Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibil...Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Public Procurement Act 2007 to reduce internal control system deficiencies and budget indiscipline in the Nigerian public sector fiscal matters and procurement process. Ironically, despite these efforts, infrastructure development is still a problem affecting the lives of Nigerians as their poverty level is on the increase. This paper tests the effects of internal control system deficiency on contractors＇ capability in infrastructure development in the Nigerian public sector. Data drawn from a sample of 228 infrastructures were used for analysis. Two research questions on contractors＇ fiduciary obligation to government and capacity were analysed. Kendall＇s Tau-br correlation of coefficient and Chi-square X^2 statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings show that deficient internal control system strongly and directly breeds deficiency in the contractors＇ capability for infrastructure development. The paper recommends that oath of bribery should complement oath of secrecy to ensure that contractors and government agencies that are responsible for execution of infrastructure play to the rules of the ＂games＂, especially the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Public-private-partnership-initiative, such as build-operate and transfer method of contracting, should be encouraged to improve on contractors＇ capability and stewardship.展开更多
Transport infrastructure development and perception vary across and within countries, influencing mode choice among road users. This study explores how road users perceive the development of infrastructure modes, serv...Transport infrastructure development and perception vary across and within countries, influencing mode choice among road users. This study explores how road users perceive the development of infrastructure modes, service attributes, embedded safety levels, and commuting modes. Additionally, the research examines whether participants’ environmental backgrounds impact their mode choice patterns. The study gathered responses from 1169 participants residing in two regions of Amman, Jordan, each with distinct infrastructure development and population densities. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire, and several statistical techniques were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that facilities’ infrastructure attributes, development, and safety were assessed using three indices. Both participant groups perceived these indices differently on average. Residents of low population density areas with relatively developed infrastructure showed more consistent assessments, irrespective of their most frequently used mode of transportation, tending towards lower scores. Interestingly, subjective ratings of infrastructure development were higher (4.96) than attribute-based ratings (4.32). Despite their generally low-quality perception, public transportation services received the highest appraisal (4.9). Conversely, pedestrian infrastructure complementing public transport received the lowest assessment (4.57), only slightly higher than street environments (4.59). The study found weak associations between subjective service characteristics ratings. Traveler and trip characteristics influenced mode choice and trips more than infrastructure perception. In conclusion, the study suggests that policies should be developed to encourage green transportation, ensure social equality and safety. In addition, the study contributes to understanding perceptions about transport infrastructure, modes of transportation, and the factors that influence sustainable and equitable transportation systems.展开更多
Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its...Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its enormous capacity in this field.The goal of this review paper is to thoroughly examine the difficulties and untapped opportunities in utilizing biomass for bioenergy production in Nigeria.Notably,Nigeria generates substantial volumes of biomass annually,primarily in the form of agricultural waste,which is often either discarded or burned inefficiently,resulting in significant ecological and environmental damage.Therefore,an efficient approach to reducing pollution and transforming waste into wealth involves converting these biomass resources into energy.This work critically examines the status of biomass utilization for energy applications in Nigeria and highlights the bottlenecks that impede its widespread adoption.The review emphasizes the economic and ecological advantages of biomass utilization over traditional waste treatment methods.Additionally,it underscores the appeal of biomass as an industrial fuel source,particularly considering the current high cost of fossil fuels in contemporary Nigeria.Relevant literature on biomass,energy,agricultural waste,fossil fuel,and calorific value in the context of Nigeria was reviewed by utilizing a thorough search technique in key scientific databases.The analysis did not include any non-English publications.The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the challenges faced in maximizing Nigeria’s biomass potential and offer strategic recommendations to promote the use of biomass for bioenergy development.This review paper will assist a wide range of local and international readers,as well as industries interested in green and bioenergy,in making informed decisions regarding the most suitable types of biomass for biofuel production.展开更多
1.INTRODUCTION In New York City a decline in manufacturing has propelled social and eco-nomic changes that have transformed certain districts[1,2].Unused building stock there has been the basis for adaptive reuse yiel...1.INTRODUCTION In New York City a decline in manufacturing has propelled social and eco-nomic changes that have transformed certain districts[1,2].Unused building stock there has been the basis for adaptive reuse yielding new housing for families of varying compositions.The constant pressure of the need for affordable housing has resulted in the conversion of existing abandoned industrial structures,pro-viding a green,environmentally friendly alternative to new construction[3,4,5].Adaptive reuse provides an opportunity to bring a building up to current codes,to make the layout and building systems more appropriate and efficient,and to help revitalize neighborhoods.展开更多
Tax payers’level of compliance behaviour is a major concern to government and tax authorities.Constant losses of tax revenue through bribery,corruption,and abuse of power for personal advantage are perceived to have ...Tax payers’level of compliance behaviour is a major concern to government and tax authorities.Constant losses of tax revenue through bribery,corruption,and abuse of power for personal advantage are perceived to have adversely affected nation’s economic growth and infrastructural development.Many researches have been conducted on taxpayers’compliance,but not many considered the effect of Control of Corruption(COC)in their study.This study looked at the probable influence of COC on individual taxpayers’voluntary tax compliance behaviour in South-West,Nigeria.Survey research design was adopted for the study.Population for the study was 5,216,422 individual taxpayers in three selected states.A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents by means of Stratified and random sampling techniques with a sample size of 1,200 and this gives a response rate of 87.6%.The reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.86.The study adopts descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data at 0.05 level of significance.The study shows that COC positively influenced voluntary tax compliance among individual taxpayers in the study states(Adj.R2=0.063,F(6,1050)=12.68,p=0.000).There was evidence that trust in government,COC,and employment status have significant relationship with voluntary tax compliance behaviour in the study states(β=0.139,t(1044)=6.125,p=0.000,β=0.154,t(1044)=5.025,p=0.000,β=-0.237,t(1044)=-3.562,p=0.00)while gender,age,and educational level do not have significant relationship with voluntary tax compliance(β=0.036,t(1044)=0.664,p=0.664,β=-0.002,t(1044)=-0.080,p=0.936,β=0.035,t(1044)=1.081,p=0.280),respectively.The study concluded that control of corruption influenced individual voluntary tax compliance.Government should put better stiff strategies in controlling corruption on tax matters,overhaul the internal control mechanism,establish state anti-graft agencies,and put stiff punishment for any fraudulent activity on tax revenue generation while zero tolerance to corruption should be seen and practice.展开更多
The purpose of this paper is to explore the development process of a large scale dry port and to analyse what measures and actions are needed in order to support the decision making process and ensure an effective and...The purpose of this paper is to explore the development process of a large scale dry port and to analyse what measures and actions are needed in order to support the decision making process and ensure an effective and efficient dry port that serves the City and the region’s current and future needs. The purpose is explored in the context of Saudi Arabiaand the city ofArriyadh. Key issues identified related to the dry port development are long term planning and crosssector collaboration. The interconnection between the dry port and the overall transport system and aspects, such as location of business, city logistics, road and rail infrastructure, local, regional and national regulations, etc., is strong. This puts challenge on the coordination and alignment of the different organizations, their strategies and objectives. In a complex situation, such as developing a dry port with many stakeholders, it is crucial that the roles of all actors are clearly defined. This is essential for utilizing the dry port as a regional tool for planning. In that regard, it is appropriate that the site location decision is clearly connected with an overall city freight vision and strategy.展开更多
The third UN World Congress on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015, agreed on a new framework to guide disaster risk reduction policy and practice for the next 15 years. The Sendai Framework f...The third UN World Congress on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015, agreed on a new framework to guide disaster risk reduction policy and practice for the next 15 years. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR) leaves important implementation issues unspecified and potentially creates both problems and opportunities for complex,multilevel governance systems in coping with hazards and disastrous events. Early warning systems(EWS), if built into the mainstream of planning for development and disaster relief and recovery, could present a significant opportunity to realize many SFDRR goals. We explore the complexities of using hydrometeorological EWS to prepare for drought and flood disasters in the densely populated communities of Pakistan’s Indus River Basin in contrast to the African Sahel’s less densely settled grasslands. Multilevel governance systems are often dominated by a topdown, technocentric, centralized management bias and have great difficulty responding to the needs of peripheral and vulnerable populations. People-centered, bottom-up approaches that incorporate disaggregated communities with local knowledge into a balanced, multilevel disaster risk management and governance structure have adramatically better chance of realizing the SFDRR goals for disaster risk reduction.展开更多
In recent decades,interest in project-based learning within organizational learning has grown significantly.This study synthesizes principles that facilitate learning at the project level.Through a cross-case analysis...In recent decades,interest in project-based learning within organizational learning has grown significantly.This study synthesizes principles that facilitate learning at the project level.Through a cross-case analysis of the Gaasperdammer Tunnel project in the Netherlands and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in China,and validation via focus group discussions,we have identified five key principles:Owner Commitment,Social Environment Approach,Collaboration Vision,Value Orientation,and Open Mindset.These principles highlight the mindsets that guide the behavior and thinking of project practitioners beyond prescriptive processes and routines.Our research enhances the understanding of how project participants can learn from their involvement in unique,complex projects and improve their capabilities for future endeavors.We emphasize the critical role of learning in the development of project capabilities and suggest it be a focal point in future research on infrastructure development projects.展开更多
Urban water-related problems associated with rapid urbanization, including waterlogging, water pollution, the ecological degradation of water, and water shortages, have caused global concerns in recent years. In 2013,...Urban water-related problems associated with rapid urbanization, including waterlogging, water pollution, the ecological degradation of water, and water shortages, have caused global concerns in recent years. In 2013, in order to mitigate increasingly severe urban water-related problems, China set forth a new strategy for integrated urban water management(IUWM) called the "Sponge City". This is the first holistic IUWM strategy implemented in a developing country that is still undergoing rapid urbanization, and holds promise for application in other developing countries. This paper aims to comprehensively summarize the sponge city. First, this paper reviews prior studies and policies on urban water management in China as important background for the sponge city proposal. Then, the connotations, goals, and features of the sponge city are summarized and discussed.Finally, the challenges, research needs, and development directions pertinent to the sponge city are discussed based on investigations and studies conducted by the authors. The sponge city in China has a short history—given this, there are many issues that should be examined with regard to the stepwise implementation of the Sponge City Programme(SCP). Accordingly, the authors perceive this study as only the beginning of abundant studies on the sponge city.展开更多
Since 2014, China has been implementing the Sponge City Construction initiative, which represents an enormous and unprecedented effort by any government in the world for achieving urban sustainability. According to pr...Since 2014, China has been implementing the Sponge City Construction initiative, which represents an enormous and unprecedented effort by any government in the world for achieving urban sustainability. According to preliminary estimates, the total investment on the Sponge City Plan is roughly 100 to 150 million Yuan （RMB） （$15 to $22.5 million） average per square kilometer or 10 Trillion Yuan （RMB） （$1.5 Trillion） for the 657 cities nationwide. The Sponge City Plan （SCP） calls for the use of natural processes such as soil and vegetation as part of the urban runoff control strategy, which is similar to that of low impact development （LID） and green infrastructure （G1） practices being promoted in many parts of the world. The SCP includes as its goals not only effective urban flood control, but also rainwater harvest, water quality improvement and ecological restoration. So far, the SCP implementation has encountered-some barriers and challenges due to many factors. The present paper presents a review of those barriers and challenges, oftizrs discussions and recommendations on several technical aspects such as control goals and objectives; planning/design and construction of LID/GI practices; performance evaluation. Several key recommendations are proposed on Sponge City implementation strategy, Site-specific regulatory fi＇amework and technical gmdance, Product innovation and certification, LID/GI Project financing, LID/G1 profcssional training and certification, public outreach and education. It is expected that the successful implemen!atiun of the. SCP not only will bring about a sustainable, eco-friendly urbanization process in China, but also contribute enormously to the LID/Gl research and development with the vast amount of relevant data and experiences generated from the Sponge City construction projects.展开更多
Throughout the world, infrastructure to support cities is critical to support sustainable and responsible economic development. This can include new infrastructure projects in the case of growing areas. It can also in...Throughout the world, infrastructure to support cities is critical to support sustainable and responsible economic development. This can include new infrastructure projects in the case of growing areas. It can also include the renewal and upgrading of existing infrastructure in areas that have been inhabited and already developed. Infrastructure includes roads, bridges and transportation systems; power grids and energy service;internet and telecommunications; and water and sewer services. This development can be part of a system of systems, in which government, industries, and universities can contribute knowledge, skills, and abilities. This paper will investigate the strategic project management taken by one university to provide an academic experience that will prepare engineering students to address several of the Grand Engineering Challenges of the 21 st Century, as identified by the US National Academy of Engineering.The challenges relating to energy, water, information, and urban infrastructure can be approached using the functions of teaching, research, and service. By approaching the challenges strategically, resources of faculty time, student effort and laboratory facilities can be leveraged to achieve greater results. This case study will describe the efforts and results to date and identify opportunities for future growth.展开更多
This paper compares ongoing research results on hydrologic performance to common design and crediting criteria, and recommends a change in direction from a static to a dynamic perspective to fully credit the performan...This paper compares ongoing research results on hydrologic performance to common design and crediting criteria, and recommends a change in direction from a static to a dynamic perspective to fully credit the performance of green infrastructure. Examples used in this article are primarily stormwater control measures built for research on the campus of Villanova University [1,2]. Evidence is presented demonstrating that the common practice of crediting water volume based on soil and surface storage underestimates the performance potential, and suggests that the profession move to a more dynamic approach that incorporates exfiltration and evapotranspiration. The framework for a dynamic approach is discussed, with a view to broaden our design focus by including climate, configuration and the soil surroundings. The substance of this work was presented as a keynote speech at the 2016 international Low Impact Development Conference in Beijing China [3].展开更多
文摘Infrastructure development in Nigeria has attracted the attention of researchers in view of the attitudes of contractors and government lead-lag role playing. These attitudes led to the enactment of Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and Public Procurement Act 2007 to reduce internal control system deficiencies and budget indiscipline in the Nigerian public sector fiscal matters and procurement process. Ironically, despite these efforts, infrastructure development is still a problem affecting the lives of Nigerians as their poverty level is on the increase. This paper tests the effects of internal control system deficiency on contractors＇ capability in infrastructure development in the Nigerian public sector. Data drawn from a sample of 228 infrastructures were used for analysis. Two research questions on contractors＇ fiduciary obligation to government and capacity were analysed. Kendall＇s Tau-br correlation of coefficient and Chi-square X^2 statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings show that deficient internal control system strongly and directly breeds deficiency in the contractors＇ capability for infrastructure development. The paper recommends that oath of bribery should complement oath of secrecy to ensure that contractors and government agencies that are responsible for execution of infrastructure play to the rules of the ＂games＂, especially the provisions of Public Procurement Act 2007 and Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007. Public-private-partnership-initiative, such as build-operate and transfer method of contracting, should be encouraged to improve on contractors＇ capability and stewardship.
文摘Transport infrastructure development and perception vary across and within countries, influencing mode choice among road users. This study explores how road users perceive the development of infrastructure modes, service attributes, embedded safety levels, and commuting modes. Additionally, the research examines whether participants’ environmental backgrounds impact their mode choice patterns. The study gathered responses from 1169 participants residing in two regions of Amman, Jordan, each with distinct infrastructure development and population densities. Participants completed a standardized questionnaire, and several statistical techniques were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that facilities’ infrastructure attributes, development, and safety were assessed using three indices. Both participant groups perceived these indices differently on average. Residents of low population density areas with relatively developed infrastructure showed more consistent assessments, irrespective of their most frequently used mode of transportation, tending towards lower scores. Interestingly, subjective ratings of infrastructure development were higher (4.96) than attribute-based ratings (4.32). Despite their generally low-quality perception, public transportation services received the highest appraisal (4.9). Conversely, pedestrian infrastructure complementing public transport received the lowest assessment (4.57), only slightly higher than street environments (4.59). The study found weak associations between subjective service characteristics ratings. Traveler and trip characteristics influenced mode choice and trips more than infrastructure perception. In conclusion, the study suggests that policies should be developed to encourage green transportation, ensure social equality and safety. In addition, the study contributes to understanding perceptions about transport infrastructure, modes of transportation, and the factors that influence sustainable and equitable transportation systems.
文摘Nigeria,often referred to as“the giant of Africa,”boasts a sizable population,a thriving economy,and abundant energy resources.Nevertheless,Nigeria has yet to fully harness its renewable energy potential,despite its enormous capacity in this field.The goal of this review paper is to thoroughly examine the difficulties and untapped opportunities in utilizing biomass for bioenergy production in Nigeria.Notably,Nigeria generates substantial volumes of biomass annually,primarily in the form of agricultural waste,which is often either discarded or burned inefficiently,resulting in significant ecological and environmental damage.Therefore,an efficient approach to reducing pollution and transforming waste into wealth involves converting these biomass resources into energy.This work critically examines the status of biomass utilization for energy applications in Nigeria and highlights the bottlenecks that impede its widespread adoption.The review emphasizes the economic and ecological advantages of biomass utilization over traditional waste treatment methods.Additionally,it underscores the appeal of biomass as an industrial fuel source,particularly considering the current high cost of fossil fuels in contemporary Nigeria.Relevant literature on biomass,energy,agricultural waste,fossil fuel,and calorific value in the context of Nigeria was reviewed by utilizing a thorough search technique in key scientific databases.The analysis did not include any non-English publications.The findings of this research provide valuable insights into the challenges faced in maximizing Nigeria’s biomass potential and offer strategic recommendations to promote the use of biomass for bioenergy development.This review paper will assist a wide range of local and international readers,as well as industries interested in green and bioenergy,in making informed decisions regarding the most suitable types of biomass for biofuel production.
基金supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT&Future Planning(NRF-2014R1A1A1002268)supported by the 2016 Hongik University Research Fund.
文摘1.INTRODUCTION In New York City a decline in manufacturing has propelled social and eco-nomic changes that have transformed certain districts[1,2].Unused building stock there has been the basis for adaptive reuse yielding new housing for families of varying compositions.The constant pressure of the need for affordable housing has resulted in the conversion of existing abandoned industrial structures,pro-viding a green,environmentally friendly alternative to new construction[3,4,5].Adaptive reuse provides an opportunity to bring a building up to current codes,to make the layout and building systems more appropriate and efficient,and to help revitalize neighborhoods.
文摘Tax payers’level of compliance behaviour is a major concern to government and tax authorities.Constant losses of tax revenue through bribery,corruption,and abuse of power for personal advantage are perceived to have adversely affected nation’s economic growth and infrastructural development.Many researches have been conducted on taxpayers’compliance,but not many considered the effect of Control of Corruption(COC)in their study.This study looked at the probable influence of COC on individual taxpayers’voluntary tax compliance behaviour in South-West,Nigeria.Survey research design was adopted for the study.Population for the study was 5,216,422 individual taxpayers in three selected states.A validated questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents by means of Stratified and random sampling techniques with a sample size of 1,200 and this gives a response rate of 87.6%.The reliability test using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.86.The study adopts descriptive and inferential statistics to analyze the data at 0.05 level of significance.The study shows that COC positively influenced voluntary tax compliance among individual taxpayers in the study states(Adj.R2=0.063,F(6,1050)=12.68,p=0.000).There was evidence that trust in government,COC,and employment status have significant relationship with voluntary tax compliance behaviour in the study states(β=0.139,t(1044)=6.125,p=0.000,β=0.154,t(1044)=5.025,p=0.000,β=-0.237,t(1044)=-3.562,p=0.00)while gender,age,and educational level do not have significant relationship with voluntary tax compliance(β=0.036,t(1044)=0.664,p=0.664,β=-0.002,t(1044)=-0.080,p=0.936,β=0.035,t(1044)=1.081,p=0.280),respectively.The study concluded that control of corruption influenced individual voluntary tax compliance.Government should put better stiff strategies in controlling corruption on tax matters,overhaul the internal control mechanism,establish state anti-graft agencies,and put stiff punishment for any fraudulent activity on tax revenue generation while zero tolerance to corruption should be seen and practice.
文摘The purpose of this paper is to explore the development process of a large scale dry port and to analyse what measures and actions are needed in order to support the decision making process and ensure an effective and efficient dry port that serves the City and the region’s current and future needs. The purpose is explored in the context of Saudi Arabiaand the city ofArriyadh. Key issues identified related to the dry port development are long term planning and crosssector collaboration. The interconnection between the dry port and the overall transport system and aspects, such as location of business, city logistics, road and rail infrastructure, local, regional and national regulations, etc., is strong. This puts challenge on the coordination and alignment of the different organizations, their strategies and objectives. In a complex situation, such as developing a dry port with many stakeholders, it is crucial that the roles of all actors are clearly defined. This is essential for utilizing the dry port as a regional tool for planning. In that regard, it is appropriate that the site location decision is clearly connected with an overall city freight vision and strategy.
基金funding from the National Science Foundation for EPS-1101317 project on ‘‘Research on Adaptation to Climate Change’’NSF-SESYNC/NIMBIOS DBI-1052875 project on ‘‘Integrating Human Risk Perception of Global Climate Change into Dynamic Earth System Models’’
文摘The third UN World Congress on Disaster Risk Reduction, held in Sendai, Japan in March 2015, agreed on a new framework to guide disaster risk reduction policy and practice for the next 15 years. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030(SFDRR) leaves important implementation issues unspecified and potentially creates both problems and opportunities for complex,multilevel governance systems in coping with hazards and disastrous events. Early warning systems(EWS), if built into the mainstream of planning for development and disaster relief and recovery, could present a significant opportunity to realize many SFDRR goals. We explore the complexities of using hydrometeorological EWS to prepare for drought and flood disasters in the densely populated communities of Pakistan’s Indus River Basin in contrast to the African Sahel’s less densely settled grasslands. Multilevel governance systems are often dominated by a topdown, technocentric, centralized management bias and have great difficulty responding to the needs of peripheral and vulnerable populations. People-centered, bottom-up approaches that incorporate disaggregated communities with local knowledge into a balanced, multilevel disaster risk management and governance structure have adramatically better chance of realizing the SFDRR goals for disaster risk reduction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.72201125)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2022M721549)+1 种基金Jiangsu Funding Program for Excellent Postdoctoral Talent(Grant No.2022ZB19)the Yuxiu Young Scholars Program of Nanjing University.
文摘In recent decades,interest in project-based learning within organizational learning has grown significantly.This study synthesizes principles that facilitate learning at the project level.Through a cross-case analysis of the Gaasperdammer Tunnel project in the Netherlands and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in China,and validation via focus group discussions,we have identified five key principles:Owner Commitment,Social Environment Approach,Collaboration Vision,Value Orientation,and Open Mindset.These principles highlight the mindsets that guide the behavior and thinking of project practitioners beyond prescriptive processes and routines.Our research enhances the understanding of how project participants can learn from their involvement in unique,complex projects and improve their capabilities for future endeavors.We emphasize the critical role of learning in the development of project capabilities and suggest it be a focal point in future research on infrastructure development projects.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFC0401401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51522907&51739011)supported by the Research Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin,China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research(Grant No.2017ZY02)
文摘Urban water-related problems associated with rapid urbanization, including waterlogging, water pollution, the ecological degradation of water, and water shortages, have caused global concerns in recent years. In 2013, in order to mitigate increasingly severe urban water-related problems, China set forth a new strategy for integrated urban water management(IUWM) called the "Sponge City". This is the first holistic IUWM strategy implemented in a developing country that is still undergoing rapid urbanization, and holds promise for application in other developing countries. This paper aims to comprehensively summarize the sponge city. First, this paper reviews prior studies and policies on urban water management in China as important background for the sponge city proposal. Then, the connotations, goals, and features of the sponge city are summarized and discussed.Finally, the challenges, research needs, and development directions pertinent to the sponge city are discussed based on investigations and studies conducted by the authors. The sponge city in China has a short history—given this, there are many issues that should be examined with regard to the stepwise implementation of the Sponge City Programme(SCP). Accordingly, the authors perceive this study as only the beginning of abundant studies on the sponge city.
基金We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Beijing Natural Science Foundation Project （No. 8161003）, Natural Science Foundation Project （No. 51278267）, and the National Water Pollution Control Special Project （No. 2011ZX07301-003）. Several points and the contents in the manuscript are discussed with many experts during 2016 International Low Impact Conference in Beijing.
文摘Since 2014, China has been implementing the Sponge City Construction initiative, which represents an enormous and unprecedented effort by any government in the world for achieving urban sustainability. According to preliminary estimates, the total investment on the Sponge City Plan is roughly 100 to 150 million Yuan （RMB） （$15 to $22.5 million） average per square kilometer or 10 Trillion Yuan （RMB） （$1.5 Trillion） for the 657 cities nationwide. The Sponge City Plan （SCP） calls for the use of natural processes such as soil and vegetation as part of the urban runoff control strategy, which is similar to that of low impact development （LID） and green infrastructure （G1） practices being promoted in many parts of the world. The SCP includes as its goals not only effective urban flood control, but also rainwater harvest, water quality improvement and ecological restoration. So far, the SCP implementation has encountered-some barriers and challenges due to many factors. The present paper presents a review of those barriers and challenges, oftizrs discussions and recommendations on several technical aspects such as control goals and objectives; planning/design and construction of LID/GI practices; performance evaluation. Several key recommendations are proposed on Sponge City implementation strategy, Site-specific regulatory fi＇amework and technical gmdance, Product innovation and certification, LID/GI Project financing, LID/G1 profcssional training and certification, public outreach and education. It is expected that the successful implemen!atiun of the. SCP not only will bring about a sustainable, eco-friendly urbanization process in China, but also contribute enormously to the LID/Gl research and development with the vast amount of relevant data and experiences generated from the Sponge City construction projects.
文摘Throughout the world, infrastructure to support cities is critical to support sustainable and responsible economic development. This can include new infrastructure projects in the case of growing areas. It can also include the renewal and upgrading of existing infrastructure in areas that have been inhabited and already developed. Infrastructure includes roads, bridges and transportation systems; power grids and energy service;internet and telecommunications; and water and sewer services. This development can be part of a system of systems, in which government, industries, and universities can contribute knowledge, skills, and abilities. This paper will investigate the strategic project management taken by one university to provide an academic experience that will prepare engineering students to address several of the Grand Engineering Challenges of the 21 st Century, as identified by the US National Academy of Engineering.The challenges relating to energy, water, information, and urban infrastructure can be approached using the functions of teaching, research, and service. By approaching the challenges strategically, resources of faculty time, student effort and laboratory facilities can be leveraged to achieve greater results. This case study will describe the efforts and results to date and identify opportunities for future growth.
文摘This paper compares ongoing research results on hydrologic performance to common design and crediting criteria, and recommends a change in direction from a static to a dynamic perspective to fully credit the performance of green infrastructure. Examples used in this article are primarily stormwater control measures built for research on the campus of Villanova University [1,2]. Evidence is presented demonstrating that the common practice of crediting water volume based on soil and surface storage underestimates the performance potential, and suggests that the profession move to a more dynamic approach that incorporates exfiltration and evapotranspiration. The framework for a dynamic approach is discussed, with a view to broaden our design focus by including climate, configuration and the soil surroundings. The substance of this work was presented as a keynote speech at the 2016 international Low Impact Development Conference in Beijing China [3].
