method, and an analysis of the cost of road and bridge infrastructure projects to facilitate completion in Gresik Regency. The research concludes that the analysis of the Cost Significant Model's impact on cost realization in the Public Works and Spatial Office's Highways Division in Gresik Regency has resulted in a cost estimation model for road development with an accuracy range from -12.7% to 16.0%, with an average accuracy rate of 0.59%. Additionally, there is a very strong correlation (R) of the independent variable (work in Division 2) and the total development cost, indicating that fluctuations in the cost of significant components are closely linked to changes in the overall development cost. The analysis of infrastructure project costs related to roads and bridges for project completion revealed that the highest value among independent variables is associated with Division 7, at Rp. 4,403,054 per m2. This suggests that the cost of Division 7 work is the most influential, while Division 1 (X1) has the lowest cost, at Rp. 35,589 per m2. Furthermore, there is a work component with zero cost, namely, Division 4 works.

The Identification of Sustainability Assessment Indicators for Road Infrastructure Projects in Tanzania

The performance of sustainability in infrastructure projects continues to face challenges in its implementation and attainment in developing countries, one of which is the lack of appraisal tools and indicators for the assessment of sustainability. Studies indicate that there are no formal indicators for sustainability assessment on road infrastructure projects in Tanzania, the lack of which limits the determination of whether projects implemented are sustainable or not. Therefore, this study aimed at determining the key sustainability assessment indicators used for road infrastructure projects in Tanzania. A concurrent mixed research approach was adopted in which the sample was purposively selected. A content analysis and descriptive statistics using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS 20.0) were used to analyze qualitative and quantitative data, respectively. The findings indicate that 24 indicators are applicable to Tanzania. Among the highly ranked include “health and safety training to workers”, “health and safety personnel in the project team”, “site barriers and safety warning signs”, “personal protective equipment (PPE) provision”, and “waste collection”. The qualitative results further support the identified sustainability assessment indicators on road infrastructure projects in Tanzania, with one new indicator of “air quality” emerging. The findings inform the government and other relevant stakeholders in the construction industry including planners, designers, and project managers of the key sustainability assessment indicators for roads, which would influence regulation as well as policies to improve the sustainability performance of road projects in Tanzania.

Analysis of Project Budget Plan with Public Private Partnership Through Availability Payment (Case Study: Sumadra-Bungbulang Road, Garut Regency)

Investing in road infrastructure can stimulate economic growth and provide support for various developments. To ensure success, it is crucial to allocate funds based on technical calculations and specifications. This article focuses on budget planning for the Sumadra-Bungbulang road infrastructure project using the Public-Private Partnership model as a potential solution to achieve infrastructure goals. Budget calculations show a positive NPV and a Payback Period that meets the concession deadline. Additionally, the IRR target of 12% agreed upon by public and private institutions is also achieved. Therefore, the proposal for the road project through Public-Private Partnership is worthy of consideration by the West Java Governor for short-list or long-list selection.

Decarbonization Technology in Road Infrastructure Projects

This study aims to determine the appropriate decarbonization technologies to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in road infrastructure projects. Decarbonization is a process that seeks to reduce or eliminate CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change and that comes from the energy sources consumed by the transport sector. With statistical information from different studies, the most appropriate technologies were identified to control the triangle of effectiveness, productivity, and profitability derived from the costs, time, and quality of the projects associated with decarbonization technologies. The study is documentary and bibliographic, with the deductive method, quantitative approach, applied orientation, and descriptive, correlational, and explanatory types. The design is non-experimental, cross-sectional, and retrospective. The energy conversion efficiency of all technologies is identified in three domains: with fossil fuels from compressed natural gas, with natural gas, and with electricity by hydrogen electrolysis. GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions savings using BIM (Building Information Modeling) can reach up to 14% and 30% of emissions and 47% and 65% when the scope of maintenance and rehabilitation is restricted, and pavement construction is excluded.

Identifying the Causes of Delay Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) Method in Brazilian Public Road Infrastructure Projects

The highway infrastructure system plays an important role in a country whose continental extensions require an adequate transportation system to connect people and places and boost the economy. Delayed delivery of these projects is one of the most significant problems in the road construction industry and poses challenges to project success in terms of time, cost, quality, and safety. Some studies have carried out literature reviews, applied questionnaires and performed expert interviews, or used analytical methods such as machine learning and AHP (Analytic Hieraquircal Process) to identify factors that cause delays. The objective of this study was to identify the main delay factors in road infrastructure projects using the AHP analytic hierarchy process approach in the context of public works management in Brazil. This study consisted of two stages, the first being a search in databases and search engines, using keywords that point to studies on delay factors in road construction projects. After this, the criteria and sub-criteria were examined and classified, and the factors and causes of delays were ranked based on discussions with an expert and the application of a questionnaire, according to the AHP methodology. The supporting software used was SuperDecisions. The main factors (criteria) and sub-factors (sub-criteria) that influence delay were categorized according to the literature. The main factors were compiled into five criteria called: principal contractor, designer, manager, material/manpower/equipment, and external factors. Within these groups, 24 sub-factors that most influenced delay were initially selected. But after the consistency tests were not acceptable, a new selection was made, which considered in the analysis the 15 most influential sub-factors. According to the experts, the order of importance was: Contractor>External Factors>Materials>Manpower and Equipment>Manager>Designer. The most important sub-criterion according to the specialists in causing delays in Brazilian road infrastructure projects was climate. The study pointed out which factors should have priority in decision-making to avoid delays in public, government-funded road transportation projects in Brazil. By applying it, one can arrive at the variables that can be used to develop a prediction model that helps mitigate the risks of delay in public road infrastructure projects.

Public-Private Partnership Participation in Road Infrastructure Construction Projects in Tanzania: Challenges and the Way Forward

Developing countries face inadequate resources for funding road infrastructures. This has amalgamated the public and private sectors into a mutually beneficial relationship through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). Although extensive documentation exists on PPPs globally in various sectors, studies examining the challenges to PPPs in Road Infrastructure Construction projects in Tanzania are inadequate. This study aimed to address this shortfall. Purposive sampling was used to select 20 respondents for the study. A qualitative research design was used in the study, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data from interviews and focus group discussions. Over two-thirds of the interviewed respondents revealed that lack of preparedness, limited information on available opportunities for PPP projects, and inadequate capital market were among the main challenges facing PPPs on road infrastructure projects in Tanzania. The study calls for improving the institutional framework to enhance private sector participation in PPPs in road projects

Effects of road infrastructure development on residential property value and land development shifts in a peri-urban area of Karachi, Pakistan

The introduction of road infrastructure development projects often triggers expectations of shifts in property values. Extensive research has already been conducted regarding the impact of such projects on property values and land development in developed regions. However, there is a research gap when it comes to developing countries like Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of the road infrastructure development project, the M-9 Motorway, on residential property values and land development in a mega residential project in Bahria Town Karachi (BTK), Pakistan. This study employs a mixed-methodology approach, incorporating qualitative methods (interviews) and quantitative analysis (questionnaire surveys and property data analysis). Statistical tools such as Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the Chi-square goodness of fit test were used for correlation and hypothesis testing. This research reveals that proximity to a major road infrastructure project directly impacts property purchase prices, rents, and land development in BTK, either positively or negatively. The obtained results align with both expectations and the existing literature. Although these findings should not directly apply to other locations and contexts, they can be considered suggestive indicators for planning purposes.

Examining green road construction components: the case of Ghana

PurposeThe adoption of green construction concepts in road infrastructure projects is an opportunity to minimise the carbon footprint while boosting the built environment's capacity to promote sustainability. Consequently, this study examines the components of green road construction practices in developing countries such as Ghana.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative research method, four hypothesised constructs identified from the review of relevant literature were tested. The views of 144 quantity surveyors, civil engineers and project managers within Ghana's three road agencies were elicited using a structured close-ended questionnaire. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on the structural equation model (SEM) was adopted in analysing the data obtained.FindingsThe study's results reveal that the identified components: sustainable design, materials and resources, stormwater management and energy efficiency, significantly influence green road construction.Practical implicationsIt reveals the critical elements of sustainable road design and construction, aiding organisations, construction companies and legislators in making informed choices on road design and construction.Originality/valueResults from this study provide empirical evidence lacking in the literature about the main components of green road construction.

Great Potential, Many Pitfalls Understanding China's Belt and Road Initiative

Bijan Omrani, Editor of the Journal Asian Affairs critically evaluates the potential as well the pitfalls of the Belt Road Initiative (BRI) trade and infrastructure project by exploring some related themes. This edited book is divided into seven chapters, each contributed by a different author. These chapters were presented at a joint conference of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs and the Woodrow Wilson Centre. The editor has brought together these chapters for the sake of an advancedclarity on the subject. The primary data sources comprise of national and international statistics, such as the World Bank Databank, as well as governmental documents made public, including the Pentagon report.

Circular Economy 4.0 Evaluation Model for Urban Road Infrastructure Projects, CIROAD

This paper provides a multicriteria evaluation model, based on the AHP methodology for the evaluation of the Circular Economy 4.0’s, which develops the metric called “Circularity indicator for urban road projects (CIROAD)”. The main contribution of this work is to provide a measurement scale specifically designed for urban road infrastructure projects. It is a useful tool to assess the degree of implementation of the principles of the Circular Economy (CE) and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (I4.0) in an integrated manner in these types of projects, generating valuable information for all stakeholders and contributing to the objective of accelerating the transition towards a Circular Economy 4.0 model in the construction industry. The model is defined with twenty-five sub-criteria and seven general criteria, which are: (1) Circular Materials; (2) Circular Design Approaches; (3) Circular Construction Approaches; (4) Circular Operation Approaches; (5) Approaches to Deconstruction and Resource Recovery; (6) Social Value Creation; and (7) Economic Performance. The developed CIROAD model was applied to three projects in the urban transport area of the Chilean Ministry of Housing and Urbanism (MINVU/SERVIU) in the Santiago Metropolitan Region (RM). In these three projects, low performance was observed in terms of CIROAD scores (between 21% and 28% of a maximum of 100%); that is, there is a significant opportunity for improvement by incorporating more circular practices in the development of projects by the studied organization. To accelerate the transition to a circular economy model in the development of its projects, it is proposed that the organization prioritize improving the following circular practices (in order of importance): (1) the design of pavements with environmental criteria; (2) preserving value; (3) conducting cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of waste management; (4) environmental declaration of materials (EPD); (5) the used of recycled materials; and (6) BIM-based design. Finally, the suggestion for the organization in charge of these projects is to use the developed CIROAD model as a tool to support decision making regarding the prioritization of its project portfolio. That is, the organization should use CIROAD to generate a ranking score for each project and allocate resources for investment in the initiatives that show the best circularity performances, as estimated by CIROAD.