Road Infrastructure Projects Research Articles

Multi-criteria analysis for major road infrastructure projects. Case study: Brașov – Bacău Highway

Multi-criteria analysis for major road infrastructure projects. Case study: Brașov – Bacău Highway

Development of Prediction Models for Claim Cause Analyses in Highway Projects

India has the second largest road network in the world at 4.5 million km, and still, the government plans to develop a further 66,117 km of roads in the near future. Recently, out of 1,263 road infrastructure projects, 297 and 350 reported a time or cost overrun, respectively, and 103 projects faced both time and cost overruns. Thus, the majority of highway construction contracts lead to claims and disputes among stakeholders. It is necessary to understand, assess, and take appropriate actions for increasing the predictability of these claims and disputes in order to control them. This study attempts to analyze the patterns of claim and dispute occurrences between contractors and clients of highway construction projects in India. Data on disputes and claims for 77 contracts containing 573 claims and dispute cases under highway construction projects implemented over a period of 10 years in India were collected. These claim causes are grouped by using principle component analysis. A dispute occurrence index is developed through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to examine the relative potential of occurrence of dispute and claim events. Further, prediction models for time overrun and cost overrun for highway projects using multiple linear regression and an artificial neural network are developed to understand and predict the cause-effect impact. This study can enhance knowledge in claims management.

Risks Associated with Road Infrastructure Project Financing in Developing Countries: Study of Selected PPP Road Projects in Lagos, Nigeria

Several World Bank reports on the infrastructure situation in the emerging economies such as Nigeria have indicated that adequate infrastructure provision is not only critical but inevitable for any meaningful economic development. This paper examines the risk factor which is a major impediment to infrastructure project financing. In Lagos, several PPP road infrastructure projects have suffered setbacks at various stages. The Public – Private Partnership (PPP) scheme is now becoming one of the prevailing ways for infrastructure development in Lagos and although infrastructure investment have gained increasing investors attention over the past decades, the empirical evidence on their risk implications is still limited. The research is limited to Lagos since PPP arrangement in project financing/investment is still very low in Nigeria. Random sampling technique was applied. Data collection was by structured questionnaires, personal observations, interviews and phone surveys. Data analysis was based on simple descriptive analysis which employed statistical tools. The result of the research identifies and categorizes the various risks into three main categories – financial, political and project performance risks. The result of this research further show the most common causes of project failures in Lagos PPP road infrastructure projects and also identifies the most critical investment risks in the sector. The paper further recommends the most responsive risk management framework and mitigation measures for Lagos PPP road infrastructure projects. Conclusively, and given the relatively high risk perception associated with road infrastructure investment in Lagos, it is of primary importance to carry out exhaustive risk identification, risk hedging/management reviews, and evaluation of risk mitigating instruments/measures before embarking on any road infrastructure project investment/finance.

TEAMWORK IN SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT OF ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS

This paper addresses the methodology and the art of construction management of road infrastructure projects from the viewpoint of practicing engineers using teamwork amongst organizations, which include owners, design engineers, consultants, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, vendors, local residents, publics, and owners of other utilities. The author points out that most construction management text books and research papers have been written by academia without actual construction or management experience, and that successful construction management of infrastructures is not a simple task. To demonstrate this point, the collapse of the roof of the tunnel in the Big Dig project in Massachusetts and the collapse of the pedestrian bridge during installation in Florida in 2017 are mentioned. Both collapses cost the lives of road users and millions of dollars in litigations. The paper gives the factors contributing to successful teamwork as leadership, communication, collaboration, trust, transparency, common goal and mutual benefits. Using these traits, the author describes the construction management using teamwork concept in the successful completion of many road restoration projects in Chicago. It is concluded that the approach can be used equally well in other infrastructure projects of any sizes in USA or any other countries.

ESSENCE AND TYPES OF RISKS OF INVESTMENT PROJECTS FROM CONSTRUCTION OF AUTOMOTIVE ROADS

The essence of the risk of investment projects of the construction of automobile works is determined. The main features of investment projects for the construction of highways are generalized, in particular: project product, a large number of investors, risks of sources of funding, a high level of government regulation, a significant dependence of the project on the time of work and weather conditions, strategic restrictions. The flaws of public-private partnership in road maintenance infrastructure projects, which are related to risks, such as market and financial, political and social, are substantiated. The main types of risks of investment projects of construction of highways and measures to reduce their influence are determined: insurance objects, permanent monitoring of expected changes in legislation, financial responsibility of the project organization for making errors and miscalculations in the project-budget documentation, customer control of the schedule for the construction work, funding according to the schedule of work and monthly plan allocations. The most influential risks for investment projects of road construction under the condition of public-private partnership are: the risk of unreliability of project participants, the risk of not receiving the project revenue, the country's risk. The potential corruption risks in the field of procurement of works and services for construction, repair and maintenance of highways are determined. Are offered directions of leveling of factors of corruption risks in sphere of realization of investment projects of road economy. The ways to reduce risks and increase the attractiveness of road construction projects based on the principles of public-private partnership are substantiated: identification of priority projects for the priority attraction of private investments; simplification of procedures for registration of rights to use land plots for construction of roads; development of a mechanism for funding PPP projects and guaranteeing a minimum income to a private partner from the state; solving discussion issues and approving the principles of functioning of toll roads.

Rating the resilience of transport infrastructure project delivery: the case of roads

Transport infrastructure project delivery resilience has been defined and approached through the assessment of a project’s likelihood to reach prespecified performance targets. In this assessment, infrastructure project delivery is considered as a system and its key elements are represented through system indicators. Qualitative and quantitative (indicator) analysis of 86 EU infrastructure projects allowed the identification of indicator combinations and their value ranges that capture the likelihood of achieving four key output targets – that is, cost and time to construction completion and actual against forecast traffic and revenues. Indicators have also been classified as actionable (or not) – that is, allowing (or not) the possibility to improve the likelihood of reaching prespecified project delivery targets. Based on indicator analysis findings, a novel methodology has been proposed for rating the likelihood of transport infrastructure projects to achieve their performance targets, through the use of the Transport Infrastructure Resilience Indicator (Tiresi). Tiresi ratings complement existing decision-support tools by indicating actions that may be taken to address identified vulnerabilities and improve project robustness. This paper takes stock of the Tiresi methodology and demonstrates the application of its rating system for the case of road infrastructure projects, showing promising accuracy in its predictive power.

ПРАКТИЧЕСКОЕ ПРИМЕНЕНИЕ BIM МОДЕЛИРОВАНИЯ ДЛЯ ОБЪЕКТОВ ДОРОЖНОЙ ИНФРАСТРУКТУРЫ

Introduction : The subject of the study is transport infrastructure. The paper describes engineering solutions suggested by Hexagon Geosystems Rus and other large companies that conduct construction monitoring using BIM technologies and develop software solutions, services and equipment. It also addresses implementation of such engineering solutions. Purpose of the study : to achieve high level of road maintenance, preserve the existing road network, ensure traffic safety, switch to new methods of infrastructure facilities management by implementing BIM-based projects. Methods : Domestic products keep up with capabilities of modern information technologies and demonstrate BIM capabilities during its use in road infrastructure projects. Russian experts suggest software solutions to create a new environment for economic development, including in the road industry. Results : Documentation based on 3D laser scanning makes it possible to schedule maintenance and repair of transport infrastructure facilities. Data obtained are relevant and objective as the human factor is removed from final drawings and 3D models, thus improving the efficiency of the transport infrastructure facilities management system.

Инвестирование проектов дорожно-транспортной инфраструктуры: источники, динамика, проблемы

Инвестирование проектов дорожно-транспортной инфраструктуры: источники, динамика, проблемы

ЄВРОПЕЙСЬКИЙ ДОСВІД ПУБЛІЧНО-ПРИВАТНОГО ПАРТНЕРСТВА НА ПРИКЛАДІ РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ПРОЕКТІВ ТРАНСПОРТНО-ДОРОЖНЬОЇ ІНФРАСТРУКТУРИ

The article analyzed the dynamics and structure of sectoral PPP implementation in European countries, systematized existing experience in PPP road projects implementing. The expediency of relevant experience implementation in Ukraine of such countries as the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey and France is substantiated. The largest share of private investments on the basis of PPP in Europe were involved in the transport infrastructure sector. Currently the UK is the worldwide leader in the implementation of PPP. The particularities of PPP implementation in France is summarized, which are the following: mainly the form of concessions application in the field of infrastructure, the maintenance of a balance between large state projects and small state - local authorities, mainly the use of bank financing. Two PPP models of road infrastructure projects implementation in Germany is analyzed. The special attention is given to the PPP road projects implementation in Spain, Italy and Turkey. The separate PPP projects in road sector of these countries that give sufficiently clear guidance for the development of "best" business practices in Ukraine are considered. On the base of the European experience systematization and generalization the key conditions for the success in the PPP road projects implementation are determined. The benefits that create opportunities for activating PPP activities in Ukraine in accordance with the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU are highlighted. Key conditions for the success of road PPP projects realization are developed. The European experience of the PPP adaption in Ukraine in the system of PPP financial and economic security is justified. An analysis of the provisions of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU revealed that the key direction in which the European experience in implementing the PPP should be adapted is the creation of an effective system of financial and economic security of the PPP. Keywords: European experience, road sector, public-private partnership, transport infrastructure.

Social costs of the road project in the operation phase

Abstract The project of road is defined by sequences of phases, which create the life cycle of road. At each phase of the life cycle are arisen specified types of costs. At the operation phase arise significant capital costs, which are necessary for the road management, maintenance and repairs of roads. Besides of the capital costs, the social costs are also a part of the operation costs. The social costs are monetizing negative impacts from the road traffic to the road users, society and environment. The capital and social costs of the road operation are a part of the economic evaluation of the road infrastructure projects. Maintenances, repairs and works on roads limit the road operation. Work constraints on the road create so-called work zones. Negative impacts of road zones to road users and society are not part of the economic evaluation of road projects in Slovakia. The main negative impact of work zones to the road users is the loss of travel times. For this reason, was made a procedure for calculating and monetizing travel time costs due to work zones. The main purpose of this procedure is effective planning of road works with the aim of reduction negative impact to the road users. This quantification procedure of travel time costs due to work zones was applied to practical example.

Evaluating solutions to facilitate the presence of operation and maintenance contractors in the pre-occupancy phases: a case study of road infrastructure projects

Infrastructure projects are very important for economic and social success especially in developing countries. Road infrastructure projects have a significant role in this growth in connecting different strategic locations of a country or region to each other. During different project phases, many stakeholders are involved, and each has their own expectations. Thus, for project success, creating a balance among them is very significant. This can only be achieved by ensuring integration of projects. However, according to recent studies, there are various barriers in enabling this. This study evaluates solutions to facilitate the presence of operation and maintenance (O&M) contractors in the pre-occupancy phases of infrastructure projects. To achieve this, an in-depth literature review and case study research methods are applied. Solutions from the conducted case study within the road infrastructure projects are compared with findings from the available literature. Finally a framework is provided which addresses the need to reduce barriers to the presence of O&M contractors in the design and implementation phases of infrastructure projects. Such classification helps researchers to have a better understanding of project needs for facilitating the early presence of O&M contractors within infrastructure projects. This study highlights the need for localizing solutions in different parts of the world.

Saving Energy in the Transportation Sector: An Analysis of Modified Bitumen Application Based on Marshall Test

Energy consumption and material production are two major factors associated with the road construction industry. Worldwide, millions of tons of hot mix asphalt production consume a huge amount of fuel as an energy source in terms of quantity and cost to achieve the standard temperature of up to 170 °C during the mixing process. Modification of bitumen can not only reduce its usage but also the consumption of energy (fuel) during the asphalt mix production process at low temperatures. This study provides a method to save energy by proposing the addition of bitumen modifier in the road construction sector. Furthermore, to make it compatible with the field conditions for road construction, stability analysis is executed on the prepared samples by partially replacing the bitumen with polyurethane foam (PUF) and plastic waste (PW) (at 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%). Experimental results demonstrate a reasonable saving in the amount of energy (33%) and material (40% bitumen) used and showed that similar strength of developed asphalt mix can be achieved using PUF. An extensive calculation concludes that these savings could make a huge difference in construction economics of mega road infrastructure projects, especially during an energy crisis.

Risk and Uncertainty in the Medan-Binjai Toll Road Infrastructure Project, Indonesia Based on the Stochastic Analyzes

This paper demonstrates state of the arts stochastic risk analyzes in assisting decision-making processes in achieving the project objectives in terms of the estimating project costs under uncertainty. The objectives of this study were to; (i) analyze the feasibility of the Trans Sumatra toll road projects section of Medan-Binjai (25.46 km), Indonesia, and (ii) identify and quantify the toll road risk and uncertainty variables influencing the economic feasibility of the project using stochastic approach. This study identified that the risk variables in this study may include; Indonesia Certificate Bank (SBI), inflation, volume of traffic (vehicles), operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, construction costs, land accusation costs, Jakarta Inter-Bank Offer Rate (JIBOR), and design (EED/FED). The initial results of this study (Scenario 1), using concession period of a-35 years with an implementation of the initial tariff of class I vehicles (Rp. 750 / km) showed that the project was considered not financially feasible as 90% probability of the projected net present value (NPV) was negative at the range of Rp. -1.06 trillion to Rp. 2.57 trillion. The project would be financially feasibility after conducting mitigation processes for those the identified risks, such as; providing the government supports (GSs) as much as 40% of the total construction costs as well as land acquisition costs (Scenario 3). This scenario has resulted that there was 90% probability of the projected NPV would be positive at the range of Rp. 0.54 million to 1.894 million. The implementation of the stochastic risk analysis may assist the project managers comprehensively in developing decision-making processes in financing the toll road project.

Risk and Uncertainty in the Medan-Binjai Toll Road Infrastructure Project, Indonesia Based on the Stochastic Analyzes

This paper demonstrates state of the arts stochastic risk analyzes in assisting decision-making processes in achieving the project objectives in terms of the estimating project costs under uncertainty. The objectives of this study were to; (i) analyze the feasibility of the Trans Sumatra toll road projects section of Medan-Binjai (25.46 km), Indonesia, and (ii) identify and quantify the toll road risk and uncertainty variables influencing the economic feasibility of the project using stochastic approach. This study identified that the risk variables in this study may include; Indonesia Certificate Bank (SBI), inflation, volume of traffic (vehicles), operation and maintenance (O&M) costs, construction costs, land accusation costs, Jakarta Inter-Bank Offer Rate (JIBOR), and design (EED/FED). The initial results of this study (Scenario 1), using concession period of a-35 years with an implementation of the initial tariff of class I vehicles (Rp. 750 / km) showed that the project was considered not financially feasible as 90% probability of the projected net present value (NPV) was negative at the range of Rp. -1.06 trillion to Rp. 2.57 trillion. The project would be financially feasibility after conducting mitigation processes for those the identified risks, such as; providing the government supports (GSs) as much as 40% of the total construction costs as well as land acquisition costs (Scenario 3). This scenario has resulted that there was 90% probability of the projected NPV would be positive at the range of Rp. 0.54 million to 1.894 million. The implementation of the stochastic risk analysis may assist the project managers comprehensively in developing decision-making processes in financing the toll road project.

Urban Road Infrastructure Maintenance Planning with Application of Neural Networks

The maintenance planning within the urban road infrastructure management is a complex problem from both the management and technoeconomic aspects. The focus of this research is on decision-making processes related to the planning phase during management of urban road infrastructure projects. The goal of this research is to design and develop an ANN model in order to achieve a successful prediction of road deterioration as a tool for maintenance planning activities. Such a model is part of the proposed decision support concept for urban road infrastructure management and a decision support tool in planning activities. The input data were obtained from Circly 6.0 Pavement Design Software and used to determine the stress values (560 testing combinations). It was found that it is possible and desirable to apply such a model in the decision support concept in order to improve urban road infrastructure maintenance planning processes.

Investigating Delays in Libyan Road Construction Projects Using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM)

Transportation infrastructure, specifically road projects, is the backbone of economic and social development of many countries. Successful road infrastructure projects are delivered with reduced cost, on time. Factors contributing to Construction delay in road construction projects in Libya were identified and ranked through a questionnaire survey distributed to owners, consultants, and contractors involved in road projects. A total of 256 completed questionnaire forms were received and analysed. A Structural Equation Modelling SEM Path Model of relationship between delay factors and effects in road construction was formulated and evaluated using [SEM] 21 software. 49 factors classified into eight groups of factors and three groups of effects of delay. The contractor group in delay factors had the greatest impact on road construction delay with path coefficient β-values of 0.249, while financial groups in delay effects had the greatest impact on road construction delay with path coefficient β-values of 0.88. The R2 value of the model is 0.48, indicating that the developed model substantially explains Construction delay. This rigorous multivariate analysis has identified several causative factors that contribute to delay in road construction projects in Libya. The findings will help all parties involved in construction projects to achieve better control over construction delays, and will provide support for practitioners to incorporate risk analysis for potential Construction delay in future projects. As well as for researchers in the field of road construction and understanding of the factors causing project cost overruns in developing countries.

Economic Results of Private Investments in the Road Infrastructure Projects: Does the HDM-4 Show the Big Picture?

The Highway Development and Management model (HDM-4) is a software system developed for the evaluation and optimization of the economic benefits of the road projects and is widely used both by practitioners, decision makers, international consulting companies, and academia. This article analyzes the application of the HDM-4 in the management of the private investment projects in the road sector thus trying to identify the main missing points for the evaluation of the big picture in the sector. The aim of the current study is to justify the need for the further development of a relevant plug-in tool for the HDM-4 to completely estimate the economic results of the projects in the road sector with private investments.

Risk Assessment for PPP based Road Infrastructure Projects

Risk Assessment for PPP based Road Infrastructure Projects

Advanced characterisation of cement-stabilised lateritic soils to be used as road materials

ABSTRACTLaterites or lateritic soils are located in tropical and subtropical regions. Identifying the conditions under which these local materials could be used as part of road infrastructure projects is particularly critical in regions where high-quality unbound aggregates are limited or unavailable. Previous works conducted on this material have suggested that hydraulic cement stabilisation improves its properties, making it suitable for the construction of low-volume roads. This work investigates the impact of cement stabilisation at three different doses (i.e. 2, 4 and 6% by weight of soil) on a Colombian laterite granular material located in the Orinoquia region. The study included the characterisation of the basic properties of this laterite (e.g. gradation, Atterbergh limits, specific gravity and Los Angeles abrasion test), and the advanced characterisation of the cement-stabilised material through the determination of its resilient modulus at different partial saturation conditions, and its compressive and tensile strengths. The impact of stabilisation was further studied through the determination of the mechanical properties and fatigue degradation of cement-stabilised lateritic mortars, which were fabricated at equivalent cement doses and tested under torsional conditions using a rheometer. The results suggest that cement stabilisation at doses ranging between 2 and 6% by weight of soil efficiently improves the mechanical properties of this laterite, allowing its used as part of low- and eventually medium-volume roads.

Contract stability in European road infrastructure PPPs: how does governmental PPP support contribute to preventing contract renegotiation?

ABSTRACTIn the last decade a considerable number of PPP contracts in Europe turned out to be instable and were renegotiated. This paper studies which combinations of conditions in terms of macro-level business environment and governmental PPP support and at project-level (remuneration scheme, risk allocation, project age and contract duration) contribute to avoid contract renegotiation, by conducting a qualitative comparative analysis of twenty five European road infrastructure projects. Results show that although the broader macro-level business environment has a clear contribution, contract stability can benefit from an availability-based remuneration scheme and a well-developed governmental PPP support in combination with other conditions.