Journal of Infrastructure Systems

This paper presents a weighted scoring model as a systematic approach to resource allocation in postconflict reconstruction operations in two distinct environments: adversarial and nonadversarial. The model is intended to aid decision makers in prioritizing, planning, and allocating resources for postconflict reconstruction efforts. Weighted scoring is used to conduct value analysis to determine an appropriate mix of reconstruction projects in a fixed budget portfolio to either maximize overall value or to steer support toward a desired combination of core outcomes. The utility of the model lies in its ability to use the proposed methodology effectively in any postconflict environment to provide quantitative results and a structured decision making approach. While the evaluation measures or metrics may change in each environment, the core outcomes and the central tasks which support those outcomes hold regardless of the type of postconflict environment. These core outcomes of security, governance, rule of law, economics, and social wellbeing, if achieved, constitute success in postconflict reconstruction operations.

Repair and maintenance of existing distribution lines is an increasing concern for water utilities. While pipe lining activities are effective and generally less expensive than complete replacement, they still represent considerable time and expense. This study provides guidance on the best practices to minimize the amount of time that customers are without water service, must endure restricted service, or are served by less secure networks due to pipe lining activities. Nine utilities provided benchmarking data to identify efficient operations. Statistical analysis indicates that minor changes to task sequencing and materials may improve efficiencies by several hours to several days. However, in order to obtain a rapid lining operation, utilities must promote extensive changes to pipe lining philosophy and to the disinfectant approach. While a rapid disinfectant approach (less than $24\mathrm{h}$ ) is not typically adopted by United States utilities, preliminary testing indicates that addressing the newly lined pipe with “main break” disinfection procedures can achieve satisfactory results at a significantly reduced time.

In this paper we present the development of an empirical pavement overlay crack initiation model using condition survey data for the highway system in the state of Washington. We use a semiparametric Cox model and show that its hazard function represents the sample hazard function, which follows a bathtub shape. This is a shape that commonly used parametric models cannot predict. Empirical data complications, such as the endogeneity of overlay design variables and data censoring, are corrected for using appropriate econometric techniques. Our research shows that a specification that captures the main factors responsible for the overlay crack initiation process, combined with careful analysis of the data, can produce models of sufficient realism for maintenance and rehabilitation action selection purposes.

A given infrastructure system has different levels of service (LOS) for different users. To date, limited work has been done to combine these LOS to an asset level LOS. In addition, existing methods to determine LOS are based on the quantitative performance measures related to the capacity of the infrastructure systems. These methods neglect other qualitative factors, for example, neighborhood safety and appearance. This paper describes a proposed asset level of service (ALOS) determination methodology, which can be integrated with decision support systems (DSS) as a performance indicator. The proposed ALOS is a composite LOS for different users of the infrastructure system. Incorporation of ALOS with DSS will aid the municipalities in producing improved resource allocation plans in compliance with service standards, applicable codes, and regulations. In this paper, a framework of the development of ALOS in municipal infrastructure systems is presented. The analytical hierarchy process is used to model the ALOS. The developed framework is then applied to calculate the ALOS for the municipality/urban roads, to combine LOS for vehicle users, bicyclists, and pedestrians; accounting for qualitative factors, such as neighborhood safety and aesthetics.

In recent years, there have been many failures of flood levees (river embankments) in France following river floods. The levees are mostly old structures for which few records are available. The matter is further complicated by the size of the levee infrastructure—more than $\mathrm{7,500}\mathrm{km}$ in total length. The goal of this paper is to provide managers with methods and tools for assessing the performance of levees and to help them plan inspections, maintenance, and repair work. To do so, we developed a geographic information system (GIS) with the intention of incorporating it with the models for assessing levee performance. The first stage in this research is to model the failure mechanisms and identify performance indicators for each mechanism. The second stage is to assess levee performance with respect to each mechanism by aggregating the corresponding indicators. This paper describes the methods used for modeling levee failure and assessing levee performance. It also discusses the operational tools incorporated in the GIS.

An integrated life-cycle assessment and life-cycle cost analysis model was developed and applied to enhance the sustainability of concrete bridge infrastructure. The objective of this model is to compare alternative bridge deck designs from a sustainability perspective that accounts for total life-cycle costs including agency, user, and environmental costs. A conventional concrete bridge deck and an alternative engineered cementitious composite link slab design are examined. Despite higher initial costs and greater material-related environmental impacts on a per mass basis, the link slab design results in lower life-cycle costs and reduced environmental impacts when evaluated over the entire life cycle. Traffic delay caused by construction comprises 91% of total costs for both designs. Costs to the funding agency comprise less than 3% of total costs, and environmental costs are less than 0.5%. These results show life-cycle modeling is an important decision-making tool since initial costs and agency costs are not illustrative of total life-cycle costs. Additionally, accounting for construction-related traffic delay is vital to assessing the total economic cost and environmental impact of infrastructure design decisions.

The likelihood of encountering land impacted by current and/or historic coal mining activities is high when constructing roadways in the Mid-Appalachian region. Through additional disturbance of these lands, environmental impacts such as acid and dissolved metals loading and subsequent impacts to aquatic flora and fauna will ensue. Consequently, it is necessary to affect a paradigm shift in roadway design and construction to account for the presence of factors that compound the already difficult task of working in a region characterized by steep topography and aggressive geochemistry. In this study, assessments of the water chemistry and biological impacts of a waste pile containing spoils from previous mining and the presence of an exposed coal mine bench were made as representative microcosmic examples of typical conditions found in the region. Based on quantitative measurements of water quality and biological conditions, recommendations are presented for the assessment and avoidance of impacts prior to construction through acid-bearing materials and suggestions are offered for postconstruction remediation at previously impacted sites.

As a consequence of unequal loading or variable soil conditions, longitudinal bending of buried gravity pipes leads to circumferential pipe cracking or joint opening, which results in groundwater infiltration or leakage. Since joints considerably affect longitudinal pipe behavior, an advanced investigation of this aspect requires knowledge of the joint mechanical properties and particularly of its stiffness. An experimental apparatus has been developed in order to determine the joint behavior under various loading conditions. Results of compression, shear, and bending tests are given in terms of force-displacement plots. A simple rheological bilinear model of the joint is elaborated from compression and shear tests and then validated on the experimental bending results. In general a good agreement is found between model and experimental output. This simple model will be implemented in numerical simulations of buried pipe behavior.

Private sector infrastructure companies operating in developing countries can positively affect the social, environmental, and economic fabric of local communities by providing infrastructure services and through community investment programs focused on economic development, poverty reduction, social inequality reduction, and environmental improvements. Community investment programs, as part of the corporate social responsibility concept, can take the form of philanthropy or charitable donations, employee volunteerism, and partnerships. The paper highlights how companies and communities benefit from these programs and presents an approach for designing, implementing, and reporting such programs. Program ideas for infrastructure projects and case studies are presented. Potential challenges, issues, and opportunities for community investment programs in developing countries are discussed. By going beyond the minimal requirement to mitigate project-related negative social and environmental impacts, private sector companies can be models of social responsibility and good corporate citizenship.

Despite purported increases in infrastructure investment and widespread adoption of new technologies and management systems to support efficient and effective decision making, studies continue to document the poor condition of civil infrastructure in the United States. This paper presents agent-based modeling as a paradigm to improve infrastructure decision making. Agent-based modeling, an approach to modeling complex systems, has been used in the life sciences and economics to capture the interactions between and among decision makers and their environment. This paper reviews infrastructure management and agent-based modeling concepts, and explores anecdotal evidence and simulation models to make a case for further application of agent-based models to infrastructure management.

Ethanol and hydrogen are receiving considerable attention as alternative fuels for transportation. They are being promoted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve U.S. energy independence. This paper analyzes pipeline, rail, and truck distribution options for alternative fuels using the state of Iowa as a test case. By completely switching to E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) in Iowa, local ethanol production could replace 80% of gasoline use. Likewise, hydrogen derived from steam methane reforming at 7 facilities could replace all gasoline usage in the state. At 2006 gasoline prices, vehicles fueled with E85 would have comparable or lower fuel costs. The costs of hydrogen at the pump for both gas and liquid delivery are higher than those for gasoline and the ethanol scenarios. There are strong economies of scale in distribution paths, so a major shift to alternative fuels is needed to achieve the most cost effective distribution methods modeled in this analysis. There is considerable uncertainty in the cost estimates, particularly for the production costs of cellulosic ethanol, feedstock costs for hydrogen production, and the future price of petroleum.