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Translation abstract BIM‐based planning approval for major infrastructure measuresThe planning approval marks a decisive milestone in the realization process of major infrastructure projects. However, this phase is often characterized by time‐consuming procedures and the associated rising costs. In view of the urgent need to develop efficient and sustainable infrastructure solutions, the digitalization and acceleration of approval procedures such as the planning approval procedure (PFV) is becoming increasingly important. In this context, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) method is coming into focus as a promising solution. Based on an empirical study, this article identifies 13 optimization possibilities in the PFV, which are recorded in the form of user stories. Based on these findings, a concept for BIM‐based planning approval is developed, which represents a concrete approach to how approval procedures can be accelerated and made more citizen‐friendly. The designed concept enables the project sponsor and the planning approval authority to coordinate the planning approval process by using a common data platform (Common Data Environment, CDE) and to exchange all relevant data and information. The concept developed is to be fleshed out and supplemented with requirements as part of the BIM4People (08/23–01/26, 19FS2057A) research project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is aimed at developing a methodological approach to improving the efficiency of assessing the financial results of implementing Ukrainian and European business projects. In this context, the object of study is a specific individual partnership and cooperation project. The research has established that one of the key informational aspects of such a partnership is the assessment and forecasting of the financial result. The goal of the research is to present the methodological approach to assessing financial performance for an individual project in the most detailed form possible. The article presents an approach based on modern simulation modelling methods, systems analysis methodology, and the method of composite seasonal indices. All modelling processes were conducted using MATLAB software. MATLAB is a high-level programming language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. This program is widely used for modelling and data processing in fields such as engineering, scientific research, and mathematics. The research result is presented as an approach to the mathematical modelling of assessing the financial performance of partnership projects of Ukraine with representatives of EU business. It is necessary to emphasize that the presented research has limitations related to changes in Ukraine's hyperdynamic external environment provoked by war. Forecasts may vary depending on the development of military actions. Therefore, the prospects for further research should be directed towards improving the informational provision in the system of partnership and cooperation with EU countries to increase their own investment security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the literature on public-private collaboration in large infrastructure projects stresses both contractual and relational governance mechanisms for good outcomes, less attention has been paid to the role of boundary spanners and the way the contract is enforced in practice. This study contributes by bringing in the concept of contractual fairness building on organizational justice theory. It tests the effect of boundary spanning activities on contractual fairness and their impact on performance and innovation as two different outcomes. Findings indicate that boundary spanning activities positively affect contractual fairness, innovation, and performance, while contractual fairness partly mediates the relationship with performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How should complex infrastructure projects be managed? A survey of practitioners in public–private partnership (PPP) projects and 35 interviews with these practitioners provided a detailed picture of the management of these projects. The survey research revealed that strict contract management (monitoring performance criteria and sticking to the contract) did not show a significant relationship to either the performance of, or innovation in, these projects. Network management (for example connecting involved parties and exploring new solutions), however, was significant—especially in terms of performance. In the interviews, practitioners highlighted that the complexity of these projects meant that a collaborative relationship between the public and private parties was essential to overcome unforeseen problems. It is therefore advisable to make process agreements at the start of contracts that provide for unexpected issues. The authors conclude that the contract is certainly important but will not generate good performance without active network management and making process rules about how parties can collaborate. ABSTRACT Based on economic and governance theories, this article uses survey and interview data to examine the relationship between contract management and network management on the one hand and collaboration, innovation and performance on the other. A positive relationship was found between network management and collaboration and performance. Contract management demonstrated no significant relationship with either collaboration or performance. Additionally, while there was a positive association between network management and innovation, it was not statistically significant. Qualitative data emphasized the complexity of projects and limitations of contracts as a possible explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – There is a limited number of research work on critical success factors (CSFs) in public construction projects in Saudi Arabia. In response to this knowledge gap, the objective of this paper is to assess the impact of CSFs on the government construction projects in Saudi Arabia. The success factors are investigated from a broader consideration of failure criteria, from consideration of most effectiveness in successful project completion and also from consideration of the impact of implementing control processes for successful project completion. Design/methodology/approach – This study has analysed the impact of success factors on construction projects in Saudi Arabia using a descriptive methodology. An exhaustive literature survey is undertaken to identify the success and failure factors related to government construction projects in Saudi Arabia. The survey data are sorted out and analysed by cost, schedule, technical, context and finance dimensions of the projects based on project types, engineering complexity, size, modality, jurisdictional control and funding approach. To evaluate the influence of success factors implementation, qualitative data were collected in a survey via a web-based questionnaire that was sent to officials working and occupying a responsible position in national project guidelines organizations and in government construction organizations in Saudi Arabia. In all, 28 CSFs were identified, ranked and evaluated for their impact on project success. The four identified factors belong to process categories of construction projects, nine factors belong to management of construction projects and 15 success factors are identified for impact assessment of implementation in construction projects. Findings – The study's findings have identified and ranked the top five CSFs that significantly influence project outcomes, including meeting time targets, adhering to financial budgets, delivering desired outcomes for all stakeholders, effectively managing risks and assembling the appropriate team while optimizing resource allocation. Additionally, the research indicates that hindrances to projects primarily stem from execution, economic, human and political factors. The study advocates for strict controls over incomplete engineering designs and advises against contractors independently handling design work to ensure project success. Additionally, addressing contractors' qualifications and financial matters is crucial for project success. By highlighting these CSFs and challenges, the research provides actionable insights to enhance project management practices in the construction industry. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited to the infrastructure projects constructed by governmental bodies with the participation of officials from government organizations. Further study, including private projects and officials working on private projects, may be needed to generalized the research outcome. Originality/value – Numerous studies have investigated CSFs in construction projects, but few have examined their relevance to Saudi Arabian government projects. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying key CSFs specific to Saudi Arabian public sector construction projects and assessing their impact on project success. It advocates for stringent controls in the Saudi Arabian construction sector, emphasizing the importance of preventing incomplete or altered engineering designs by contractors to increase the success rate of public sector projects. This research offers practical insights to stakeholders, advancing project management practices in Saudi Arabia's construction sector for improved outcomes and resource utilization.

This study aims to discover the perceptions of the critical success factors (CSFs) of the public and private sectors’ players that influence the implementation of public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects in Bangladesh. Methods: A questionnaire survey was adopted to discover public and private sector players’ perceptions of the CSFs and success subfactors (SSF) of PPP projects. Based on the literature review, CSFs and SSFs were identified, and the agreement between respondents from the public and private sectors was tested. A total of 59 responses were collected and examined to reveal the perceived gaps between sectors and rank CSFs and SSFs. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used. The results show that the top-ranking factor was “economic viability”, followed by “appropriate risk allocation”, “sound financial packages”, “favorable investment environment”, and “reliable concessionaire”. It was also found that the perceptions of the public and private sectors were mixed. The key conclusion of this study is that the identified factors must be effectively addressed in order to develop consensus and engage relevant stakeholders in Bangladesh.

On September 27, 2023, a seminar “Japan’s Economic Strategy in the Asia-Pacific Region” was held at MGIMO University. During the discussion, various issues related to the problems of Japan’s participation in the processes of international economic integration in the Asia-Pacific region, infrastructure development projects, as well as the relationship between economic and political aspects of Japan’s regional strategy were analyzed. Special attention was paid to the Japanese concept of the Indo-Pacific region, the Japanese initiative “Partnership for Quality Infrastructure,” as well as the economic measures of the Japanese government aimed at containing China in the Asia-Pacific region. The publication offers a transcript of this seminar.

Ensuring occupational safety and health (OSH) is paramount in infrastructure projects due to their inherently high-risk nature and the increased likelihood of accidents. Despite its importance, numerous obstacles impede the successful adoption of OSH measures in these settings. Addressing these challenges is key to not only implementing OSH protocols effectively but also to improving working conditions and managing other operational facets like quality and environmental concerns, ultimately resulting in better infrastructure developments. Adopting proactive OSH strategies is crucial for preventing significant accidents and fostering a safety culture within infrastructure projects. This review focuses on identifying the primary obstacles and barriers to effective OSH in infrastructure projects, laying the groundwork for improving safety performance in the sector. It highlights organizational and legislative issues as the foremost challenges due to their direct impact on safety culture, resource distribution, compliance, and accountability. Although factors related to environmental and safety practices are deemed less critical, they are nonetheless vital for comprehensive risk management and the promotion of a safe working environment. Tackling these issues is imperative for cultivating a strong safety culture and safeguarding the health of workers on infrastructure projects. It is also essential to acknowledge the distinct OSH challenges presented by different construction scenarios to devise customized safety measures and effectively reduce risks. This review emphasizes the necessity of recognizing the unique aspects of each construction project, addressing specific dangers, and meeting regulatory demands to achieve thorough safety management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Accounting & Financial Studies Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article is aimed at developing a methodological approach to improving the efficiency of assessing the financial results of implementing Ukrainian and European business projects. In this context, the object of study is a specific individual partnership and cooperation project. The research has established that one of the key informational aspects of such a partnership is the assessment and forecasting of the financial result. The goal of the research is to present the methodological approach to assessing financial performance for an individual project in the most detailed form possible. The article presents an approach based on modern simulation modelling methods, systems analysis methodology, and the method of composite seasonal indices. All modelling processes were conducted using MATLAB software. MATLAB is a high-level programming language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. This program is widely used for modelling and data processing in fields such as engineering, scientific research, and mathematics. The research result is presented as an approach to the mathematical modelling of assessing the financial performance of partnership projects of Ukraine with representatives of EU business. It is necessary to emphasize that the presented research has limitations related to changes in Ukraine's hyperdynamic external environment provoked by war. Forecasts may vary depending on the development of military actions. Therefore, the prospects for further research should be directed towards improving the informational provision in the system of partnership and cooperation with EU countries to increase their own investment security.

A successful completion of infrastructure projects in developing countries is greatly affected by poor and incomplete design. In this regard, it is imperative to study the major causes and overall impacts of design change in infrastructure projects across the public market. The primary objective of this research is to identify and analyze the major causes that lead to design change in the implementation phase of construction projects. In addition, the study aims to examine the impacts of design change in terms of cost overrun and time variance during the design and construction stages of infrastructure construction projects. To achieve these goals 48 critical causes and 7 impacts of design changes were identified through a systematic literature review, 23 key causes and 7 impacts were then refined according to the opinions of relevant experts involved in infrastructure projects. Then, a structured questionnaire survey was employed to collect data from various sources. More so, 31 projects were identified as part of the case studies conducted to evaluate the impacts of design change of infrastructure projects. The study analyzed the collected data by Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and to classify the causes using the Matrice d’Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à UN Classement (MICMAC) technique. The result showed that Inadequate project objectives, Unrealistic clients demand, and Obstinate nature of client are the top factors. The findings are believed to be helpful for practitioners, and policy makers to trap the key factors, causes and impacts of design changes across the Ethiopian construction industry.

Copyright of European Policy Analysis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A successful completion of infrastructure projects in developing countries is greatly affected by poor and incomplete design. In this regard, it is imperative to study the major causes and overall impacts of design change in infrastructure projects across the public market. The primary objective of this research is to identify and analyze the major causes that lead to design change in the implementation phase of construction projects. In addition, the study aims to examine the impacts of design change in terms of cost overrun and time variance during the design and construction stages of infrastructure construction projects. To achieve these goals 48 critical causes and 7 impacts of design changes were identified through a systematic literature review, 23 key causes and 7 impacts were then refined according to the opinions of relevant experts involved in infrastructure projects. Then, a structured questionnaire survey was employed to collect data from various sources. More so, 31 projects were identified as part of the case studies conducted to evaluate the impacts of design change of infrastructure projects. The study analyzed the collected data by Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) and to classify the causes using the Matrice d'Impacts Croisés Multiplication Appliquée à UN Classement (MICMAC) technique. The result showed that Inadequate project objectives, Unrealistic clients demand, and Obstinate nature of client are the top factors. The findings are believed to be helpful for practitioners, and policy makers to trap the key factors, causes and impacts of design changes across the Ethiopian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is not only an unprecedented cross-continental infrastructure investment program, it is also a key pillar of China's foreign policy. The Chinese government seeks to tie BRI member states closer to its political system and to enhance its soft power across the globe. Whether this has been successful has been analyzed for individual countries but, as of yet, there is a paucity of cross-national evidence on the geopolitical impact of the BRI. We collected a novel global dataset on bilateral cooperation agreements with China in the context of the BRI for all states across the globe. We rely on voting similarities in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to analyze whether the decision to join the BRI is linked to geopolitical alignment with China. We apply generalized synthetic control models and community detection algorithms to estimate the impact of BRI membership on voting similarity to China. Our findings show that the signature of BRI membership agreements had no discernible short-term impact on voting similarity to China in most regions of the world. The exception is Europe, where BRI membership induced a backlash against China. Our findings suggest that European states counter-balance to the US and signal their independence from China after signing a BRI agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting the construction delivery method during the contracting period is one of the most important decisions determining the quality of large-scale infrastructure projects. Infrastructure projects have the most complex production processes in civil engineering. Infrastructure projects are among the most complex and resource-intensive endeavours in civil engineering due to their size, scope, multidisciplinary nature, regulatory requirements, financing challenges, environmental considerations, and the need for long-term planning and maintenance. Effective project management, collaboration, and a deep understanding of these challenges are crucial for the successful execution of infrastructure projects. Implementing such projects inevitably demands proper quality management throughout the project lifecycle. Two primary types of construction contracts are under implementation worldwide: Design-Bid-Build (DBB) and Design–and–Build (DB) contracts. In the Western Balkans region, both types of contracts are utilized for infrastructure projects, A noticeable trend is emerging toward transitioning from DBB to DB contracts. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of quality management within the context of construction contracts with a focus on the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and how these factors affect the achievement of quality objectives while managing constraints related to cost and time. This research aims to improve construction practices by selecting an adequate type of contract for construction practices and ensuring successful project outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring occupational safety and health (OSH) is paramount in infrastructure projects due to their inherently high-risk nature and the increased likelihood of accidents. Despite its importance, numerous obstacles impede the successful adoption of OSH measures in these settings. Addressing these challenges is key to not only implementing OSH protocols effectively but also to improving working conditions and managing other operational facets like quality and environmental concerns, ultimately resulting in better infrastructure developments. Adopting proactive OSH strategies is crucial for preventing significant accidents and fostering a safety culture within infrastructure projects. This review focuses on identifying the primary obstacles and barriers to effective OSH in infrastructure projects, laying the groundwork for improving safety performance in the sector. It highlights organizational and legislative issues as the foremost challenges due to their direct impact on safety culture, resource distribution, compliance, and accountability. Although factors related to environmental and safety practices are deemed less critical, they are nonetheless vital for comprehensive risk management and the promotion of a safe working environment. Tackling these issues is imperative for cultivating a strong safety culture and safeguarding the health of workers on infrastructure projects. It is also essential to acknowledge the distinct OSH challenges presented by different construction scenarios to devise customized safety measures and effectively reduce risks. This review emphasizes the necessity of recognizing the unique aspects of each construction project, addressing specific dangers, and meeting regulatory demands to achieve thorough safety management.

Collaborative procurement forms such as program alliancing can create a burgeoning environment for absorptive capacity to materialize, enabling learning and rework to be mitigated. However, little is known about the learning routines and practices enabling program alliances to tackle their rework effectively. As a result, this has stymied best practices that can be used to reduce rework from being made available to other construction organizations. This paper fills this void by addressing the following research question: How does a program alliance develop its absorptive capacity to learn and mitigate its rework? We use an illustrative case study approach to draw on the practices of a transport mega-project (>AU19 billion) delivered using a series of program alliances to address our research question. We reveal how one of its program alliances utilized its absorptive capacity to assimilate and apply new knowledge to manage errors and mitigate rework. Additionally, we unearth the presence of desorptive capacity, as the alliance exploited its error knowledge and transferred it to others as part of an incentivization scheme manufactured by the client authority to stimulate learning and continuous improvement within the project. The knowledge gleaned from the program alliance case examined in this paper provides an opportunity for organizations to learn how to deal with errors and rework, which has been absent in the literature.

Performance evaluation (also measurement) provides a mechanism to ensure that organisations thrive in today's complex and dynamic business environment. Performance evaluation is widely used for not only interpreting present performance but also for examining the future production output. An understanding of the 'future' is reliant on 'prediction', which should consider potential uncertainties as a result of the change of time or the variations between organisations, sectors or regions. However, the development of the epistemology of prediction has been overlooked within the context of performance evaluation. This paper develops and expands an existing paradigm of prediction by addressing the multi-dimensional observation for predicting an organisation's production performance under the auspices of evaluation and specifically in the context of a construction organisation that delivers infrastructure projects, which are acknowledged as being dynamic, uncertain and complex. Three advanced econometric models are applied by using the production-related data provided by a construction organisation to test the developed paradigm. The managerial implications of the research are discussed to ensure their relevance to practice. The empirical study presented in this paper provides a significant contribution to improving the practice of performance evaluation, which is essential for construction organisations to ensure positive business outcomes can be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the challenges faced by infrastructure development projects in Balochistan, often leading to outcomes below expectations. The research analyzes impact of stakeholders' power and interest attributes on project success and examines the mediating role of the stakeholders' active involvement. Based upon the dataset of 216 valid responses from 25 union councils in 5-randomly selected Balochistan districts, statistical tools include correlation, regression as well as variance analysis were utilized. The results of study provide important information that are helpful in reaching the conclusion and making desired decisions about hypothesized relationships among research variables under consideration. Results highlight significant influence of stakeholders' power and interest on project success. Notably, stakeholders' involvement was found to strongly mediate the relationship between their attributes and project success. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics influencing project success, providing insights valuable for future infrastructure development strategies in Balochistan. The study offered certain recommendations to project managers, policy-makers and future researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tendency of infrastructure projects to be complex, large-scale, and long-term prompts temporary project organizations' need to have resilience to deal with various risks, uncertainties, and crises. The resource and cognitive capacity of stakeholders are key factors in infrastructure project governance and crisis response in the face of shock generation. Moreover, previous studies on organizational resilience of infrastructure projects have lacked exploration from project governance perspectives. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the influence of contractual and relational governance on the organizational resilience of infrastructure projects from the perspectives of resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition. Firstly, this study established a conceptual model through a theoretical background and hypotheses development. Then, a questionnaire was designed for participants in the infrastructure projects to collect data on the respective effects of each variable. A total of 519 complete responses to the questionnaire were collected, and a path model was developed to quantitatively measure the impact of contractual and relational governance on organizational resilience using the partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) method. Finally, the model was validated using reliability and validity testing, hypotheses testing, and mediating effect testing. The results of the study showed that the contractual and relational governance can enhance the level of organizational resilience. Resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition play a mediating role in the relationship between project governance and organizational resilience. This study extends the theoretical research on the impact of project governance on organizational resilience, and deepens the intrinsic link between the two from the perspective of resource reconfiguration and organizational cognition, so as to provide effective theoretical guidance for crisis response and sustainable operation of infrastructure projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript was concerned with the reasons for the lateness of completion of building projects, highway projects, and other infrastructures in Mosul City that were hugely damaged due to the occupation of the terrorist ISIS gangs from 2014 to 2018. The questionnaire survey was launched in a very critical period of time (i.e. during the spread of the coronavirus pandemic), It was during a couple of months Oct. and Nov. of the year 2020. The neutrosophic theory has very flexible tools for analyzing the vagueness, hesitancy, and incomplete data, therefore, the author tried to partition the delay reasons into three major causes depending upon the probability bias of occurrence (i.e. truth, indeterminacy, and falsity), We figured out a good innovative approach to sort the importance of thirty-one causes of delay the construction projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bestuurskunde is the property of Boom uitgevers Den Haag and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The pre-construction phase of public infrastructure projects is characterized by significant uncertainty as crucial decisions are made with limited information. This early stage of project development is influenced by a multitude of factors and input from various stakeholders. While early contractor involvement (ECI) offers potential benefits for both clients and projects, the timing and selection of tasks for involving the contractor are critical to achieving these benefits. This study seeks to identify key pre-construction activities in public infrastructure projects and pinpoint the activities that stand to gain the most from ECI. The research methodology involved conducting semi-structured interviews, organizing seven workshops, and conducting the literature and document studies. Through these efforts, the study identified a total of 20 pre-construction activities, among which 5 activities emerged as the most favorable candidates for ECI, while 5 others were deemed less suitable. The findings underscore a consensus that involving contractor expertise during the Brief Development sub-phase holds significant promise. Notably, activities associated with planning, environmental considerations, and technical aspects related to the scope clarification, were found to be highly amenable to ECI. Activities addressing uncertainty management received particular attention, with clients valuing contractors' practical experience in risk assessment and mitigation. Additionally, contractors' insights into planning, activity dependencies, and their contributions to health, safety, and environmental plans were highly regarded. However, activities, categorized under the more technical sub-phases of Concept Development and Detailed Engineering yielded mixed results, while those falling within the predominantly social and political domain and involving political processes and societal impact, were viewed as less suitable for early contractor involvement. These findings emphasize the need to adopt a systematic and consistent approach to pre-construction activities, highlighting that ECI should not be applied as a one-size-fits-all solution. The interview results somewhat contrast with the literature findings, which indicate that the early conceptual phase is most beneficial as the contractor impact is highest. To some extent, the client, contractor, and consultant still see their benefit and strategy before the good of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses upon knowledge governance mechanisms of integrating specialised knowledge on underground utilities in large infrastructure projects. The integration of knowledge is essential for the realisation of such projects. The study explores the formal and informal knowledge governance mechanisms in three large infrastructure projects and compares these mechanisms to reveal their effects on knowledge integration. The findings show that combining reward systems, project culture and trust are targeting the motivation of underground experts to share their knowledge and allocation of authority and project network are mechanisms aimed at the coordination between managers and underground experts to integrate knowledge. We contribute to studies on knowledge governance by enabling further empirical insight in the relationships between formal and informal mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we seek to conceptualise multi-dimensional impacts of infrastructure investment through case studies of three nationally significant highways programmes in England. We use system thinking principles to characterise socioeconomic and policy impacts that may emerge from the interconnectedness of system variables. We consider three ‘complex infrastructure programmes’ in the National Highways portfolio; the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel, the A66 Trans-Pennine upgrade and the Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) and illustrate the interdependencies that may be present within and between these programmes using causal models. We identify a set of commonalities between the three programmes, with indications towards potential mechanisms for facilitating economic growth in disparate regions where timely implementation of efficient policies may be achieved. Moreover, we evidence that evaluating impacts through segmented areas of focus such as social, economic and policy may not adequately portray the real impacts of infrastructure investment in a comprehensive way. This research justifies the importance of understanding infrastructure projects as interconnected, complex systems that may deliver desired benefits in a non-linear and highly emergent way. We conclude with a proposition that understanding the characteristics of the larger infrastructure system-of-systems, is crucial to unlocking added value and realising long-term benefits of highways infrastructure investment.

Abstract This presentation introduces the special issue of Cadernos EBAPE.BR, focusing on the theme of infrastructure delivery and project management in low-and-middle income economies. This work highlights the rationale for the special issue and summarizes the articles published. Infrastructure projects operate in a complex environment and must handle multi-level management governance. These challenges are even more pronounced in low-and-middle income economies. Therefore, an infrastructure project management system must not only consider its internal structure but also the changes and impacts the project has on both internal and external environments. The thematic section of this special issue features four articles. The first article, presented by Carneiro (2023), takes a critical perspective on project studies with a focus on the World Bank’s role and influence. The World Bank is one of the primary funding sources for infrastructure projects and has committed to increasing investments in infrastructure from billions to trillions of US dollars. Pereira, Gomide, Machado, and Ibiapino (2023) as well as Pinto and Teixeira (2023) concentrate on Brazilian Amazon infrastructure megaprojects. Finally, Barros, Carvalho, and Brasil (2023) discuss inland waterway transportation in Brazil. This special issue aims to delve into project management studies related to the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects, encompassing public-private governance issues, project execution, and stakeholder engagement. The four articles provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges Brazil faces in executing such projects. They all address the often-high socio-political complexity that characterizes the context surrounding infrastructure projects in low-and middle-income countries, whose ultimate objective is to create and distribute value to their citizens.

Public–private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects have attracted attention over the past few years. In this regard, the selection of private partners is an integral decision to ensure its success. The selection process needs to identify, scrutinize, and pre-qualify potential private partners that sustain the greatest potential in delivering the designated public–private partnership projects. To this end, this research paper proposes an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model for the purpose of selection of the best private partners in PPP projects. The developed model (HYBD_MCDM) is conceptualized based on two tiers of multi-criteria decision making. In the first tier, the fuzzy analytical network process (FANP) is exploited to scrutinize the relative importance of the priorities of the selection criteria of private partners. In this respect, the PPP selection criteria are categorized as safety, environmental, technical, financial, political policy, and managerial. In the second tier, a set of seven multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) algorithms is leveraged to determine the best private partners to deliver PPP projects. These algorithms comprise the combined compromise solution (CoCoSo), simple weighted sum product (WISP), measurement alternatives and ranking according to compromise solution (MARCOS), combinative distance-based assessment (CODAS), weighted aggregate sum product assessment (WASPAS), technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and FANP. Thereafter, the Copeland algorithm is deployed to amalgamate the obtained rankings from the seven MCDM algorithms. Four real-world case studies are analyzed to test the implementation and applicability of the developed integrated model. The results indicate that varying levels of importance were exhibited among the managerial, political, and safety and environmental criteria based on the nature of the infrastructure projects. Additionally, the financial and technical criteria were appended as the most important criteria across the different infrastructure projects. It can be argued that the developed model can guide executives of governments to appraise their partner's ability to achieve their strategic objectives. It also sheds light on prospective private partners' strengths, weaknesses, and capacities in an attempt to neutralize threats and exploit opportunities offered by today's construction business market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The public–private partnership (PPP) based model for the execution of infrastructure projects originated from Anglo-Saxon countries and was initially used in 1977 by the United Kingdom (U.K). Since then, its popularity has increased worldwide. Earlier studies by researchers and many other professional sectors and departments have introduced PPP contracts into different execution modes like Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT); Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT); and Build, Lease, and Transfer (BLT), etc. All definitions of PPP contracts are different but have a few common characteristics and risks. Previously, numerous pieces of literature were available on these common risks for various execution modes of PPP contracts. However, each PPP mode still has unique risks that must be identified to understand and successfully implement the PPP projects properly. This paper fills the gap mentioned above and aims to identify various commonly used PPP execution modes in infrastructure projects and their corresponding risks after placing the different PPP execution modes into four (04) different categories. Identified risks for the corresponding PPP categories were also divided into seven (07) stages of the PPP life cycle. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather information from thirty-four (34) PPP experts worldwide. Accordingly, interviews are transcribed and processed for thematic analysis in academic NVIVO software. These identified risks are further placed in the respective PPP category for the convenience and better understanding of the study's outcome to the users and for the subsequent prioritization and allocation of these identified risks accordingly to the PPP parties during the finalization of the PPP execution mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify sociodemographic, environmental, housing and environmental conditions related to nose or throat involvement of the population that lived in the area of influence of an urban road infrastructure project in Medellín, Colombia, 2017. Methodology: Cross-sectional study, with primary source of information. An assisted survey was applied to 170 adults, in homes selected through snowball sampling, who lived in a perimeter of up to 1.5 kilometers from the center of the work and who agreed to participate and signed informed consent. Analysis: qualitative and quantitative exploratory. Prevalence ratio (PR) calculation and Chi2 statistic association. Project approved by the Institutional Committee for Human Ethics of Universidad CES. Results: Prevalence of irritation of nose and/or throat was of 35.88%. An association (p<0.05) was identified between this condition, being younger, and being male (RP=0.50, CI=0.29;0.84). Higher prevalence of this condition was also associated with having poor perception of air quality during the construction work, doing physical activity outdoors, having a smoking habit, and the proximity of the home to the construction site. Conclusions: This road infrastructure project had a negative impact on the perception of physical health of the inhabitants of this area of influence. The implementation of strategies to positively impact public health would be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early termination is a contractual compensation mechanism implemented in ppp infrastructure projects where private investors have the right to abandon the project to mitigate risks such as traffic risk. In this paper we used the Real Options Theory to value early termination as an option to abandon a project where both the traffic risk and the compensation fee are modelled assuming correlated stochastic processes. The option pricing model was implemented with an analytical solution and results were compared with the Monte Carlo simulation technique. The results confirm the benefits that the contractual mechanism offers to private investors to mitigate risks, while at the same time improving a project's value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The key tool for economic growth and overcoming restrictions is the implementation of major infrastructure projects in the field of railway transport. Infrastructure projects aimed at organising passenger and freight rail traffic form a wide range of social effects, such as saving travel time, improving transportation safety, reducing emissions of harmful substances and noise levels, increasing physical activity, improving social integration and organising a barrier-free environment, agglomeration effects and an increase in subjective well-being.At the same time, such projects are very capital-intensive and often cannot be implemented in full due to limited funding. Especially this factor plays a significant role in the current conditions of sanctions pressure. The combination of these factors leads to the need for comprehensive risk management when deciding on the implementation of an infrastructure project for the development of railway junctions.Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify risks in the implementation of infrastructure projects, assess the identified risks and formulate recommendations for their reduction.

By covering several potential risks as feasible, a well-drafted infrastructure construction contract decreases the probability of disputes occurring to a significant degree. The Executive Regulations of the Egyptian Tender Law No.182 of 2018 is the governing document for drafting Egyptian Construction Contracts (ECC). However, to handle the requirements of various infrastructure projects, the ECC still requires some amendment additions. This paper sets out a guide that includes a number of amendments to the clauses that contract experts must consider when drafting new contracts in order to prevent potential disputes. This study aims to explore and investigate the major sources of conflicts facing infrastructure construction contracts, as reflected in the literature review and interview results with contract professionals. The methodology mainly incorporates undertaking a literature review, implementing a comparison and analysis of general conditions of the Egyptian, International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), and American Institute of Architects (AIA) construction contracts, and presenting international directions for dealing with the causes of conflicts in these contracts. These steps have been followed to propose amendments for the clauses that cause disputes in the ECC while the final step is conducted to verify the amendments’ findings through experts’ interviews. The findings show that these amendments are of significant importance to be considered while drafting new construction contracts, considering FIDIC 99 (Red Book), AIA A201-1997, and the general conditions of the Egyptian Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities are the forms of general conditions that are used for comparison.

The article is devoted to the potential negative consequences arising from the import substitution of equipment, materials and technologies during the implementation of projects for the creation of high-speed railways in the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the object and subject of the study, discusses the main methods and approaches to the study of this problem, and also provides the results of foreign and domestic research. The relevance of this topic is due to the need to provide effective use of state resources in the import substitution of equipment and technologies in the implementation of projects to create high-speed highways and maximize their payback. Today, the design and construction of high-speed railways is a significant technological innovation in the field of passenger land transportation, which plays an important role in the economic, scientific and technical development of the country. In the conditions of the current geopolitical situation and sanctions against the Russian Federation, the political and economic courses of the country have changed, so one of the guidelines of the state is import substitution. This vector of development of the domestic market will allow engineering companies to minimize the consequences of restrictions on the supply of high-tech equipment and materials, which play an important role in the construction of high-speed railways. However, in the context of import substitution and limited access to technologies and equipment that are involved in the design and implementation of high-speed railway projects, engineering companies also need to optimize the selection and procurement of equipment and materials. As a result of the conducted research, the author proposed the idea of creating a nomenclature base of high-tech equipment and materials, which will act as a single resource of structured, consolidated and formalized information about product samples for the design and construction of high-speed railways. The results of this study can be useful for decision-making when planning and implementing projects to create high-speed rail lines in Russia and abroad.

Public–private partnerships (PPPs)-driven infrastructure projects frequently disappoint in terms of sustainability outcomes. This paper substantiates this. It develops and presents an institutional design that can integrate environmental and social sustainability principles into PPP infrastructure projects (sustainable PPPs). The institutional design includes principles for the planning processes (preparation, procurement, contracting) and outcome indicators. The paper builds upon and synthesizes extant research through a literature review that employs the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements. The review covers the appropriateness of the used indicators for the investigation and measurement of environmental and social sustainability policy strategies designed to enhance sustainability and institutional intercalation. About the latter, a specific lens to focus on the relationships between the institutional design characteristics (the rule settings) of planning processes and the sustainability outcomes is developed based on three variables within the institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework of Ostrom. Consequently, rule settings that enable the investigation of the institutional process preconditions for sustainable PPPs and the evaluation of the sustainability outcomes are amalgamated. Our study indicates that the IAD framework provides a useful theoretical lens to harmonize and categorize process principles to achieve the rule settings that guide involved actors towards sustainable PPPs and place lenses on the envisioned environmental and social sustainability outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the paper is to provide a method to estimate the credit risk in infrastructure public–private partnership (PPP) projects by using a structural model, the Real Options approach, and the Monte Carlo simulation technique. To do that, previous models are extended under a structural framework for credit risk where the embedded options in the credit agreement such as the option to renegotiate and the option to exit are introduced as well as the uncertainty of the cash flows. In that sense, all the components of expected loss (EL) such as the probability of default, the exposure, and the recovery rate for lenders are modelled and estimated in a PPP toll road project by considering the embedded options as well as the default events. Consequently, it is found that the embedded options improve the recovery rate for lenders and their EL. Additionally, practical insights about the effects of the embedded options in the credit agreement and the probability of default are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]