Transportation Projects Research Articles

Predictive risk modeling for major transportation projects using historical data

Most of the construction practices in the field of risk identification focus on the expertise, views, and judgments of subject matter experts. While the conventional expert-based approaches provide worth, several challenges exist due to time-consuming and expensive aspects. Moreover, limited experience in major projects makes public agencies susceptible to subjective judgment biases. To address these limitations, this study introduced a data-driven framework for risk identification using historical data and artificial intelligence techniques, particularly word embedding models. The model matches various risk items in past projects by considering the semantic meaning of words to find high frequency and consequence risks. Risk registers from more than 70 U.S. major transportation projects form the input dataset. The model is tested with more than 66% recall and 0.59 F1-score for risk detection for new projects. Acquired knowledge from previous projects assists project teams and public agencies to be well-equipped with a risk identification model instead of starting from scratch.

Assessing the public participation initiatives in the planning and delivery of the Amman Bus Rapid Transit project

Public infrastructure developments are designed to improve the well-being of society. As they can have an impact on a large number of people and stakeholders, the processes of planning and delivering large-scale infrastructure projects are now expected to enable public participation. Due to pressures from international and developmental bodies, expanding opportunities for public participation is now also being encouraged in developing countries, albeit there is little research available on how to effectively implement such participatory strategies. This paper proposes a framework for assessing the implementation of public participation strategies employed in the planning, appraisal and delivery of major infrastructure projects in developing countries, using the Amman Bus Rapid Transit project as a case study. The aim of the paper is to assess the public participation initiative in the planning and delivery of the Amman Bus Rapid Transit project. The research methods employed include a wide review of relevant literature and current policies, coupled with the collection of empirical data. The latter is based on semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders who are directly involved in the projects and an online questionnaire, which provided insights into the public experiences of involvement in the planning and delivery of the Amman Bus Rapid Transit project. Analysis of data conducted through the framework developed, finds that the public participation strategy implemented for Amman Bus Rapid Transit is rudimentary and fails to address the public’s concerns with regards to the project. These findings confirm that there is a need for the government to extend beyond the informative approach by providing opportunities for key stakeholders and the public to actively participate in deliberations throughout the project lifecycle. This form of increased engagement can improve trust between the public and governments, allowing for the successful delivery of future public transport projects in Jordan.

Cost-benefit analysis of transport projects: Theoretical framework and practical rules

The economic appraisal of transport projects is commonly based on the calculation of time savings, operating cost reduction, avoided accidents, quality improvements, and project costs. This is the change in willingness to pay and resources approach. This paper describes this method for the assessment of the economic effects of any project and then addresses an alternative approach based on the aggregation of changes in surpluses. The analysis is based on a simple model to avoid the mechanical application of rules of thumb from different sources, helping to find some practical ways to avoid common pitfalls and double counting in the measurement of benefits and costs of transport projects. The narrative on how the transport sector works and how the government intervention affects social welfare is supported by an analytical approach from which the rules and criteria of measurement are derived, always explaining the assumptions and conditions under which they hold.

Content analysis of e-inspection implementation for highway infrastructure construction projects

PurposeThe use of digital inspection or e-inspection of transportation projects has been proven as an efficient method over the last decade. A wide range of studies were dedicated to developing and applying e-inspection techniques and technologies. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive systematic review and content analysis of using e-inspection in highway construction and maintenance projects. The main objectives of this study were to explore the current trend and identify relevant inspection technologies and their applications for highway construction projects.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of 172 articles from 16 high-ranked academic journals in construction engineering and management published during 2000–2021 was conducted. This process resulted in 67 relevant articles included in the detailed content analysis. The analysis involved synthesizing six main construction elements and work types, nine typical inspection activities, and 23 technologies.FindingsThe result of the analysis showed that among the six construction elements and work types, bridge and hot mix asphalt (HMA) recorded the largest share of e-inspection research. For the nine inspection activities, progress monitoring of construction operations was the highest focused area of e-inspection research. The most common e-inspection technologies are geospatial tools, 3D modeling, and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Camera-based inspection has existed for decades, however, has limited research development. The critical success factors in implementing e-inspection in highway projects are sharing data among different technologies, inspector training, and reducing the cost of technology purchase.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first attempts to conduct a content analysis of the e-inspection implementation for highway projects. The findings of this study expose knowledge gaps in contemporary research related to implementation barriers such as cost of purchase and operation of e-inspection technologies and transferring data between technologies.

Understanding Australia’s Antagonistic Politics of Transport

ABSTRACT Having observed a litany of transport projects afflicted by community opposition in recent years, Australian scholars are increasingly recognising the contested nature of transport policy. Many have struggled for a satisfying explanation for these contests – how they work; what determines their outcomes. I argue progress in understanding these conflicts requires that we abandon a key theory in contemporary transport policy scholarship: path dependence. Here I put forward an alternative approach that places contestation right the core of our approach to transport politics. I illustrate its potential to explain policy continuity and reversal by way of two Melbournian case-studies.

Financing low-carbon transport transition in the Philippines: Mapping financing sources, gaps and directionality of innovation

Successfully achieving a low-carbon transition in the transport sector requires an understanding of the lending logics of the financial institutions in order to identify the financing directionality and gaps. However, in the transportation literature, there is a lack of attention on the relationship between financing sources and the direction of innovation. The present study seeks to address this by mapping the flow of finance from financial institutions to transport projects. Our dataset consists of 9 transport projects included in the Philippines’ Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). We consider different types of projects (rail development, bus rapid transit implementation, jeepney modernization) and various financial actors (multi-lateral banks, private and government banks). Through an analysis of loan portfolio composition and interview data, we uncover the underlying logics of each financial institution in lending to transport projects. Our findings suggest that the lending logics of many financial institutions is primarily driven by portfolio and borrower credit-worthiness considerations, and less by motivations concerning sustainability transition. As a result, with respect to the average, some transport projects are over-financed (e.g. rail development), while others – which have a high potential to accelerate decarbonization – are under-financed (e.g. jeepney modernization). All these have profound implications for the directionality of low-carbon transition. Deeper engagement of transition research with finance is a nascent field, and the current research contributes to the literature not only by presenting a comprehensive mapping of several financing sources and projects, but also of proposing three credit enhancement mechanisms to mobilize capital for under-financed projects.

Cross-national collaboration in strategic transport projects: The impact on benefits realization

This study investigates cross-national collaboration to realize benefits in strategic transport projects (STPs) characterized by complexity, ambiguity, and collaboration challenges between project organizations. With the increasing importance of STPs in realizing (developing) countries’ adequate transport needs and demands, we respond to calls for a more in-depth and long-term exploration of the benefits realized in STPs across the project lifecycle. We conducted a multi-method, longitudinal case study of the Addis-Ababa light rail transport project by building on interviews, observations, and secondary data. By adopting a longitudinal perspective, our findings draw out the collaboration challenges, and their impact on benefits realization, in a cross-national STP across the pre-planning, development, and operations phases. We contribute to how organizations collaborate in a cross-national STP to realize pricing and infrastructure benefits, and thereby provide an extension to our understanding of crucial benefits of STPs that go beyond the iron triangle.

Emerging Practices in Multimodal Design and Performance Measurement: Review of Recent Literature and Practical Documents

This paper summarizes the state of the knowledge and practice for multimodal design and the use of multimodal performance measures in transportation projects. The traditional auto-centric approach to transportation performance measurement is reviewed before turning to recent efforts to design and evaluate projects across multiple modes. Approaches to developing multimodal level of service (MMLOS) measures, including the differences between supply- and demand-based performance measures, are reviewed and how these measures can integrate into the design process summarized. Five U.S. state Departments of Transportation are identified as multimodal practice leaders and a review of their design processes is provided to benchmark the state of the practice. It is found that, compared with traditional approaches, modern best practice for multimodal projects engages a broader range of stakeholders in project design, considers a wider range of alternatives, and allows for more design flexibility to match a solution to its specific context. The literature and current practice have not yet standardized on a single approach or list of performance measures to fit all multimodal projects. Rather, today’s multimodal design processes employ a suite of performance measures that address the competing stakeholder interests involved in a solution and allow them to see the tradeoffs among competing goals.

Effect of Technological Orientation on Project Management Process and Infrastructure Performance of RTA in UAE

The importance of Road and Transportation Project Management Cycle contributions internationally and encourages further development initiative to support Middle Eastern region and United Arab Emirates (UAE) roads and transport. UAE's infrastructure project failure rate has been estimated to be as high as 50%. The general objective of this study is to assess the relationship between project management process, technological orientation and Infrastructure performance in United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was carried out for this purpose. For this study the target population was an employee of RTA. However, population was the officer, managers, and engineer who worked in RTA for this research. The questionnaire was pilot tested for content validity with a sample of 36 employees. To ensure a high rate of response, structured-short and self-administrated questions, and mostly closed questions were prepared. The required sample size for this study was estimated to be 361. Because the current study employed quantitative methodology, statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS 24 and AMOS 21. The results of structural equation modelling showed that there is significant relationship between project management process and technological orientation (β = 0.313, t = 6.686, p ≤ .05), project management process and infrastructure performance (β = 0.331, t = 6.431, p ≤ .05) and technological orientation and infrastructure performance (β = 0.411, t = 7.346, p ≤ .05). The study also found that there is a significant partial mediating effect of technological orientation between project management process and infrastructure performance. This study concluded that firms can improve infrastructure performance through the incorporation of technological tools. It is further concluded that dimensions of project management process are the important determinants that support performance. Therefore, the study encourages firms’ management to pursue technology in improving infrastructure performance in today’s competitive and digital era. Keywords: Road and transportation, Project management, Technological orientation, Infrastructure performance, United Arab Emirates

Alienated imagination through a mega development project in Turkey: the case of the Osman Gazi Bridge

AbstractSince the rise of the ruling Justice and Development Party in the early 2000s, Turkey has invested in several mega transport and infrastructure projects for the purposes of economic transformation, growth, and development. This article explores the impact of a recently completed mega-project—the Osman Gazi Bridge—on material change and popular imagination about the future. It claims that, while the Bridge created a colossal material change that can be observed by everyone, it also animated an imagined post-industrial transition and inclusive development in the industrial town of Dilovası. Although the dream of a better future serves as a medium for the industrial town’s underprivileged inhabitants to connect and socialize, along with the current marginalizing conditions, it also has the potential to fuel future resistance, if imagination is unable to be transformed into reality.

A single-valued neutrosophic decision framework for the assessment of sustainable transport investment projects based on discrimination measure

PurposeThe study aims at evaluating the most appropriate transport project which is one of the critical concerns of transport infrastructure scheduling. This process will be applied considering a set of criteria and discussed alternatives with sustainable perspectives.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) framework is discussed to handle the sustainable transport investment project (STIP) assessment problem within a single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNSs). To form the procedure more useful in handling with uncertain features, a SVNS is applied as a valuable procedure to handle uncertainty. First, a new discrimination measure for SVNSs is introduced and discussed some elegant properties to determine the significance degree or weight values of criteria with the sustainabality perspectives. Second, an integrated approach is introduced based on the discrimination measure and the COPRAS method on SVNSs and named as SVN-COPRAS.FindingsA case study of an STIP evaluation problem is used to confirm the practicality and effectiveness of the SVN-COPRAS framework. Lastly, comparative discussion and sensitivity investigation are illustrated to prove the strength and solidity of the proposed framework.Originality/valueThe SVNSs enrich the essence of linguistic information when a decision expert (DE) vacillates among different linguistic values (LVs) to measure a sustainable transport project alternative problem. The utilization of SVNSs provides a more stable procedure to describe DEs' evaluations. So, an elegant methodology is developed to incorporate the DEs' awareness and experience for electing the desired STIPs. The introduced methodology has higher operability than the single-valued neutrosophic set technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (SVN-TOPSIS) procedure during the larger numbers of attribute(s) or option(s). For the SVN-COPRAS methodology, there is no need to estimate the single-valued neutrosophic ideal solution (SVN-IS) and single-valued neutrosophic anti-ideal solution (SVNA-IS). The outcomes are calculated with handling the realistic data, which elucidates that the introduced model can tackle more intricate and realistic multi-criteria decision-making issues.

Investigation on Characteristics and Prevention of Rockburst in a Deep Hard and Soft Compound Stratum Tunnel Excavated Using TBM

Rockburst disasters frequently occur in deep tunnels excavated by TBM (tunnel boring machine) under complex geological conditions in western China. Using FLAC3D, the characterization of a three-dimensional numerical model of a compound stratum tunnel excavated by TBM is conducted, based on a water transport project in Shanxi Province. Then, the characteristics of rockburst in deep hard and soft compound stratum tunnels excavated by TBM are revealed, and the energy criteria of the rockburst considering the rock brittleness are proposed. In addition, the prevention and control method of drilling pressure relief for rockburst has been investigated. Results show that: (i) the rockburst risk of compound stratum tunnel excavated using TBM is mainly in the upper-hard rock part, while there is no rockburst risk in the soft rock part; (ii) after the excavation of the tunnel, slight rockburst risk occurs first in the hard rock area of the tunnel vault, and then the rockburst risk gradually rises to the strong level at 7 m behind the working face, indicating the hysteresis of strong rockburst; (iii) the rockburst in the vault of the rock surrounding the compound stratum tunnel has the effect of forming the deepest area, gradually narrowing to both sides, showing a “V” shape, and the occurrence of rockburst may not be completed at one time; (iiii) borehole pressure relief can significantly reduce the rockburst risk of surrounding rock in a tunnel. The larger the borehole diameter and depth, the better the effect of rockburst prevention. In addition, the effect of borehole diameter is more significant than depth. The research results provide guiding references for the prevention and control of similar rockburst disasters in underground engineering.

Operationalizing resilience practices in transportation infrastructure planning and project development

The objective of this paper is to examine practices for incorporating resilience by transportation agencies. This paper presents findings from state-wide interviews and survey of personnel in transportation organizations throughout Texas. This study is focused on resilience planning and practices (not emergency management and evacuation planning). The research examines the state of resilience incorporation in transportation project planning and development. Our analysis reveals the gap between resilience research and engineering practice and highlights the need for innovative and practical methods, processes, and information for resilience integration. The findings suggest that while there are a few available frameworks for incorporating resilience, the implementation of these tools varies significantly in different districts and organizations. Elements needed to facilitate consideration of resilience in transportation planning and project development include proper policy and procedures, adequate funding and financing, knowledgeable staff, within- and cross-organization coordination, and proper tools, metrics, and data. This research helps facilitate prioritization and strategic improvement of efforts for resilience integration in transportation planning and project development.

Savannah's Midnight Hour: Boosterism, Growth, and Commerce in a Nineteenth-Century American City

In Lisa L. Denmark's telling, the midnight hour for Savannah, Georgia, came not in a garden but in a self-inflicted financial crisis in 1877, when the city government defaulted on its municipal debt. This is an urban history without describing the organic growth of neighborhoods or communities. Instead, Denmark focuses on municipal finance, investment strategies in transportation projects by city government intended to reduce future taxation and to extend Savannah's commercial control of its economic hinterlands, and the politics by which differing elites won control of the municipal corporation of the city. Principally a financial history, the story is filled with interesting descriptions of tax revenue and taxpayer revolts, bond issues and refinancing schemes, corporate boards and stockholder elections, and the successes and failures of steamship lines, canal enterprises, railroads, harbor dredging, swamp draining, and sewer construction. Interspersed are tales of municipal elections, national depressions, and local epidemics. Denmark's goal...

Sustainability rating system for highway design:—A key focus for developing sustainable cities and societies in Nigeria

• The use of thirty-six (36) sustainability indicators, and certification award level in assessing highway design is proposed for Nigeria transport development. • The aim is to reduce climate change catastrophe associated with transport project development. • Findings revealed a systematic benefit of using a sustainability assessment rating system to bridge the sustainability literacy gap, between theory and practice in Nigeria. • This research provides the first comprehensive assessment to adopt sustainability assessment in highway design in Nigeria. • The implication of this research in the field of knowledge is to strengthen the idea by drawing insight into the environmental challenges and a need for the adoption of design sustainability implementation. A growing body of evidence suggests that continuous increases in global population and urbanisation wield pressure across biodiversity. Nigeria and a few other Asian nations will account for 35% of the urban increase in the future, and there is a scientific projection that further megacities will emerge. Besides, sustainable cities and societies are those that strive to leave a net-zero carbon footprint through smart urban planning and city management. So, in developing public transport scheme, it is essential to manage and implement sustainability assessment performance. In Nigeria, there is a sustainability literacy gap, due to a lack of measurable sustainability techniques, and this has resulted in social, economic and environmental dissatisfaction towards completed highways and roads in the cities. The roads and highways are considered an essential part of modern daily life and will play a key role in the development of sustainable cities. To bridge the knowledge gap, this study argues to develop a sustainability assessment rating system in evaluating highway and road designs in Nigeria. Thirty-six (36) sustainability indicators relevant in assessing highway design are identified along with the sustainability application framework. The findings contribute to gaining insight into climate change impact, and the benefits it makes in adopting an assessment rating system in highway development to decrease climate change catastrophe.

Colloquial Circulations: The Poetry Society of America’s Poetry in Motion Public Transportation Project

Colloquial Circulations: The Poetry Society of America’s Poetry in Motion Public Transportation Project

Examining the socioeconomic outcomes of transport interventions in the Global South

This paper addresses a recurrent distributive issue of transport interventions and aims to develop a framework of an impact evaluation of transport projects particularly tailored to the Brazilian context. The methodology draws upon the literature to employ a quasi-experimental approach performed by means of a difference in difference matching (DIDM) technique.This technique is then applied to a case study in Northeast Brazil, in which the social impacts of a large transport project are analysed. Whilst many transport infrastructure projects have been advertised as key investments to promote regional economic growth, the results show that positive socioeconomic effects arising from these investments may not be captured by the least advantage groups of society. Findings subscribe to the view that transport infrastructure investments broadly contribute to the reduction of multidimensional poverty. This conclusion is particularly illustrated in this case study by the greater positive impacts in eleven socioeconomic indicators of the municipalities on the region of this transport project.

Capacity Needs Assessment in Transport Innovation Living Labs: The Case of an Innovative E-Mobility Project

Cities around the globe are implementing innovative transport solutions as part of measures to address pertinent socio-economic and environmental challenges in urban areas and help drive the transition to low carbon development. Planning and implementing such solutions require an effective and collective approach that includes the needs and aspirations of all relevant stakeholders. In the planning and implementation of urban transport projects, capacity building components have assumed great significance but seem to be the most eluded activity for project implementers. The Living Lab concept, which allows for co-creation in innovation development, presents the opportunity to adopt innovative participatory approach in capacity building activities in transport projects; and is largely seen as a potential catalyst for rapid transformation to low carbon and sustainability transitions in cities. To this end, this paper highlights the usefulness of the Living Lab approach and provides some perspectives on how key elements of the approach are adapted in the process of assessing the capacity needs of nine (9) cities in planning and implementing e-mobility innovations. The cities are participating in an innovation research project. In the case studied, the project’s capacity needs assessment process was analyzed using an assessment framework built on four (4) key elements of the Living Lab approach, namely: extent of real-life contextualization, level of participation, diversity of stakeholders, and the time span of engagement. Insights from the assessment suggest that relevant project partners and city representatives with diverse expertise were actively involved from the onset and throughout the first 5 months of the project in defining and refining the capacity needs of partner cities based on local e-mobility conditions. This co-creative process helped determine priority areas where the need for capacity building mostly lied. Designing and operationalizing capacity building interventions tailored to the identified needs, as realized in the project, could therefore help build the necessary capacity and complement other measures aimed at developing e-mobility in the project’s partner cities.

Investigating institutional barriers and opportunities to an integrated approach for transport and spatial development: Mega urban transport development in a rapidly developing city, Seoul

ABSTRACT In response to rapid growth, megacities make large investments in mega urban transport projects. To ensure positive social outcomes, e.g., accessibility for all, an integrated approach to transport and spatial development is needed. This paper identifies the institutional barriers and opportunities to using an integrated approach, using Ostrom’s Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD). We investigated a metro (subway) project in Seoul, South Korea, a rapidly-growing metropolis that has established an extensive transport network. Our analysis revealed that various rules have led to imbalances between transport and spatial planning, contributing to undesirable outcomes. Incongruence in scope between transport and spatial development, a lack of clear procedures for integrated planning, and institutional ambiguity regarding the responsibilities of the various actors affected social outcomes. We conclude that achieving desired social outcomes from mega urban transport projects requires institutional harmonization across sectors and levels, and local capacity to operationalize an integrated approach.

PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP FOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS

<p>In all developed and developing countries of the world, government spending on transport infrastructure has declined significantly in the past few years due to fiscal constraints. However, the role of public private partnership cannot be overemphasised. Also, large infrastructure projects often present great opportunities for the public and private sectors to work together. Public and private partnership have become a key component to the development of transport infrastructures. This paper examines public private partnership and provides a framework in which it can be developed. It reviewed and analysed public private partnership on transport projects and identified past weaknesses and failures, and above all looking at the big picture.<strong></strong></p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0922/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>