Download Management & Engineering System of Large-Scale Infrastructure

Management & Engineering 06 (2012) 1838-5745
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Management & Engineering
Journal Homepage: www.seiofbluemountain.com
Research on Sustainable Development Capability Evaluation
System of Large-Scale Infrastructure
Hailing SUN, Yunpeng HU
Henan University of Urban Construction, 467044, P.R.China
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Large-scale infrastructure,
Sustainable development,
Evaluation system,
Research
The transport, airports, water conservancy and other large infrastructures are the basis for
national and regional development. Therefore, its sustainable development is very worthy of
studying. Firstly, the author established the static equilibrium model, dynamic equilibrium
model and the overall pattern for large-scale infrastructure projects (LIP), on which the
capability evaluation system for the large-scale infrastructure sustainable development is
studied and five factors affecting the sustainability of LIP are analyzed in this paper.
© ST. PLUM-BLOSSOM PRESS PTY LTD
1 Introduction
With the increasing importance of sustainable development of modern society, theory research and practice on sustainable
development has made significant progress and achievements. Due to fact that traffic, airport, water conservancy and other large
infrastructures are the base for the development of countries and regions, therefore, sustainable development is worth studying.
However, China's research progress on sustainable development is not balanced. Focusing on the macro and micro field, people
relatively neglects microcosmic (such as construction project) sustainable development, especially for large infrastructure projects.
Meanwhile, there is not a complete evaluation system for sustainable development ability of China's large infrastructure. Existed
project appraisal system, in general structure, is not completely built on ideological and theoretical basis of sustainable development,
and also cannot fully embody the needs for sustainable development in contents.
In view of the above two aspects, theory evaluation model on sustainable development capability of large infrastructure projects and
the assessment system of project sustainability are studied in this paper with the purpose of carrying out the theories and methods in
the large-scale infrastructure projects so as to promote its sustainable development.
2 The Theory Pattern of Sustainable Development Capability Evaluation for
Large-scale Infrastructure
There are following three modes: static equilibrium model, dynamic equilibrium model and comprehensive balance mode.
2.1 The static balance mode
From the static viewpoint, sustainable development of large-scale infrastructure evaluation should adhere to the value orientation of
stakeholders, who consider not only the development of economy, but society and ecology, and to pursue the overall technical,
management and coordination for the sustainable development of all stakeholders, which create the value of sustainable
development.
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English edition copyright © ST. PLUM-BLOSSOM PRESS PTY LTD
DOI: 10. 5503/J. ME. 2012. 06. 021
111
The economic evaluation for large-scale infrastructure projects focuses on the economic contribution and influence of projects,
showing economic wealth created for the project stakeholders in certain period of time, mainly reflected through some economic
indexes; The ecological evaluation puts emphasis on the contribution and influence upon ecological environment of the project,
mainly through various ecological technology index; And the social evaluation is to examine the influence on society and its
adaptability, mainly through various social evaluation index; The technological evaluation of the project is to exam the technical level,
showing the application of new technology, the main structure and function of the project through various technical evaluation index
in a certain period of time; The management evaluation is to investigate the management level of the project, indicating the
management planning, management organization and management methods of assessment in a certain period of time.
2.2 The dynamic balance mode
From the dynamic viewpoint, multiple targets depend on the following three stages of circulation: correct development strategy,
scientific, effective implementation process and performance ability.
Whether the project development strategy is able to fairly satisfy all stakeholders and agree with the strategy of sustainable
development is the key point to whether the multiple goals can be coordinated. Therefore, the large infrastructure projects should
establish strategies of sustainable development including economic development strategy, ecological protection strategy, social
responsibility strategy, technological development and management strategy, etc.
And corresponded with the strategy of sustainable development, the project should establish financial processes guided by
sustainable development and supply chain system guided by environmental management, clean production, production cycle
assessment, the total cost evaluation and green materials as well as the information service process based on environmental
accounting, environmental auditing, social responsibility accounting environment and social responsibility audit, thus forming a
business process system based on sustainable development strategy.
From the viewpoint of the results of competence, competence performance refers to the project, in a certain period of time,
comprehensively using its manpower and material resource, technology and system for sustainable development strategy and its
corresponding business process of practice, including creative ability of economic value, maintenance ability of ecological system,
performance ability of social responsibility, technical innovation ability and management ability.
Strategy formulation, implementation process and abilities are interdependent, mutually conditional, dynamic circulation, constitute
multiple performance process cycle for the realization of project coordination and sustainability. Strategy is the direction,
performance process is the means, competence performance is the result; conversely, competence performance is the base of next
cycle, it is the direct basis for strategic adjustment and the business process reengineering (BPR).
2.3 Comprehensive balance modes
The comprehensive balance model of large-scale infrastructure projects (LIP), taking the strategy of sustainable development as the
center, the dynamic and static process as equilibrium rings, constitutes a complete system of combination of the dynamic and static
process. This model includes:
2.3.1 The goals of sustainable development system
Multiple targets take sustainable development strategy as the ultimate goal, the multiple values and stakeholders’ value orientation as
guidance, the economy, ecology, society, technology and management as direct evaluation index.
2.3.2 The static equilibrium system
LIP in sustainable development requires significant performance in following five aspects: economy, ecology, society, technology
and management. At certain stage of development, these indicators should keep balance so as to realize the coordination
development.
2.3.3 The dynamic circulation system
From viewpoint of development process, multiple targets depend on strategy, process and the dynamic circulation of ability in order
to improve the economic, ecological, social, technology, and management of coordinated development. The comprehensive balance
model for sustainable development of LIP is shown in figure 1.
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Economy
Ecology
Society
Large Infrastructure
Sustainable Development
Technology
Management
Multiple Values
Management
Technology
Society
Ecology
Economy
Strategy Formulation
Economic Development Strategy
Ecology Protection
Strategy
Social Development Strategy
Technological Advances Strategy
Sustainable Management strategy
Social Responsibility strategy
Stakeholders
Multiple
Ownership
Sustainable Development
Capital
Ability and performance
Economic Value Creation Ability
Ecology Protection Ability
Social Responsibility Performing
Ability
Technological
Advances
innovation Capability
Management Level Improvement
Capability
……
Process
Process
of
Project
Approval,
Decision-Making
Process of Finance Account
Process of Project Design
Process of Ecological Supply Chain
Sustainable Information Disclosure
Figure 1 LIP comprehensive balance model for sustainable development
3 Evaluation System Based on LIP Sustainable Development Capability
LIP sustainability framework of evaluation system consists of five parts: economic evaluation, ecological evaluation, social
evaluation, technological evaluation and management evaluation.
3.1 The index system of economic evaluation
The influence of project investment economic benefits and national economic benefit both constitute sustainable economic factors for
LIP. For operators, it’s the bigger the better for the economic benefit of project investment. But from the angle of the sustainable
development and national economic benefit, the project should not only satisfy the interest of investors, but also the raise the
economic benefit of entire nationals.
3.1.1 The economic benefit evaluation of project investment
The economic benefit evaluation of project investment refers to the financial evaluation, from the angle of project managers,
according to the market price and the regulations for current economic, monetary and financial system to analyze and measure the
financial benefit and direct costs of proposed construction project, calculate evaluation index, profitability, loan repayment ability in
order to judge the financial feasibility of the proposed project.
Project financial evaluation index system takes the economic interests as the core project, including the main index: financial net
present value (FNPV), financial internal rate of return, and financial investment recoupment period, payback period of loan, etc.
3.1.2 The national economic evaluation
The National economic benefits are very important for large-scale infrastructure sustainability. National economic evaluation centers
on national economic interests, the benefits and cost are under consideration in accordance with the principle of reasonable allocation
of resources, and from the view point of the whole country. The net contribution to the national economy is calculated and economic
rationality of the project is assessed based on the economical parameter analysis of shadow price of goods, shadow wages, shadow
exchange rate and social discount rate.
The index system of national economic performance evaluation mainly includes the following aspects: internal economic yield,
economic net present value, benefit cost ratio and sensitivity analysis, etc.
3.2 The ecological evaluation index system
Firstly, LIP affects the environment greatly, such as mainline railway, highway, and airport construction. These massive human
engineering activities aggravate the damage to the natural environment, such as deforestation and blasting in mountains, moving
mountain and filling seas and moved (jam) river, which will destroy natural landform environment formed for thousands of years,
leading to environmental deterioration to engineering geological condition to some degree including collapse, landslide and debris
flow incident. Secondly, the wastes produced by large infrastructure operation such as overload greenhouse gases, acid rain-causing
gases, smoke dust, waste water and solid waste etc. need to natural absorption, which will cause great influence on the quality of
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surrounding air, the quality of water, and causing noise pollution. Therefore, the sustainable development for LIP requires the
constraints for resources utilization and sewage disposal should adapt to the environment and resource capacity.
The ecological assessment index system is set from the consumption of resources and environmental impact, among which the
utilization efficiency of land use, green raw material, energy conservation and utilization of renewable energy used as a secondary
variables influence on resources consumption, and the influence on air quality, the protection water source, noise control, waste
treatment, ecological system integrity as the secondary variables of impact on environmental.
3.3 The social evaluation index system
The social evaluation index system is set from the influence degree on society and the adaptability of the project.
3.3.1 The social impact assessment index.
Local residents have a direct relationship of interests with the project, more employment opportunities from the project construction
and operation should be guaranteed under the premise of being unaffected on the quality of their life.
Due to the large amounts of cultivated land, villages and factories covered by LIP is large, it can lead to lots of immigrants. The
immigrants should be properly arranged, otherwise, adverse impact on society can be brought, thus affecting the project construction,
which will cause great economic losses.
While implementing the evaluation of the sustainable development on society, the influence on regional culture and education, health,
knowledge and information transfer shall be considered.
The construction of LIP may affect the local culture and landscape, therefore, the impact on local characteristics of natural landscape
and cultural inheritance and development should be properly under consideration.
Therefore, the employment situation of the residents, immigration, and the influence on cultural education and health, knowledge,
information transfer, local characteristics, inheriting and development of cultural and natural landscape will be regarded as secondary
variables for its social influence.
3.3.2 The adaptability of the project
The adaptability of the project focuses on whether it can be accepted by local society and humanities conditions, as well as the degree
of local governments and people supporting the existence and development of the project aimed at investigating the interaction with
local social environment. The adaptability of the project mainly includes two aspects: support and cooperation degree of local
organizations and the demand degree being satisfied from different interest groups.
LIP may be affected by local organizations. Therefore, while implementing the influence on local society, the attitudes from local
organizations towards LIP project construction and operations should be analyzed and predicted including in what ways, to what
extent, LIP can get the support and cooperation from local organizations.
LIP should adapt to the needs of different interest groups. We should analyze and predict the attitudes to and their participation in LIP
construction and operation of different interests groups directly related to the project. Choosing the way for the various interest
groups to promote the success of the project, and preventive measures should be taken to eliminate the negative factors affecting the
development of project.
3.4 The technical evaluation index system
The LIP sustainable development in China is restricted by technical factor. LIP construction and one-time investment cost is high,
therefore, from the viewpoint of sustainable development, the application of new technology and the structure and function of the
project in its sustainable development during the decision-making and design stage should be taken into consideration.
3.4.1 The use of new technology in projects
The new technology has great influence on LIP sustainable development. The application of new technology mainly includes:
perceptiveness of project design and advanced construction technology.
The design of the project should meet the needs of the idea of sustainable development, scientificity and perceptiveness and
expansion space. Besides consideration of people’s current needs, the future needs should also be considered, and meet the needs of
economic, technological and cultural development later. Design perceptiveness still behaves in attempting to use existing and new
technology, material and technology.
The application of advanced construction technology refers to the use of advanced technology in project construction. It is shown in
using advanced construction technology to save investment cost, shorten the construction period, improve the quality of construction
projects, etc.
3.4.2 The structure function of project
The sustainability of LIP depends on its durability, and the durability directly determines the life of large-scale infrastructure
structure. The better its durability lasts, the longer its service life is.
Along with the development of economy and society, the scale of LIP grows rapidly. The likelihood of the earthquake, fire, wind,
flood or other disaster also increases, so, full consideration on the influence of natural disasters as well as its bear ability of the
structure of the project and equipment upon LIP should be taken in its design stage to strengthen itself resistance to disasters tectonic.
The maintainability of LIP requires the in its earlier stage, trying to simplify the maintenance work so as to reduce the future cost in
an attempt to have the minimum operation and costs to complete the maintenance work of system. The main elements include: design
simplification, maintenance convenience, standardization of infrastructure construction, quickness of maintenance and safety.
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The extensibility of project includes its possibility and economy, which is based on “elastic design”. It is necessary to give priority to
the flexibility and variable structure and systems, development of modularization, standardization, and use equipment and parts that
are easy for maintenance and update for the future.
This thesis will take durability, disaster prevention capabilities of engineering and maintainability and extensibility of project as the
secondary variables of the structure and function.
3.5 The management evaluation index system
The LIP sustainable development in China is restricted by management factor, and project management of LIP plays a critical role in
its sustainable development. Therefore, from the viewpoint of sustainable development, the following aspects: management planning,
management methods and management organizations should be properly considered.
3.5.1 The management plan
The rationality of the management planning directly determines whether the management planning can be implemented; the
efficiency of its implementation process directly determines the completion of expected goals and plan within the stipulated time: the
consistency of planning and expected effect is the standards of quality inspection for management planning. The thesis will take the
rationality of planning, the efficiency of its implementation and the consistency of planning and expected effect as the secondary
variables of project management planning.
3.5.2 The management organizations
LIP should have a complete system of organization and management, which is the direct factor to judge whether its management is
mature. The management functions in every construction project are definitely clear, which is shown in project management
functions table including project manager, the internal departments and various jobs for all tasks of project management. Clear
organizational function division can make the organization members know clearly what kind of work to do at what stage so as to
ensure the realization of project organization goal. This thesis will take completeness of project system, the rationality of the
organization and the clarity of the functions as the secondary variables of project management organization.
3.5.3 The management methods
The traditional methods of project management cannot adapt to the requirements of project development. The sustainable
development of the project management requires the new management methods abandoning traditional management methods.
The core of LIP management system is normalization, and only the normalization can truly bring the management system into full
play.
The fair and reasonable evaluation system can create a fair competition mechanism, improve the efficiency of the project
implementation thus achieving organizational goals, and develop human resources, excavate the potential to increase the value of
human resources capital.
An emergency occurs constantly in project management. Special events will require special project management so as to increase the
strain capacity.
Therefore, this paper will regard the viability of management system, the rationality of the evaluation system of management and the
pertinence of special methods as the secondary variables of project management.
4 Conclusion
An entire construction project not only includes a serials of sections such as resources evaluation, region assessment, planning,
survey, design, implementation, management, maintenance, reconstruction, demolition and disposal, but also consists of a complex
process of mining and processing of raw materials; product manufacture, transportation and marketing; product use, reuse and
maintenance; waste recycling and disposal.
Based on this, this paper has studied the sustainable developments of large scale infrastructures throughout the whole life cycle of the
project, and aims to find out a scientific and effective evaluation system and inspection method, which can afford an effective
evaluation of the sustainable development of the large-scale construction projects, and promote the implementation of the sustainable
development in the engineering fields.
Acknowledgement:
The thesis is part of achievements of “The research on sustainable development of large infrastructure, in case of Yanshan reservoir”，
which is the established project of Henan Science and Technology Department, presided by Sun Hailing in 2009. The project number
is 092400450030.
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