Search Results (208)

Jordan Vision prioritizes the utilization of domestic resources, particularly renewable energy. The transportation sector, responsible for 49% of national energy consumption, remains central to this transition and accounts for around 28% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Electric vehicles (EVs) offer a promising solution to reduce waste and pollution, but they also pose challenges for grid stability and charging infrastructure development. This study addresses a critical gap in the planning of renewable-powered EV charging stations along Jordanian highways, where EV infrastructure is still limited and underdeveloped, by optimizing the design of a hybrid energy charging station using HOMER Grid (v1.9.2) Software. Region-specific constraints and multiple operational scenarios, including rooftop PV integration, are assessed to balance cost, performance, and reliability. This study also investigates suitable locations for charging stations along the Sahrawi Highway in Jordan. The proposed station, powered by a hybrid system of 53% wind and 29% solar energy, is projected to generate 1.466 million kWh annually at USD 0.0375/kWh, reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 446 tonnes annually. The findings highlight the potential of hybrid systems to increase renewable energy penetration, support national sustainability targets, and offer viable investment opportunities for policymakers and the private sector in Jordan. Full article

This paper takes the quasi-natural experiment from the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone (NBDCPZ) in China as an example to examine the impact of market-oriented allocation of data elements on enhancing enterprises’ New Quality Productive Forces (NQPF). Based on panel data from China’s A-share listed enterprises on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges between 2011 and 2022, this study employs a robust policy evaluation method, the multi-way fixed effects staggered difference-in-differences (MWFE Staggered DID) method, to analyze the impact of the NBDCPZ on NQPF comprehensively. The key findings are threefold: First, the NBDCPZ significantly boosts enterprises’ NQPF within their jurisdictions. Second, the NBDCPZ enhances NQPF by accelerating enterprise digital transformation, and the digital talent can amplify the promotional effect of the NBDCPZ on enterprise digital transformation. Third, the NQPF-enhancing effects are more pronounced for privately owned enterprises (POEs), foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), and smaller enterprises, whereas they exhibit an inhibitory impact on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and large enterprises. Fourth, the promotional effect of the NBDCPZ on enterprises’ NQPF varies across different industries. Furthermore, regional (city-level) digital infrastructure and financial development levels amplify the NQPF-enhancing effects of the NBDCPZ. Full article

India’s vast and diverse population presents significant healthcare challenges owing to its scale, heterogeneity, and rapid growth. The Indian healthcare system, spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors, shows marked inter-state variation in health indicators. Persistent gaps include variable quality of service, fragmented data, and uneven access to affordable care. Health information technology (HIT), particularly clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) integrated with electronic health records (EHRs), offers a path to more consistent evidence-based decisions. When implemented effectively, CDSSs can improve patient outcomes, reduce medical errors, and enhance quality through support for diagnosis, treatment, patient management, and prevention. Although India is rapidly adopting digital health tools, CDSS uptake remains limited because of infrastructure constraints, low awareness, data quality issues, integration challenges with EHRs, professional resistance, and insufficient training. Strategic action is required to overcome these barriers. Priorities include investment in robust IT infrastructure, comprehensive training programs, and public awareness initiatives, along with tighter integration of CDSSs with EHR platforms. With coordinated efforts by government agencies, healthcare institutions, and technology providers to address these barriers, India can leverage CDSSs to improve patient care and outcomes. Full article

This study investigates the financial and operational feasibility of deploying electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure within high-density residential buildings, utilizing empirical operational data combined with comprehensive financial modeling. A 14-day monitoring period conducted at a residential complex comprising 958 units revealed distinct charging behaviors, with demand peaking during weekday evenings between 19:00 and 22:00 and displaying more dispersed yet lower overall utilization during weekends. Energy efficiency emerged as a significant operational constraint, as standby power consumption contributed substantially to total energy losses. Specifically, while total energy consumption reached 248.342 kW, only 138.24 kW were directly delivered to users, underscoring the necessity for energy-efficient hardware and intelligent load management systems to minimize idle consumption. The financial analysis identified pricing as the most critical determinant of project viability. Under current cost structures, financial break-even was attainable only at a profit margin of 0.2286 USD (8 THB) per kWh, while lower margins resulted in persistent financial deficits. Sensitivity analysis further demonstrated the considerable vulnerability of the project’s financial performance to small fluctuations in profit share and utilization rate. A 10% reduction in either parameter entirely eliminated the project’s ability to reach payback, while variations in energy costs, capital expenditures (CAPEX), and operational expenditures (OPEX) exerted comparatively limited influence. These findings emphasize the importance of precise demand forecasting, adaptive pricing strategies, and proactive government intervention to mitigate financial risks associated with residential EV charging deployment. Policy measures such as capital subsidies, technical regulations, and transparent pricing frameworks are essential to incentivize private sector investment and support sustainable expansion of EV infrastructure in residential sectors. Full article

Green hydrogen is gaining global attention as a zero-carbon energy carrier with the potential to drive sustainable energy transitions, particularly in regions facing rising fossil fuel costs and resource depletion. In sub-Saharan Africa, financing mechanisms and structured off-take agreements are critical to attracting investment across the green hydrogen value chain, from advisory and pilot stages to full-scale deployment. While substantial funding is required to support a green economic transition, success will depend on the effective mobilization of capital through smart public policies and innovative financial instruments. This review evaluates financing mechanisms relevant to sub-Saharan Africa, including green bonds, public–private partnerships, foreign direct investment, venture capital, grants and loans, multilateral and bilateral funding, and government subsidies. Despite their potential, current capital flows remain insufficient and must be significantly scaled up to meet green energy transition targets. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, drawing on primary data from utility firms under the H₂Atlas-Africa project and secondary data from international organizations and the peer-reviewed literature. The analysis identifies that transitioning toward Net-Zero emissions economies through hydrogen development in sub-Saharan Africa presents both significant opportunities and measurable risks. Specifically, the results indicate an estimated investment risk factor of 35%, reflecting potential challenges such as financing, infrastructure, and policy readiness. Nevertheless, the findings underscore that green hydrogen is a viable alternative to fossil fuels in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly if supported by targeted financing strategies and robust policy frameworks. This study offers practical insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and development partners seeking to structure bankable projects and accelerate green hydrogen adoption across the region. Full article

Digitalization is rapidly reshaping the global construction industry; however, its adoption in developing countries, such as Pakistan, remains limited and uneven. Hence, this study investigates and evaluates the current status of digital technology integration in Pakistan’s construction industry, with a primary focus on key tools, implementation challenges, and necessary policy interventions. Using a three-phase mixed-method approach involving a literature review, expert interviews, and a nationwide survey, this research identifies Building Information Modeling, Geographic Information Systems, and E-Procurement as essential technologies with strong potential to improve transparency, efficiency, and collaboration. However, adoption is hindered by a lack of awareness, limited technical expertise, and the absence of a cohesive national policy. This study also highlights that the private sector shows greater readiness compared to the public sector; however, systemic barriers persist across both sectors. Based on stakeholder insights, a three-part policy strategy was also proposed. This includes establishing a national regulatory framework, investing in capacity-building programs, and providing financial or institutional incentives to encourage the adoption of these measures. The findings emphasize that digitalization is not just a technical upgrade; it represents a pathway to improved governance and more efficient infrastructure delivery. With timely and coordinated policy action, the construction industry in Pakistan can align itself with global innovation trends and move toward a more sustainable and digitally empowered future. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted critical vulnerabilities in urban logistics systems, particularly in last-mile delivery. To enhance logistics resilience and efficiency, the Korean government has initiated an innovative project that repurposes idle spaces in subway vehicle bases within the Seoul Metropolitan Area into logistics centers. This study proposes a comprehensive multi-criteria evaluation framework combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to assess the suitability of ten candidate sites. The evaluation criteria span four dimensions, facility, geographical, environmental, and social factors, derived from the literature and expert consultations. AHP results indicate that geographical factors, especially proximity to urban centers and major logistics facilities, hold the highest weight. Based on the integrated analysis using TOPSIS, the most suitable locations identified are Sinnae, Godeok, and Cheonwang. The findings suggest the strategic importance of aligning infrastructure development with spatial accessibility and stakeholder cooperation. Policy implications include the need for targeted investment, public–private collaboration, and sustainable logistics planning. Future research is encouraged to incorporate dynamic data and consider social equity and environmental impact for long-term urban logistics planning. Full article

Green hydrogen, produced via renewable-powered electrolysis, offers a promising path toward deep decarbonisation in energy systems. This study investigates the major technological, infrastructural, and economic challenges facing green hydrogen production in Jordan—a resource-constrained yet renewable-rich country. Key barriers were identified through a structured survey of 52 national stakeholders, including water scarcity, low electrolysis efficiency, limited grid compatibility, and underdeveloped transport infrastructure. Respondents emphasised that overcoming these challenges requires investment in smart grid technologies, seawater desalination, advanced electrolysers, and policy instruments such as subsidies and public–private partnerships. These findings are consistent with global assessments, which recognise similar structural and financial obstacles in scaling up green hydrogen across emerging economies. Despite the constraints, over 50% of surveyed stakeholders expressed optimism about Jordan’s potential to develop a competitive green hydrogen sector, especially for industrial and power generation uses. This paper provides empirical, context-specific insights into the conditions required to scale green hydrogen in developing economies. It proposes an integrated roadmap focusing on infrastructure modernisation, targeted financial mechanisms, and enabling policy frameworks. Full article

This study conducts a comprehensive systematic review of the economic impact of Digital Twin (DT) technology within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, following the PRISMA methodology. While DT adoption has been accelerated by advancements in Building Information Modelling (BIM), the Internet of Things (IoT), and data analytics, significant challenges persist—most notably, high initial investment costs and integration complexities. Synthesising the literature from 2016 onwards, this review identifies sector-specific barriers, regulatory burdens, and a lack of standardisation as key factors constituting DT implementation costs. Despite these hurdles, DTs demonstrate strong potential for enhancing construction productivity, optimising lifecycle asset management, and enabling predictive maintenance, ultimately reducing operational expenditures and improving long-term financial performance. Case studies reveal cost efficiencies achieved through DTs in modular construction, energy optimisation, and infrastructure management. However, limited financial resources and digital skills continue to constrain the uptake across the sector, with various extents of impact. This paper calls for the development of unified standards, innovative public–private funding mechanisms, and strategic collaborations to unlock and utilise DTs’ full economic value. It also recommends that future research explore theoretical frameworks addressing governance, data infrastructure, and digital equity—particularly through conceptualising DT-related data as public assets or collective goods in the context of smart cities and networked infrastructure systems. Full article

Cross-docking operations in Eastern and Central European markets face increasing complexity amid persistent uncertainty and inflationary pressures. This study provides the first comprehensive comparative analysis integrating economic efficiency with sustainability indicators across strategic locations. Using mixed-methods analysis of 40 bibliographical sources and quantitative modeling of cross-docking scenarios in Bratislava, Prague, and Budapest, we integrate environmental, social, and governance frameworks with activity-based costing and artificial intelligence analysis. Optimized cross-docking achieves statistically significant cost reductions of 10.61% for Eastern and Central European inbound logistics and 3.84% for Western European outbound logistics when utilizing Budapest location (p < 0.01). Activity-based costing reveals labor (35–40%), equipment utilization (25–30%), and facility operations (20–25%) as primary cost drivers. Budapest demonstrates superior integrated performance index incorporating operational efficiency (94.2% loading efficiency), economic impact (EUR 925,000 annual savings), and environmental performance (486 tons CO₂ reduction annually). This is the first empirically validated framework integrating activity-based costing–corporate social responsibility methodologies for an emerging market cross-docking, multi-dimensional performance assessment model transcending operational-sustainability dichotomy and location-specific contingency identification for emerging market implementation. Findings support targeted infrastructure investments, harmonized regulatory frameworks, and public–private partnerships for sustainable logistics development in emerging European markets, providing actionable roadmap for EUR 142,000–EUR 187,000 artificial intelligence implementation investments achieving a 14.6-month return on investment. Full article

In the current context, where environmental concerns are gaining increased attention, the transition toward sustainable urban mobility stands out as a necessary and responsible step. Technological advancements over the past decade have brought private autonomous vehicles, particularly those defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers Levels 4 and 5, into focus as promising solutions for mitigating road congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, the extent to which Autonomous Vehicles can fulfill this potential depends largely on user acceptance, patterns of use, and their integration within broader green energy and sustainability policies. The present paper aims to develop an integrated conceptual model that links behavioral determinants to environmental outcomes, assessing how individuals’ intention to adopt private autonomous vehicles can contribute to sustainable urban mobility. The model integrates five psychosocial determinants—perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control—with contextual variables such as energy source, infrastructure availability, and public policy. These components interact to predict users’ intention to adopt AVs and their perceived contribution to urban sustainability. Methodologically, the study builds on a narrative synthesis of the literature and proposes a framework applicable to empirical validation through structural equation modeling (SEM). The model draws on established frameworks such as Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Theory of Planned Behavior, and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, incorporating constructs including perceived usefulness, trust in technology, social influence, environmental concern, and perceived behavioral control, constructs later to be examined in relation to key contextual variables, including the energy source powering Autonomous Vehicles—such as electricity from mixed or renewable grids, hydrogen, or hybrid systems—and the broader policy environment (regulatory frameworks, infrastructure investment, fiscal incentives, and alignment with climate and mobility strategies and others). The research provides relevant directions for public policy and behavioral interventions in support of the development of clean and smart urban transport in the age of automation. Full article

This study analyzes the integration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and 15 (Life on Land) into the tourism development strategies of Lago Agrio Canton, Sucumbíos Province, Ecuador. The main objective is to assess how tourism can serve as a driver for sustainable infrastructure development, environmental conservation, and inclusive local growth, in alignment with the 2030 Agenda. A qualitative methodology was adopted, involving documentary analysis with exploratory and descriptive scopes. The sources included national development plans, regional policy frameworks, institutional reports, and the relevant academic literature. This study employed territorial indicators related to infrastructure quality, ecosystem protection, and stakeholder participation to evaluate SDG alignment. The results highlight that sustainable tourism practices—particularly those incorporating corporate social responsibility and environmental stewardship—can stimulate innovation and enhance resilience in underdeveloped territories. Wetlands and forested areas emerge as key natural assets with strong potential for ecological tourism and sustainable investment. The findings suggest that collaborative actions between the public and private sectors, guided by SDGs 9 and 15, can generate long-term benefits, including biodiversity preservation, improved service infrastructure, and economic inclusion for local communities. Overall, the research underscores the potential of sustainable tourism as a practical mechanism for localizing the SDGs in fragile yet high-value ecological regions. Full article

Urban logistics are facing growing sustainability challenges, particularly in last-mile delivery operations, which contribute significantly to traffic congestion, emissions and operational inefficiencies. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed the vulnerabilities in traditional logistics systems, accelerating interest in innovative solutions such as electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs) for last-mile delivery. This study investigates the potential of EV and AV technologies to enhance sustainable urban logistics by integrating cleaner, smarter transportation into delivery networks. Drawing on survey data from logistics professionals and consumers in Italy, the findings highlight the key benefits of EV and AV adoption, including reduced emissions, improved delivery efficiency and increased resilience during global disruptions. Autonomous delivery robots and EV fleets can reduce labor costs, traffic congestion and carbon footprints while meeting evolving consumer demands. However, barriers such as limited charging infrastructure, range constraints, and technological readiness remain critical challenges. By addressing these issues and aligning EV and AV strategies with urban mobility policies, last-mile delivery systems can play a crucial role in advancing cleaner, more efficient and sustainable urban logistics. This research emphasizes the need for continued investment, policy support and public–private collaboration to fully realize the potential of EVs and AVs in reshaping future urban delivery systems. Full article

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the first and currently the most expansive global infrastructure initiative, notably for its scale and emphasis on connectivity. In response, alternative initiatives such as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy (FOIP), including their components the Blue Dot Network (BDN) and Partnership for Quality Infrastructure (PQI), as well as Global Gateway (GG) and the Three Seas Initiative (3SI), have emerged to counterbalance the BRI’s influence and promote more transparent, sustainable, and rules-based infrastructure frameworks. This review investigates how global and regional infrastructure initiatives—namely PGII/BDN, GG, FOIP/PQI, and 3SI—compare with the BRI in terms of development objectives, implementation models, institutional structures, and implications for developing economies. Adopting an inductive approach, this review identifies key themes from the literature to evaluate these initiatives across seven dimensions: (1) infrastructure objectives, (2) the quality and transparency of investments, (3) investment policy orientation, (4) trade policy orientation, (5) inclusivity and regional integration, (6) coordination mechanisms, and (7) environmental sustainability. While PGII/BDN, GG, FOIP/PQI, and 3SI appear well-positioned to address some of BRI’s shortcomings, the evidence does not clearly favour one model over another in terms of achieving welfare-enhancing outcomes and bridging development gaps. Nonetheless, strategic competition and complementarities among the connectivity policies of multiple initiatives can ultimately contribute to more accountable, multidimensionally sustainable, and socially inclusive infrastructure development. We also illustrate how stated preference methods, i.e., willingness to pay (WTP) and willingness to accept (WTA), can be used to quantify the value of soft infrastructure, particularly public preferences for sustainable investment and norm diffusion, which are central to evaluating the social welfare gains from participating in these initiatives. Full article

This study investigates the impact of physical and financial infrastructure on the dynamics of net total capital flows in BRICS economies over the period 2010–2024. Using panel data and a fixed-effects regression model with robust standard errors, it analyzes how infrastructure quality, both physical (transport, energy, and telecommunications) and financial (banking systems, capital markets, and regulation), affects private capital inflows. The results show a statistically significant positive relationship, with physical infrastructure reducing business costs and financial infrastructure improving capital allocation and investor confidence. This paper contributes novel empirical evidence linking infrastructure systems with capital flow dynamics, providing key insights for policymakers aiming to enhance resilience and attract sustainable private investment. Full article