Journal of Infrastructure Systems

A strategy was developed for implementation and management of multisector urban infrastructure projects. The strategy includes risk-based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) for project prioritization that is based on project deliverables and project life-cycle and implementation guidelines. The expert-opinion elicitation process used for this study consists of a variation of the Delphi technique, scenario analysis, civil works, and nuclear industry recommendations. The AHP methodology utilizes a multicriteria decision-making technique that allows the consideration of both objective and subjective factors in obtaining cardinal priority ranking of infrastructure projects. The methodology, which deals with different fields of infrastructure, can incorporate uncertainty in the process and can be implemented using simple spreadsheet format. The methodology was developed for a group of players (methodology implementers) involved in implementation and management of urban infrastructure projects. These include the decision makers, the stakeholders who can influence the decision and/or be affected by it, and the analysts. The methodology was demonstrated in this paper using real-life applications for effectiveness in prioritizing infrastructure projects from mixed infrastructure sectors in Palestine.

This paper reviews and evaluates three current design practices for calculating tensile loading during the installation of steel and polyethylene pipe using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). A sensitivity analysis of the three models revealed that while the relative influence of the various parameters is a function of the length of pipe within the bore, the predicted pulling load is very sensitive to mud weight and mud drag. This observed sensitivity is not supported by recent published test data. The three design approaches were used to model two recent HDD installations—one a 400-m double crossing of the Grand River, Brantford, Ontario, and the second a 350-m double crossing of the North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton, Alberta. Poor agreement was observed between the model predictions and the field recorded data, both in terms of the trends of the installation loads and the maximum predicted pull head load. It is suggested that additional research is needed to develop a model that better captures the physical reality in the borehole during an HDD installation.

The general public perception is that it takes too long and costs too much to get new capacity enhancing transportation projects constructed. In California, previous audits of the California Transportation Department (Caltrans) have consistently identified transportation project development time and cost as overly long and too expensive, where project development includes conducting preliminary engineering, preparing environmental studies, completing final design, and acquiring the necessary permits. These audits have also suggested that the individual project manager greatly influenced project development success, as measured by time and cost. Several of the audits concluded that project managers were simply too cautious in making some of the engineering decisions associated with project development, and this risk-averse behavior was a major factor contributing to inefficient project development. This research explores the relationship between risk averse behavior (i.e., engineering judgment applied to certain types of situational problems) and transportation project development time/cost. We find that risk-averse behavior by project managers does not significantly affect project development time or cost. We further conclude, based on project manager feedback, that the required project development process is simply too rigid and bureaucratic to allow an individual project manager to significantly reduce the time or cost of project development.