Members’ Publication

Public-private partnership (PPP)-led infrastructure development has been crucial in China as it has in many other countries. However, several obstacles in the field tend to challenge its development. Based on survey responses from PPP practitioners and professionals in Hong Kong and mainlandChina,thisstudyanalyzesandranksthekeybarrierstoPPPprojects. Ourfindingssuggest that both groups classify the critical obstacles to PPP consistently, albeit with some divergences in ranking them. Reflecting mainly from the perspective of professionals, the study also proposes some suggestions for mitigating these obstacles, so it could contribute to the effective formulation of PPP and successful implementation of PPP-led infrastructure projects in China as well as elsewhere.

Savar, one of the suburbs of Dhaka is undergoing tremendous development due to rapid urbanisation. Better access due to Dhaka Aricha Highway integrating with the development process has led augmentation of ribbon development. This type of development is very much attractive to developers in the sense that they do not have to waste money or plot space for constructing roads and can attract trade from the traffic on arterial roads. But the emergence of fringe zones and their complex, as well as unplanned ribbon development along Dhaka Aricha Highway, has led to serious land use problems such as haphazard urban growth, loss of agricultural lands, encroachment of water bodies, unauthorised urban sprawl, the rapid increase in land values, speculation in land and other related problems. Besides, the option for future planned development and provision of service along the Dhaka Aricha Highway is being jeopardized. In this consequence, this study attempts to focus on the trend of ribbon development along Dhaka-Aricha Highway to show the impact on the land use. To assess the trend in land use change, satellite image of four base years (2007, 2010, 2013 and 2016) of the study area were analysed by Geographical Information System (GIS) tool. Finally, a number of recommendations have been formulated to reduce the adverse impact of ribbon development.

Now that dockless electric bike-share systems have become a fixture in major cities in the U.S., it is important to understand why someone chooses to use the service. Beyond socio-demographics, factors such as mode-related attitudes, the social environment, and the availability of the service may influence both its adoption and frequency of use. In this study, we modeled dockless electric bike-share adoption and use frequency using data collected from a household survey and a bike-share user survey from the Sacramento region. We used integrated choice and latent variable models to understand the influence of attitudes on electric bike-share adoption and use frequency. We developed three latent variables − bike affinity, car necessity, and bike social environment − using responses to eleven statements. Our models show that apart from socio-demographics, attitudes related to bike affinity and bike social environments significantly and positively influence bike-share adoption with a large effect size, whereas the car necessity attitude significantly and negatively influences the use frequency with a large effect size. Individuals with low incomes are less likely to adopt the bike-share service. The availability of electric bike-share in key locations (home and/or work and/or school) where an individual frequently goes significantly and positively influences adoption with a large effect size but does not influence use frequency. Findings from this study can inform the dockless electric bike-share policies of cities as well as the rebalancing strategies of service providers.

Shared e-scooters have become a popular alternative for short trips and can serve as a first- and last-mile connector to transit. This study investigates the factors motivating e-scooter users to connect to public transit through the analysis of 48,301 e-scooter trips in 20 US cities. While most e-scooter studies, to date, rely on geo-spatial assumptions to assess whether a transit connection was made, this study uses rider survey data where users reported transit connections upon ending their e-scooter trip. Presented during the parking process, the rider survey asked when the decision to use the e-scooter was made. Responses were analyzed using a binary logit model on the decision to use e-scooters in connection to transit. The model includes urban and built environment characteristics to control for heterogeneity across urban spaces. People who decide to use an e-scooter spontaneously are found to be more likely to connect to transit than those who plan their trip in advance. This research provides novel insights into modal substitution, demonstrating how an e-scooter trip may substitute for just a portion of a transit trip rather than the full trip. Respondents were segmented into four groups based on their propensity for connecting with public transit: complements (20.5%), substitutes (3.2%), no interaction (72.9%), and mixed effects (3.3%). Trips that substituted for transit averaged 1.82 miles, a statistically significant longer distance than those complementing transit trips or that had no transit interaction. We conclude that these trips may otherwise have been made by rideshare, and previous assessments have overestimated the modal substitution of e-scooters for transit. Among the 6.5% of trips for which respondents say they would have used transit if e-scooters were not available, approximately half connected to transit before/after using the e-scooter, suggesting a more nuanced adjustment in how e-scooters complement the use of transit.

The Pacific Island Countries (PICs) face significant developmental challenges, including the disproportionate impacts of climate change. This article examines the critical role of women's empowerment and gender equality as a strategic imperative for building resilient and sustainable societies in the region. It explores the historical context of women's roles, the enduring challenges they face in political participation, economic access, and healthcare, and their unique vulnerabilities to issues like gender-based violence and climate change. The article further highlights women's transformative leadership through case studies in politics and grassroots initiatives, while also analyzing their contributions to the Blue Economy and the potential of digital empowerment. By strengthening gender-responsive policies and fostering regional collaboration, the empowerment of women is shown to be a foundational element for a more equitable and prosperous future for the Pacific.

Cascading disasters are multiple events that follow an ordered sequence that increases the occurrence rates of various events. These combined events compound the effects of single risks; consequently, priority is given to a multi-hazard system-oriented approach to mitigation, prevention, and management. Cascading disasters represent a significant challenge to conventional approaches to disaster risk management. As a result, there is a growing need for a unified view of risk. These events require a systemic cohesive and interconnected understanding. Therefore, this research seeks to offer a systematic review and a meta-analysis of the current literature on cascading disasters from a theoretical and empirical perspective. It aims to outline a critical understanding of how and why cascading events unfold and how the impacts of these events can be managed through a systematic coordinated approach to disaster response. This study recognizes that systematic risk analysis, integrated disaster response techniques, and multi-sector coordination are fundamental components of an integrated disaster management framework in dealing with complicated, interconnected disasters across a range of settings. The research also identifies critical gaps in current disaster management policies and offers policy recommendations based on lessons learned from domestic and international case studies and best practices.

The Pacific Islands are a melting pot of diverse cultures and rich biodiversity, but they now find themselves at a pivotal moment, grappling with the growing and complex challenges posed by climate change. In this piece, we take a close look at the climate troubles gripping the Pacific, making a case for a comprehensive and forward-thinking strategy to enhance resilience. It thoroughly outlines the specific challenges the region is up against, such as the looming risk of rising sea levels for coastal towns and the dangers of ocean acidification for coral reefs. This paper highlights the crucial need for a combined approach to managing natural resources and adapting to changes in our communities, drawing from a wide range of research that spans from global climate studies to local traditional insights. The paper dives deeper into how governance, policy structures, and global climate funding, especially from agencies like the Green Climate Fund and the Global Environment Facility play a crucial role in driving significant changes. This study highlights the importance of a teamwork approach that involves governments, businesses, and local communities, citing innovative risk assessment methods and impactful case studies as essential tools for achieving a sustainable and resilient future in the Pacific region.

Groundwater depletion poses a serious threat to water security in arid regions worldwide, risking sustainable water resources and agricultural stability. This study examines groundwater dynamics and water resource sustainability in the arid Barind Tract of Northwest Bangladesh using integrated remote sensing techniques and logistic regression modeling. It employed three key indices to assess water resource vulnerability: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Topsoil Grain Size Index, and Aridity Index, integrating them through logistic regression to evaluate desertification susceptibility and water sustainability. The regression model boasts an ROC value of 96.22% and R2 of 0.3893, indicating good classification performance with acceptable class variance. Results show that 82.66% of the area faces significant water resource challenges, with 6.27% (103.26 km2) at very high risk, 10.80% (177.89 km2) at high risk, and 28.17% (464.05 km2) at moderate risk. The northern regions, especially Porsha, Gomastapur, and Nachole Upazillas, are the most vulnerable to water depletion. The study recommends sustainable water management strategies, including surface water use through floating pontoons and rubber dams, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated water resource management to ensure long-term water security. Additionally, the research analyzed soil-vegetation feedback using rain use efficiency and found a negative loop in highly desertification-prone areas like Porsha and Nachole, indicating the need for regulation-based cropping practices and improved water governance in zones at risk of desertification to reduce crop-water redundancy. This research offers valuable insights for water resource planning and management in arid regions, supporting sustainable water governance and locally-led adaptation strategies for water-stressed environments.