Sustainability in road construction projects is hindered by the extensive use of non-renewable materials, high greenhouse gas emissions, risk cost, and significant disruption to the local community. Sustainability involves economic, environmental, and social aspects (triple bottom line). However, establishing metrics to evaluate economic, environmental, and social impacts is challenging because of the different nature of these dimensions and the shortage of accepted indicators. This paper developed a comprehensive method considering all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, environmental, and social burdens. Initially, the economic, environmental, and social impact category indicators were assessed using the Life cycle approach. After that, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) were utilized to prioritize the alternatives according to the acquired weightings and sustainable indicators. The steps of the AHP method involve forming a hierarchy, determining priorities, calculating weighting factors, examining the consistency of these assessments, and then determining global priorities/weightings. The TOPSIS method is conducted by building a normalized decision matrix, constructing the weighted normalized decision matrix, evaluating the positive and negative solutions, determining the separation measures, and calculating the relative closeness to the ideal solution. The selected alternative performs the highest Relative Closeness to the Ideal Solution. Lastly, a case study was undertaken to validate the proposed method. In three alternatives in the case study (Cement Concrete, Dense-Graded Polymer Asphalt Concrete, and Dense-Graded Asphalt Concrete), option 3 showed the most sustainable performance due to its highest Relative Closeness to the Ideal Solution. Integrating AHP and TOPSIS methods combines both strengths, including AHP’s structured approach for determining criteria weights through pairwise comparisons and TOPSIS’s ability to rank choices based on their proximity to an ideal solution.
This article explores the possibilities of developing Oman’s tourism sector under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Tourism is a cornerstone of Oman’s economy, with the government prioritizing substantial efforts toward its development to foster economic diversification. This paper examines the broader efforts of Oman to strengthen its relations with China, which will indirectly benefit the tourism industry. This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the historical exchanges and future cooperation between China and Oman under BRI, specifically focusing on developing infrastructure and technology in Oman to support the tourism sector. It has been argued that BRI has the potential to significantly contribute to the growth and development of Oman’s tourism sector through increased investment and cooperation with Chinese counterparts.
Urban infrastructures and services—such as public transportation, innovation bodies and environmental services—are important drivers for the sustainable development of our society. How effectively citizens, institutions and enterprises interact, how quickly technological innovations are implemented and how carefully new policies are pursued, synergically determine development. In this work, data related to urban infrastructure features such as patents and recycled waste referred to 106 province areas in Italy are investigated over a period of twenty years (2001–2020). Scaling laws with exponents characterizing the above mentioned features are observed and adopted to scrutinize whether and how multiple interactions within a population have amplification effects on the recycling and innovation performance. The study shows that there is a multiplication effect of the population size on the innovation performance of territories, meaning that the dynamic interactions among the elements of the innovation eco-systems in a territory increase its innovation performance. We discuss how to use such approach and the related indexes for understanding metropolitan development policy.
The global ecological crisis has impacted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) region, and due to the diverse geographical characteristics, the ecological problems in countries along the Belt and Road vary. Overcoming these environmental and ecological challenges is essential for advancing and genuinely implementing green development, and has become a practical necessity for building a “Green Belt and Road.” China, the creator of the Green “Belt and Road Initiative”, actively aligns with international environmental protection standards and plays a leading role in global ecological conservation efforts. China vigorously promotes the development of key policy documents for the Green Belt and Road, providing institutional support for the initiative’s environmentally friendly construction and development. Under comprehensive theoretical planning, various green practices have been implemented, including thematic in-depth research on the Green “Belt and Road” and the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the establishment of the “International Green Development Coalition” along the Belt and Road, the implementation of overseas investment and green finance, and the proposal of the “Ten, Hundred, Thousand” initiative for South-South Cooperation on Climate Change. These green practices clearly indicate China’s commitment to building ecological civilization and its relentless efforts toward advancing the construction of a global ecological community with shared-benefits.
In the era of digital disruption, the imperative development of broadband services is evident. The emergence of 5G technology represents the latest stride in commercial broadband, offering data speeds poised to drive significant societal advancement. The midst of responding to this transformative phenomenon. This pursuit unveils a landscape replete with opportunities and challenges, particularly regarding how 5G’s potential benefits can drive the government towards equitable distribution, ensuring accessibility for all. Simultaneously, there exists a legal hurdle to ensure this vision’s fruition. From a legal perspective, perceived as infrastructure for transformation, the law must seamlessly adapt to and promptly address technological progress. Utilizing normative juridical methods and analytical techniques via literature review, this research endeavors to outline the advantages of 5G and scrutinize Indonesia’s latest telecommunications regulations and policies, alongside corresponding investments. The study ultimately aims to provide a juridical analysis of 5G implementation within Indonesia’s legal framework.
This study aims to develop and validate a strategic model tailored to the unique challenges and contexts faced by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ecuador, enhancing their operational efficiency and access to financing. Employing a quantitative approach, the research utilized a non-experimental, cross-sectional design to gather data from a sample of 358 companies. The study revealed that MSMEs are significantly hindered by limited access to financing, lack of managerial skills, and technological gaps. Despite these challenges, MSMEs demonstrated considerable adaptability and resilience, underscoring their critical role in the local economy. The strategic model proposed leverages Porter’s Diamond Model to identify and address the specific competitive and operational challenges encountered by these enterprises. Key findings include the necessity for enhanced financial literacy, simplified regulatory frameworks, and the integration of digital technologies to improve competitiveness. The proposed model focuses on strategic training, fostering innovation, and creating a more supportive financing environment. The implications of this study are profound, suggesting that policymakers and practitioners should streamline regulatory processes, enhance financial and technological support frameworks, and provide tailored training programs. These strategies are intended to bolster the sustainability and growth of MSMEs, contributing to broader economic development. This research contributes to the academic literature by providing empirical evidence on the challenges faced by MSMEs in developing economies and proposing a contextually adapted strategic model to mitigate these challenges, thereby enhancing their economic impact and sustainability.
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