Long-Term Functionality of Rural Water Services in Developing Countries: A System Dynamics Approach to Understanding the Dynamic Interaction of Causal Factors

Research has shown that sustainability of rural water infrastructure in developing countries is largely affected by the dynamic and systemic interactions of technical, social, financial, institutional, and environmental factors that can lead to premature water system failure. This research employs systems dynamic modeling, which uses feedback mechanisms to understand how these factors interact dynamically to influence long-term rural water system functionality. To do this, the research first identified and aggregated key factors from literature, then asked water sector experts to indicate the polarity and strength between factors through Delphi and cross impact survey questionnaires, and finally used system dynamics modeling to identify and prioritize feedback mechanisms. The resulting model identified 101 feedback mechanisms that were dominated primarily by three and four-factor loops that contained some combination of the factors: Water System Functionality, Community, Financial, Government, Management, and Technology. These feedback mechanisms were then scored and prioritized, with the most dominant feedback mechanism identified as Water System Functionality – Community – Finance – Management. This research offers insight into the dynamic interaction of factors impacting sustainability of rural water infrastructure through the identification of these feedback mechanisms and makes a compelling case for future research to longitudinally investigate the interaction of these factors in various contexts

Building for a better Dhaka Policies for housing and infrastructure development

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3106.4867(SU-CDPS--8) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Implementing urban development projects A search for criteria for success

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:9117.4(TRP--105) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Crisis, chaos, crunch? Planning for urban growth in the developing world

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:9117.4(SU-TRP--115) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Information needs in construction and housing in the Third World

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3106.4867(SU-CDPS--11) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Urban Blight and Redevelopment: An Urban Participation Path

This paper pays particular attention to one of the many participatory models present in the landscape of urban and territorial planning. Specifically, the ACTION PLANNING model was chosen; a model used in Anglo-Saxon countries to identify the problems and needs of the inhabitants of a given territory, through the involvement of interested parties or stakeholders. The model is applied in Sicily, to Villaseta, a small rural settlement, located southwest of the city of Agrigento, which consists primarily of affordable and social housing. It is a suburb without identity, left to itself, where – despite the valuable cultural, historic, scenic, and most importantly human resources – one notes the presence of degradation, hardship, and social exclusion. The quality of life is poor, the housing requires serious restoration work, and a large number of public spaces are unused due to decades of failure in the management policies of the local government