The challenge of rural electrification has become more challenging today than ever before. Grid-connected and off-grid microgrid systems are playing a very important role in this problem. Examining each component’s ideal size, facility system reactions, and other microgrid analyses, this paper proposes the design and implementation of an off-grid hybrid microgrid in Chittagong and Faridpur with various load dispatch strategies. The hybrid microgrids with a load of 23.31 kW and the following five dispatch algorithms have been optimized: (i) load following, (ii) HOMER predictive, (iii) combined dispatch, (iv) generator order, and (v) cycle charging dispatch approach. The proposed microgrids have been optimized to reduce the net present cost, CO2 emissions, and levelized cost of energy. All five dispatch strategies for the two microgrids have been analyzed in HOMER Pro. Power system reactions and feasibility analyses of microgrids have been performed using ETAP simulation software. For both the considered locations, the results propound that load-following is the outperforming approach, which has the lowest energy cost of $0.1728/kWh, operational cost of $2944.13, present cost of $127,528.10, and CO2 emission of 2746 kg/year for the Chittagong microgrid and the lowest energy cost of $0.2030/kWh, operating cost of $3530.34, present cost of 149,287.30, and CO2 emission of 3256 kg/year for the Faridpur microgrid with a steady reaction of the power system.
Despite the existence of a voluminous body of literature covering the impact of infrastructure public-private partnerships (PPPs) on public value within the context of Western countries, scant attention has been paid to this topic in the Middle East. Given that the region has hosted numerous PPP projects that were implemented even without the rudimentary legal and regulatory frameworks considered essential for such projects to succeed, a study of PPPs within that region would thus be particularly useful, since an unpacking of the success factors for PPPs in the Middle East can reveal important practical insights that will advance the knowledge of PPP success factors overall. This paper, therefore, explores the rehabilitation and expansion of Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport via the PPP route. It finds that the factors contributing to the project’s successful implementation can be categorized into those on the macro level related to political support, and the micro level factors concerned with management of daily activities involved in the partnership between the public and private sectors.
While there has been much discussion about the large infrastructure needs in Asia and the Pacific, less attention has been paid to public expenditure efficiency in infrastructure services delivery. New constructions are not the only solution, especially when governments have limited capital to invest. Globally, new infrastructure projects face delays and cost overruns, leading to an inefficient use of public resources. The root causes include the lack of transparency in project selection, the lack of project preparation, the silo approach by public entities in assessing feasibility studies, and the lack of public sector capacity to fully develop a bankable pipeline of projects. To tackle these issues, governments need a smarter investment approach and to do so, enhancing public service efficiency is very crucial. The paper suggests a “whole life cycle” (WLC) approach as the main strategic solution for the discussed issues and challenges. We expand the definition of WLC to include the entire life cycle of the infrastructure asset from need identification to its disposal. The stages comprise planning, preparation, procurement, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and disposal. This is because we believe any efficient or inefficient decision throughout such a wide life cycle influences the quality of public services. Hence, in this holistic approach, infrastructure life cycle consists of four phases: planning, preparation, procurement, and implementation. Governments could enhance public efficiency and thus improve access to finance throughout the WLC by several solutions. These are (i) preparing infrastructure master plan and pipelines and long-term budgeting during the planning phase; (ii) establishing framework and guidelines and improving governance during preparation phase; (iii) promoting standardization, transparency, open government, and contractual consistency during the procurement phase; and finally (iv) continued role of government and total asset management during the implementation phase. In addition to these phase-specific means, key WLC solutions include proper use of technology, capacity building, and private participation in general and public-private partnership (PPP) in particular.
The construction industry is a significant contributor towards global environmental degradation and resource depletion, with developing economies facing unique challenges in adopting sustainable construction practices. This systematic review aims to investigate the gap in sustainable construction implementation among global counterparts. The study utilizes the P5 (People, Planet, Prosperity, Process, Products) Standard as a framework for evaluating sustainable construction project management based on environmental, social, and economic targets. A Systematic Literature Review from a pool of 994 Sustainable Construction Project Management (SCPM) papers is conducted utilizing the PRISMA methodology. Through rigorous Identification, Screening, and Eligibility Verification, an analysis is synthesized from 44 relevant literature discussing SCPM Implementations worldwide. The results highlight significant challenges in three main categories: environmental, social, and economic impacts. Social impacts are found as the most extensively researched, while environmental and economic impacts are less studied. Further analysis reveals that social impacts are a major concern in sustainable construction, with numerous studies addressing labor practices and societal well-being. However, there is a notable gap in research on human rights within the construction industry. Environmental impacts, such as resource utilization, energy consumption, and pollution, are less frequently addressed, indicating a need for more focused studies in these areas. Economic impacts, including local economic impact and business agility, are further substantially underrepresented in the literature, suggesting that economic viability is a critical yet underexplored aspect of sustainable construction. The findings underscore the need for further research in these areas to address the implementation challenges of sustainable project management effectively. This research contributes towards the overall research of global sustainable construction through the utilization of the P5 Standards as a new lens of determining sustainability performance for construction projects worldwide.
This research focused on the design and implementation of the flipped classroom approach for higher mathematics courses in medical colleges. Out of 120 students, 60 were assigned to the experimental group and 60 to the control group. In the continuous assessment, which included homework and quizzes, the average score of the experimental group was 85.5 ± 5.5, while that of the control group was 75.2 ± 8.1 (P < 0.05). For the final examination, the average score in the experimental group was 88.3 ± 6.2, compared to 78.1 ± 7.3 in the control group (P < 0.01). The participation rate of students in the experimental group was 80.5%, significantly higher than the 50.3% in the control group (P < 0.001). Regarding autonomous learning ability, the experimental group spent an average of 3.2 hours per week on self-study, compared to 1.5 hours in the control group (P < 0.005). Other potential evaluation indicators could involve the percentage of students achieving high scores (90% or above) in problem-solving tasks (25.8% in the experimental group vs. 10.3% in the control group, P < 0.05), and the improvement in retention of key concepts after one month (70.2% in the experimental group vs. 40.5% in the control group, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the flipped classroom approach holds substantial promise in elevating the learning efficacy of higher mathematics courses within medical colleges, offering valuable insights for educational innovation and improvement.
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