Risk factors affecting the ability for earned value management to accurately assess the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate a set of risk-related factors influencing the earned value management (EVM) concept as an assessment technique in evaluating the progress of modern sustainable infrastructure construction projects. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative research approach has been adopted for identifying risk-related factors influencing EVM concept from a literature review and through interviewing industry personnel, followed by an inductive process to form sets of key factors and their measuring items. Findings – EVM is a common method for assessing project performance. A weakness of this approach is that EVM assessment in its current form does not measure the impact of a number of project performance factors that result from the complexity of modern infrastructure construction projects, and thus does not accurately assess their impact in this performance. This paper discusses and explains a range of potential risk factors to evaluating project performance such as sustainability, stakeholder requirements, communication, procurement strategy, weather, experience of staff, site condition, design issues, financial risk, subcontractor, government requirements and material. In addition, their measuring items were identified. Practical implications – This research assists projects managers to improve the evaluation process of infrastructure construction performance by incorporating a range of factors likely to impact on that performance and which are not included in current EVM calculations. Originality/value – This research addresses the need to include in the EVM calculation a range of risk factors affecting the performance of infrastructure projects in Australia and therefore makes this calculation a more reliable tool for assessing project performance

Should disaster management strategies in Bangladesh be just about constructing new shelters?

With a population of over 143 million people and a population density of more than 1,200 persons per km2 Bangladesh is a very densely populated country. The country’s geographic location in the waters of Bay of Bengal, often the source of tropical cyclones and storm surges, makes Bangladesh one of the most natural disasters prone nations in the world. A severe tropical cyclone hits the country, every 3 years on average. As 16 major cyclones have hit the country since 1960 with the loss of nearly 500,000 lives, multi-purpose cyclone shelters – that can provide refuge to susceptible population in the events of natural hazards and to a certain extent with the utility of community functionalities during normal times – have become a vital component of disaster management strategies. Country has already constructed more than 2,500 such shelters across 16 of the most disaster prone coastal districts. This paper uses content analysis of disaster management policies, and programs in order to comprehend and assess the distributions of shelters with a lens of integrated strategic asset management framework. Analysis of secondary data indicates that existing cyclone shelters are not equitably distributed to cater the needs of the highly vulnerable population. In the backdrop of the recommendation of The World Bank [TWB] that the country needs 5,500 new shelters (TWB, 2010), this paper contends that future construction of cyclone shelters must be need as well as evidence-based in order to ensure that highly vulnerable population benefits from cyclone shelters the most

The Impact of Transit-Oriented Shopping Mall Developments (TOSMDs) on Metro Station Ridership: Dubai Metro Redline

Transit-oriented shopping mall development (TOSMD) is a novel concept in urban planning practice. The array of TOSMD attractiveness factors is not currently included in the forecasting models for station ridership. As a result, a station near a TOSMD can reach its capacity because its design and development didn't take into account TOSMD, while TOSMD contributes passenger flow to the station. Depending on the setting, the number of visiting tourists could exacerbate this problem. Therefore, this study aims to empirically identify the critical TOSMD attractiveness factors and clarify their impact in terms of shopper passengers contributing to the ridership at stations near TOSMDs in the case of the Dubai Metro Redline. A sample of 700 shopper passengers were surveyed at seven stations near TOSMDs. We used principal component analysis with confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modelling to explain the impact of TOSMD attractiveness on shopper passenger ridership at stations near TOSMDs. Eleven independent TOSMD attractiveness factors were found to be associated with the extent of shopper passengers’ intention to use a station near a TOSMD. Resident and tourist shopper passengers showed variability in the factors impacting their use of stations near TOSMDs. The study assists in empirically validating the impact of TOSMD attractiveness on ridership at stations near TOSMDs, as a means of increasing the economic sustainability of transit networks. It provides statistically fit models for clarifying the generated resident and tourist shopper passenger ridership contributing to a station ridership as a result of its nearby TOSMDs. For a more comprehensive analysis, future studies could be repeated for transit networks in other cities

The PSS : From Flat Maps to Layered Perspectives - the contribution of the Airport Metropolis Planning Support System (PSS) to sub-regional planning in the Brisbane Airport case environment

Conventional planning and decision making, with its sectoral and territorial emphasis and flat-map based processes are no longer adequate or appropriate for the increased complexity confronting airport/city interfaces. These crowed and often contested governance spaces demand a more iterative and relational planning and decision-making approach. Emergent GIS based planning and decision-making tools provide a mechanism which integrate and visually display an array of complex data, frameworks and scenarios/expectations, often in ‘real time’ computations. In so doing, these mechanisms provide a common ground for decision making and facilitate a more ‘joined-up’ approach to airport/city planning. This paper analyses the contribution of the Airport Metropolis Planning Support System (PSS) to sub-regional planning in the Brisbane Airport case environment

The PSS : From Flat Maps to Layered Perspectives - the contribution of the Airport Metropolis Planning Support System (PSS) to sub-regional planning in the Brisbane Airport case environment

Conventional planning and decision making, with its sectoral and territorial emphasis and flat-map based processes are no longer adequate or appropriate for the increased complexity confronting airport/city interfaces. These crowed and often contested governance spaces demand a more iterative and relational planning and decision-making approach. Emergent GIS based planning and decision-making tools provide a mechanism which integrate and visually display an array of complex data, frameworks and scenarios/expectations, often in ‘real time’ computations. In so doing, these mechanisms provide a common ground for decision making and facilitate a more ‘joined-up’ approach to airport/city planning. This paper analyses the contribution of the Airport Metropolis Planning Support System (PSS) to sub-regional planning in the Brisbane Airport case environment

A Bibliometric Analysis of Ageing Literature: Global and Asia-Pacific Trends

The ageing population has been considered the dominant demographic phenomenon of this millennium that equally affects both developed and developing nations alike. Given that the Asia Pacific region has been ageing more rapidly than at any time in history, this chapter examines the body of literature on "ageing" by mapping the prevalent themes of research, research hotspots, and influential stake-holders. The findings have implications for researchers into ageing as well as policymakers across countries included in this volume and beyond

Development of a performance model for international construction joint venture : a system dynamics approach

The uncertain and dynamic nature of International Construction Joint Venture (ICJV) performance is evolved with many critical factors which lead to make partner relationships more complex in respect of making decisions to maintain a cohesive environment. Addressing to the fact, a generic system dynamics performance model for ICJV is developed by integrating a number variables as to get an overall impact on performance of ICJV and to make effective decisions based on that. In order to formulate and validate the model both structurally and behaviourally, both qualitative and quantitative data are gathered by conducting intensive interviews from two ICJVs in Thailand. After conducting intensive simulations of model, three major problems are identified related to negative value gap, low productivity in construction and high rate of ineffective information sharing of both ICJVs. Several policies are suggested and integrated application of these policies provides a maximum improvement to performance of the ICJV

The state of multi-purpose cyclone shelters in Bangladesh

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the state of management practices of existing multi-purpose cyclone shelters (MPCS) facilities across the 16 coastal districts in the country, in the context of an identified need for 5,500 new MPCS facilities in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach: A “multi-capitals” framework - a conceptual model for appraising the state of MPCS facilities based on seven forms of capital resources - is adopted. Findings: MPCS facilities are not equitably distributed across the 16 coastal districts to cater to the needs of the highly vulnerable population. Nearly 9 per cent of the existing shelters are unusable in the event of cyclones. Once built, MPCS facilities have no maintenance funding and only around 19 per cent of shelters have a governance mechanism that enables community participation. A strong correlation (r = 0.65) was detected between the availability of maintenance funds and provision for community participation. Research limitations/implications: The potential of a multi-capitals framework to assess the management practices of existing MPCS facilities in a holistic way was limited by the secondary nature of data on the four forms of capital: built, cultural, financial and political. The significance of the other three forms of capital: human, natural and social and their implications in the context of MPCS facilities are discussed. Practical implications: If the existing and new MPCS facilities are to become a vital component of disaster management strategies, MPCS governance mechanisms are likely to be enhanced by embracing the principles of community-based facilities management. Originality/value: The paper introduces the utility of a multi-capitals framework to assess the existing management issues surrounding MPCS facilities and offers potential solutions in the context of developing countries. The value of the framework is in understanding the utility of an MPCS as more than just a facility

Using argumentative mapping and qualitative probabilistic network in resettlement planning process: A case study of Padma Multi-purpose Bridge Project

This paper describes an alternative methodology for representing and analyzing diversified views of project Affected Persons (APs) in order to facilitate development processes for resettlement planning. The traditional methodologies including Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS) and Argumentation Support Systems have at times showed their ineffectiveness in terms of gathering, analyzing and incorporating diversified views of project APs into necessary strategies and actions. This ineffectiveness is due to the fact that they have limitations in dealing with ill-structured problems and uncertainty to analyze alternative strategies or management options. The paper therefore, proposes an integrated method in order to encounter these limitations. The integrated method is based on a combination of Argumentative Mapping for Resettlement Planning (AMRP) and Qualitative Probabilistic Networks (QPNs). The new methodology was introduced in a large-scale infrastructure project, namely Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, Bangladesh to verify its applicability. Scenario-based analyses for different combination of management options/interventions within the developed qualitative probabilistic networks were conducted which provided basis for a list of recommendations. Results derived from the scenario-based analyses not only provide better insights of the land acquisition and resettlement-related problems, but also indicate critical management options for desired objectives

The state of multi-purpose cyclone shelters in Bangladesh

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the state of management practices of existing multi-purpose cyclone shelters (MPCS) facilities across the 16 coastal districts in the country, in the context of an identified need for 5,500 new MPCS facilities in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach – A “multi-capitals” framework – a conceptual model for appraising the state of MPCS facilities based on seven forms of capital resources – is adopted. Findings – MPCS facilities are not equitably distributed across the 16 coastal districts to cater to the needs of the highly vulnerable population. Nearly 9 per cent of the existing shelters are unusable in the event of cyclones. Once built, MPCS facilities have no maintenance funding and only around 19 per cent of shelters have a governance mechanism that enables community participation. A strong correlation (r = 0.65) was detected between the availability of maintenance funds and provision for community participation. Research limitations/implications – The potential of a multi-capitals framework to assess the management practices of existing MPCS facilities in a holistic way was limited by the secondary nature of data on the four forms of capital: built, cultural, financial and political. The significance of the other three forms of capital: human, natural and social and their implications in the context of MPCS facilities are discussed. Practical implications – If the existing and new MPCS facilities are to become a vital component of disaster management strategies, MPCS governance mechanisms are likely to be enhanced by embracing the principles of community-based facilities management. Originality/value – The paper introduces the utility of a multi-capitals framework to assess the existing management issues surrounding MPCS facilities and offers potential solutions in the context of developing countries. The value of the framework is in understanding the utility of an MPCS as more than just a facility