Road Transport Infrastructure Research Articles

ANALYSIS OF YAM (Dioscorea spp) PRICES IN THE URBAN AND RURAL MARKETS IN THE WESTERN AGRICULTURAL ZONE OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between the prices of yam (Dioscorea spp) in the urban and rural markets of the western agricultural zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Data of monthly urban and rural prices on yam were collected from Nasarawa State Agricultural development programme. The result of the descriptive statistics showed that the minimum (13.89) and maximum (500.00) prices were recorded in Toto and Nasarawa respectively. The result of the ADF test shows that the price series in the western zone were all stationary both at level I(0) and at first difference I(1) except for Toto that did not attain stationarity at level I(0) but attained stationary after first differencing I(I). The co-integration result shows that only four (4) pairs were not co-integrated and these were Nasarawa/Laminga, Masaka/Gitata, Masaka/T-Uku and Masaka/Ara. Also from the result of the Granger-causality test, sixteen yam market links of urban and rural market investigated, fifteen yam market links showed the evidence of no granger –causality, they all exhibited evidence of Uni-directional price movement. The rural prices of yam exhibited weak exogeneity to their corresponding urban market prices. There is need for improvement of road networks, transport and market infrastructure. The study recommended policy interventions for improvement of market integration which may take form of price formation channels, and improvement of market infrastructure including transportation and road network, such policy should works to reduce transport cost and enhance trade between rural and urban markets.

Exploring the drivers of ecological footprint: Impacts of road transportation infrastructure, transport tax, and environment technologies

This study explores the dynamic effects of road transportation infrastructure, transport taxes, economic growth, trade openness, and environmental technologies on the ecological footprint using three quantile regression techniques: Simultaneous, Powell, and Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR). These variables are selected for their significant influence on both economic outcomes and environmental sustainability, reflecting the interconnectedness of transportation systems, government policies, and technological advancements in shaping ecological impacts. Based on panel data from 19 European countries between 1995 and 2020, the results reveal that investments in road infrastructure and higher transport taxes contribute to reducing ecological footprint. At the middle and high quantiles, advancements in environment-related technologies further decrease the ecological footprint, whereas trade openness tends to worsen ecological quality. Importantly, the relationship between GDP and the ecological footprint follows an inverted U-shape, confirming the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis across all quantiles, which suggests that economic growth can support environmental sustainability in the long run. These findings are validated by robustness checks using fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS), dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS), and canonical cointegration regression (CCR) models. Key policy implications include the need for targeted investments in road infrastructure and transport tax strategies, tailored to national contexts, along with technology-driven strategies to curb environmental degradation. Lastly, the panel causality test reveals unidirectional causality from economic growth, road transportation infrastructure, and environment-related technologies to ecological footprint, highlighting their significance as short-term contributors to environmental improvement.

Urban Road Transport Infrastructure Planning and Development Implications on Socio-Economic Growth in the City of Douala, Cameroon

Cities are the major contributors to socio- economic growth with easy access to amenities which stem through road transport infrastructure development. This study was conducted to assess urban road transport infrastructure planning and examine development implications on socio-economic growth in the City of Douala. A descriptive research design was used with primary and secondary data collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. Results revealed that, transport infrastructure in Douala have been structured through urban development planning policy which influences surface spatial expansion of socio- economic activities. The planning policies have contributed to the rapid expansion and growth through the initiations of master plan, land use plan and sector plan. Infrastructural development on road transport depicts a physical expansion and construction of road networks which influences the socio-economic growth of the study area. Stakeholders’ actions on construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation, investments and maintenance of road infrastructure have helped to curb down some transportation challenges and creates easy access to facilities within different sectors of the study area. However, road transport infrastructure which is well-developed boasts socio-economic activities and growth. The state of road transport network, its diversity and characteristic features is defined by its prevalence within different areas in Douala. Contrarily, other transport infrastructures which are not functioning appropriately due to lapses in physical planning possess enormous implications on transportation in the study area. The conclusion drawn was that the manner in which urban planning policies are implemented determines the level of development in road transport infrastructure and socio-economic growth of Douala. The study recommends an effective application of planning policies to be integrated by implicating all the actors of urban managers and transportation planners for improved growth in the study area.

Contribution of road transport infrastructure in mitigating the inward–immiserizing growth in Cameroon: An externality approach in computable general equilibrium analysis

The issue of immiserizing growth has been largely discussed in the literature since 1958. It describes a country context contending with high volume of exports relatively to its imports on the international market that benefits from high economic growth but losses in households’ welfare. This study aims to investigate the contribution of transport infrastructure to tackle immiserizing growth in developing countries, focusing on the Cameroon economy, a contending with a significant lack in the development of road transport infrastructure. Further, the study enriches the debate on the wider economic impacts, closely related to immiserizing growth. The loss of welfare is observed upstream to the investigations, as a response to the application of two types of fiscal policies: the import tariff and the capital income tax. Through a dynamic Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) model, the effect of road transport infrastructure is explored, using the externalities approach. This is an innovative methodology recently applied to access the economic impacts of infrastructure investment making a difference between productive and non-productive infrastructure investments. The findings reveal that productive transport infrastructure not only reduces the wider economic impact by improving households’ welfare but also enhances economic growth. A 10 percent increase in road transport infrastructure investment funded by import tariff leads to a welfare improvement of 1.94% and 1.66% in both short and long terms compared to respective losses of 0.58% and 0.15% if the generated financial funds are allocated in non-productive infrastructure such as monuments, defense etc. The similar tendency is observed for the capital income tax funding. Thus, policymakers are recommended to accentuate the road construction, in order to shorten the complex interplay between public decisions and households’ living conditions.

Determinants of Petroleum Products Export from Niger

This paper aims to define the main determinants of petroleum products export from Niger in the light of the specificity of the country, in order to make recommendations to policy-makers for improving oil revenues. To carry out this work, we started by interviewing stakeholders in the Niger trade using an interview guide. This was followed by a literature review and exploration of previous empirical work on various studies devoted to the determinants of exports. Finally, statistical data from a number of sources were processed. The main results, derived from the estimation of the OLS gravity model, show that the factors that strongly influence Niger's exports are transport distance and its economic weight when put in relation to that of trading partners. The main recommendations towards policy-makers arising from our research are: the creation of a new refinery close to Burkina Faso and Mali, increased oil production and the ongoing improvement of road transport infrastructure.

State management of public investment in road construction in Vietnam: Current situation and solutions

This study examines Vietnam’s state management of public investment in road construction. The development of road transport infrastructure is in extremely high demand as Vietnam undergoes an economic transition. Despite the fact that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused the economy to grow more slowly recently, public investment in the transport industry has increased significantly. Several modern, large-scale road works that have been finished and put into operation are having a significant positive impact on urbanization, connecting regions, and socioeconomic development. However, public investment in road transport construction still has a lot of issues that need to be fixed. The state’s weakness is one of the primary issues that reduces investment efficiency. This study analyzes the state management of public investment in road construction, according to the following contents: legal system and policies; formulation and implementation of public investment plans; inspection and supervision by state management agencies. The method of collecting secondary data and primary data (through sociological investigation) is used and combined with Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software to determine the influencing factors and find out the problems and their causes. Therefore, this study proposes a number of urgent and practical solutions to improve the state management of public investment in road construction and develop a synchronized road transport network.

Problems of Development of Transport and Road Transport Infrastructure of Andijan City

As a result of the acceleration of the urbanization process, the increase of megalopolis cities, and the growth of the population, the demand and need for public transport is increasing every year. This, in turn, requires improving the quality of public transport service, improving its culture, adapting it to today's times and conditions. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan told the officials of the field to fundamentally reform public transport, to develop public transport in the districts and cities of our country, to meet the needs of the regions, to organize transport infrastructure, to take a scientific approach to transport and logistics issues, in particular, to study foreign experience, to hire modern personnel for the field. set the tasks of training and recruitment. Public transport is essential for ensuring equitable access to transportation, reducing traffic congestion, protecting the environment, promoting social interactions, shaping urban development, and providing economic benefits. It is crucial to invest in and prioritize the development of high-quality public transport systems to address our transportation needs sustainably and improve the quality of life for individuals and communities. This article presents tasks on improving the public transport system in Andijan agro-development are presented.

The Role of Road Transport Infrastructure in Shaping Property Values in West African (Ghana and Nigeria): A Review of Literature

The Role of Road Transport Infrastructure in Shaping Property Values in West African (Ghana and Nigeria): A Review of Literature

Assessing the Factors influencing Road Transport Infrastructure Sustainability in Tanzania: Mediating Influence of Technology

Sustainability concerns on Tanzania’s road transport infrastructure are mounting, calling for research in this area. This study examines technology’s mediating role in sustainability. It explores links among Economic (ECD), Environmental (ED), Social (SD), Technological (TD) dimensions, and Sustainable Road Transport Infrastructure (SRTI). Using surveys, 252 participants were involved from Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, and Arusha. Questionnaire data underwent Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling analysis with Smart PLS 4. Results reveal technology positively mediates relationships between economic, environmental, social dimensions, and sustainable road transport infrastructure. Findings emphasize technology's crucial role and the potential of technological advancements to enhance sustainability. The study recommends that road transport infrastructure development agencies prioritize the integration of sustainability factors, particularly technology in projects. This research contributes by highlighting technology's mediation in Tanzanian road transport infrastructure sustainability and the importance of leveraging technological advancements to promote sustainability in road transport infrastructures.

ЕКОЛОГІЧНІ РИЗИКИ ВПРОДОВЖ ЖИТТЄВОГО ЦИКЛУ АВТОМОБІЛЬНОЇ ДОРОГИ

Introduction. The conditions of economic development and social changes in Ukraine require accelerated development of road transport infrastructure, which includes the road industry, motor roads and facilities located on them. During the construction, operation and repair of motor roads, operating vehicles emit pollutants from fuel combustion products into the air, and generate noise and vibration. Pollution of soils, groundwater, and then water bodies can occur due to the deposition of pollutants and dust emitted from running car engines on the road surface, as well as dust from worn tires, road markings, car parts, the road surface itself, used industrial oil, oil leaks, and de-icing materials (in winter). Problem statement. Today, the country is faced with the task of actively working to modernize, expand and improve the entire road network. However, economic development and the scale of natural resource use should not be a hazard to ecological balance. Objective. Taking into account environmental aspects in the design and operation of the motor road and transport infrastructure facilities intended for its maintenance can lead to an increase in the service life of these structures, a decrease in energy and material consumption for their restoration. Materials and methods. The life cycle assessment method allows for a comprehensive approach that recognizes strategies to reduce environmental impacts throughout all stages of transport infrastructure facilities life cycle, from design to end of life (if there is no possibility of their further restoration).

A Discussion of Building a Smart SHM Platform for Long-Span Bridge Monitoring.

This paper explores the development of a smart Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) platform tailored for long-span bridge monitoring, using the Forth Road Bridge (FRB) as a case study. It discusses the selection of smart sensors available for real-time monitoring, the formulation of an effective data strategy encompassing the collection, processing, management, analysis, and visualization of monitoring data sets to support decision-making, and the establishment of a cost-effective and intelligent sensor network aligned with the objectives set through comprehensive communication with asset owners. Due to the high data rates and dense sensor installations, conventional processing techniques are inadequate for fulfilling monitoring functionalities and ensuring security. Cloud-computing emerges as a widely adopted solution for processing and storing vast monitoring data sets. Drawing from the authors' experience in implementing long-span bridge monitoring systems in the UK and China, this paper compares the advantages and limitations of employing cloud- computing for long-span bridge monitoring. Furthermore, it explores strategies for developing a robust data strategy and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin (DT) technologies to extract relevant information or patterns regarding asset health conditions. This information is then visualized through the interaction between physical and virtual worlds, facilitating timely and informed decision-making in managing critical road transport infrastructure.

Penegakan Hukum Pelanggaran Lalu Lintas Merokok Saat Berkendara Oleh Satuan Lalu Lintas Polresta Bukittinggi

The development of road transport infrastructure has an important role in supporting economic activities, but on the other hand it gives rise to various problems regarding traffic law violations, accidents, etc. To prevent this, law enforcement officers are needed who have the authority and responsibility for state security and order, namely the State Police of the Republic of Indonesia as stated in their main duties, namely Law Number 2 of 2022 concerning the State Police of the Republic of Indonesia. Motor vehicle accident cases that occur in Indonesia have attracted a lot of public attention. One of them is caused by the driver not focusing when driving the vehicle. An action that is often carried out by motorbike riders is smoking while driving. There are already regulations prohibiting smoking while driving, which are contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia Number 12 of 2019 Article 6C. The research will analyze the law enforcement process for smoking while driving traffic violations by the Bukittinggi Police Traffic Unit and its obstacles and efforts to overcome these obstacles. This research includes library research, the approach method is empirical juridical, in the real sense and examines the law in society and how the law relates to society. The data required is primary and secondary data, collected through interviews, documents and literature review. The results of the research show that the public does not yet have the awareness of smoking-free driving, while the law enforcement provided by the police is only limited to warnings, this makes drivers continue to commit traffic violations due to the lack of strict law enforcement provided. Even though the regulations exist, law enforcement is still weak, in terms of community habits and law enforcement officers.

Фиброцементогрунт в устройстве дорожных одежд лесовозных автомобильных дорог

The most important factor in increasing the efficiency of the development of forest tracts is the development and improvement of the transport and operational condition of the network of logging roads. Inert road construction materials, such as sand, crushed stone, crushed stone-sand mixture or gravel-sand mixture, are traditionally used for the construction of pavements for logging roads. However, in the areas with a shortage of these materials, the cost of road construction increases significantly. An alternative technology that can significantly reduce or completely eliminate the use of inert road construction materials is the stabilization of local soils for the construction of pavement structural layers. The soil stabilization technology consists in mixing them with binders and compacting them at the optimal moisture content of the mixture. In doing so, the resulting material acquires the desired strength and frost resistance. The most effective and common binder for soil stabilization is Portland cement. However, along with high strength properties and frost resistance, cement soils, due to their crystalline structure, have low crack resistance, which worsens transport and operational performance and shortens the service life of road pavements. One of the rational solutions for increasing the security of soil stabilization for the construction of road pavements is the installation of fiber cement soil layers. The object of this research is fiber cement soil for the construction of structural layers of road pavements for logging roads. The aim is to improve the physical and mechanical properties and frost resistance of soils stabilized with Portland cement with the addition of the material based on basalt fiber. Laboratory tests of compressive and tensile strength during splitting, as well as frost resistance of fiber cement soils of various compositions were carried out in accordance with GOST R 70452–2022. According to the data obtained, fiber cement soil has higher strength and frost resistance compared to cement soil. The fibers distributed throughout the cement-soil matrix effectively perceive external loads, providing high physical and mechanical indicators, and therefore crack and frost resistance of the material. The use of fiber cement soil for the construction of pavements for logging roads will increase the durability and reliability of their operation, as well as reduce the costs of construction and operation of road transport infrastructure of forest tracts.

Территориальные особенности оказания экстренной хирургической помощи сельскому населению (на примере Республики Северная Осетия-Алания).

The need to modernize healthcare dictates the study of healthcare organization at all levels. Special attention is paid to the territorial accessibility of medical care, including to the rural population, which differs in many specific features. The purpose of the study: to study the territorial features of providing emergency surgical care to the rural population, taking into account the number, density of population settlement, road infrastructure, and transport security in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania. Research methods. Analytical and statistical research methods were used. The performance indicators of surgical departments of rural district hospitals for 2019–2022 have been studied. The analysis of the obtained data was carried out by the method of their structural description according to the selected main characteristics affecting territorial accessibility. Results. The Republic of Ossetia-Alania is characterized by high density and compactness of population settlement in rural areas. The creation of a modern transport infrastructure ensures the territorial accessibility of medical care. The republic has a fairly high level of provision with surgeons (2,53 per 10 thousand population) and a surgical bed fund (4,7 per 10 thousand population). However, there is a need to increase the efficiency of using the bed stock of rural surgical hospitals. The organization of surgical care in the republic in 2020–2021 was extremely negatively affected by the pandemic of coronavirus infection COVID‑19. The reduction of surgical and anesthesiological teams, beds and the volume of planned care due to the opening of additional infectious diseases hospitals has reduced the availability and quality of emergency surgical care. In rural district surgical departments, the bed function decreased from 283 days in 2019 to 243 days in 2020, and surgical activity up to 38,8%. In 2020–2021, planned medical care in the «surgery» profile has significantly decreased. The share of emergency hospitalizations increased to 79,7%. Negative trends in the growth of emergency hospitalization for surgical beds led to an increase in the hospital mortality rate compared to 2019 from 0,6% to 3,1% in 2021. The postoperative mortality rate has increased by more than 5 times. Our data correlate with similar trends of 33% increase in hospital mortality in the Russian Federation during the pandemic. Due to the creation of modern road transport infrastructure in the republic, high availability of surgical beds and surgeons, there is a potential to improve the quality indicators of rural surgical hospitals by improving the material and technical equipment and qualifications of surgical personnel.

К оценке техникo-эксплуaтaциoннoгo сoстoяния гoрoдских железoбетoнных мoстoв и путепрoвoдoв

To consider the issue of assessing the technical and operational condition of urban reinforced concrete bridges and overpasses. Study technical passports of about 300 reinforced concrete bridge structures in Tashkent. Analyze in detail and formulate the main technical and operational indicators (TEI) as criteria for assessing the technical condition of bridge structures in Tashkent. Methods: methods for assessing the technical condition of the city’s bridge park objects have been determined — absolute and relative. For this purpose their purposes are indicated. Results: the statistics were compiled on the basis of the bridge park of the city of Tashkent, carried out by the authors of a survey of 30 city bridge structures. Based on the results of the examination of selected bridge structures, it was established that the main damage to the spans and supports of reinforced concrete bridges and overpasses is caused, first of all, by the poor condition of waterproofing, expansion joints and lack of water water pipes. The main technical and operational indicators (TEI) are formulated as criteria for assessing the technical condition of bridge structures in Tashkent, such as “safety and traffic comfort”, “durability”, “load capacity”, “throughput”, and “maintainability”. Practical importance: taking into account the specifics of a large metropolis, managing the technical condition of bridge structures in Tashkent is an extremely responsible and complex task. For use in practical operation of reinforced concrete bridge structures as the most widespread objects of the city’s road transport infrastructure, a statistical analysis was performed. From a practical point of view, this information will make it possible with a sufficient degree of probability to ensure and maintain the specified regulatory (design) levels of reliability, safety and durability of bridge structures.

Road Infrastructure, Supply Chain Costs Reduction, and Road Safety in Economic Geography Perspective

Purpose: While it is expected that road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction, the mechanisms and conditions under which road transport infrastructure may enhance supply chain cost reduction are less understood. Theoretical framework: Drawing insights from the economic geography perspective, and survey data from 359 senior managers of manufacturing firms in Ghana, we found support for the argument that road transport infrastructure is important in the quest to improve supply chain cost reduction. Methods: The hypothesized model was tested with survey data from beverage manufacturing firms in Ghana. The survey method is usually appropriate for strategic management studies. Results and Conclusion: Our findings also suggest that road safety does not just support supply chain cost reduction but serves as a transformative mechanism to reap superior supply chain cost reduction in a resource-constrained environment. Our findings make a contemporary contribution to the economic geography theory as well as important managerial guidance for managers in the supply chain management space in resource-constrained regions like SSA. Research implications: The outcome of this study offers an important extension to the frontiers of innovative literature in supply chain management. Originality/value: It also provides practical insight to practitioners in the manufacturing setting by emphasizing the need to pay crucial attention to road safety as well as invest in road infrastructure development in the quest to reduce supply chain costs.

Facilitators and barriers to inclusive and safe mobility on urban roads in Kathmandu, Nepal: a participatory research study

Research suggests that the built environment and transport services affect the health and well-being of people with a disability. In Nepal, there is limited evidence describing the safety of road users in transport environments. The perceptions of safety in people with a disability while travelling across urban centres in Nepal is unknown. We explored the experiences of people with a disability regarding their mobility and identified facilitators and barriers to achieving safe and inclusive travel in Kathmandu. We used video-elicitation interviews with seven people with a disability and interviewed five advocacy practitioners and five decision-makers. All participants considered poor road conditions and transport infrastructure, and drivers’ speeding behaviour hindered their ability to travel safely. The absence of coordination between government agencies and disability-friendly infrastructure standards was the major reason impeding inclusive and safe travel. Our study suggests that the key issue to be addressed is the implementation of existing policies.

Road transport infrastructure and supply chain asset management: evidence from manufacturing firms in the Sub-Saharan African market

Road transport infrastructure and supply chain asset management: evidence from manufacturing firms in the Sub-Saharan African market

Space-time analysis of accident frequency and the role of built environment in mitigation

The focus of this paper is to analyze the trends and locations of accidents in the Greater Melbourne Area (GMA) during a 15-year period (2006–2020). The places where accidents were most prevalent were discovered and the reasons which are contributing to the high accident rates in those areas are determined. Analyzing the patterns over time and variations in the frequency of accidents helped to identify areas that have improved or deteriorated in terms of road safety. A Tweedie model was developed to examine the intricate interaction between the accident frequency and its potential contributing factors such as socio-demographics, road transport infrastructure, and built environment. Ultimately, a clustering analysis was performed to elucidate the dispersion of road accident risk ratings among different local government areas (LGAs), offering useful insights into road safety initiatives and prioritization.

Driving Sustainability: Analyzing the Influence of Road Transportation Infrastructure on Green Economic Growth in Malaysia

Road infrastructure is an important aspect of the green economy. It integrates environmental, social, and economic factors with the aim of generating a positive net environmental balance. The green Solow growth model proposes that road infrastructure can enhance economic growth while improving environmental quality. This paper examines the relationship between transportation infrastructure and green economic growth in Malaysia, with the aim of ascertaining whether road transportation infrastructure has a role in sustaining economic growth. The study makes use of time series data over the period 1970-2021. This study employs the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model and the error correction model (ECM). The study analyses three models of the total road network and segregates them into federal roads and state roads. The findings show that there are negative long-run relationships between transportation infrastructure and green economic growth. The results also showed that Federal Road had a more negative impact on green economic growth. However, in the short run, only Federal Road shows a significant and negative impact on green economic growth. In Malaysia, the federal road is classified as a primary road extensively utilised by the populace for their routine activities. Thus, federal roads have the potential to generate a more immediate and substantial influence on sustained economic development in comparison to state roads. Nevertheless, road transportation infrastructure can also have adverse effects on the sustainability of long-term economic growth. This study sheds light on the importance of sustainable road development that balances economic growth and the preservation of the environment.