This financial modelling case study describes the development of the 3-statement financial model for a large-scale transportation infrastructure business dealing with truck (and some rail) modalities. The financial modelling challenges in this area, especially for large-scale transport infrastructure operators, lie in automatically linking the operating activity volumes with the investment volumes. The aim of the paper is to address these challenges: The proposed model has an innovative retirement/reinvestment schedule that automates the estimation of the investment needs for the Business based on the designated age-cohort matrix analysis and controlling for the maximum service ceiling for trucks as well as the possibility of truck retirements due to the reduced scope of tracking operations in the future. The investment schedule thus automated has a few calibrating parameters that help match it to the current stock of trucks/rolling stock in the fleet, making it to be a flexible tool in financial modelling for diverse transport infrastructure enterprises employing truck, bus and/or rail fleets for the carriage of bulk cargo quantifiable by weight (or fare-paying passengers) on a network of set, but modifiable, routes.

Combining physical, social, and economic elements, urban planning plays a critical role in creating sustainable, resilient, and livable urban environments. It encompasses the regulation of land use, infrastructure, transportation systems, and environmental resources, with a focus on sustainable urban design and green infrastructure. While progress has been made, there are still areas that have not been fully explored, including the integration of renewable energy sources and the development of urban environments that are resilient to environmental stresses. This study aims to analyze the direction and scope of urban planning research and to identify research gaps in this area. The method used is bibliometrics by analyzing data obtained from the Scopus database in January 2024. The results of this study showed that Yufeng Zhang, a professor at Wuhan University, China, was the most productive author in producing publications, namely 22 documents. In addition, the article produced by Qianqian Zhou is also influential in this research topic because it gets a number of citations, as high as 204 citations. Additionally, the results indicate the current focus of research on sustainability, adaptation to climate change, and technology in urban planning. These findings can guide future research, direct policy, and ensure an interdisciplinary approach to modern urban and regional challenges.

This study constructs and empirically validates a Creative Activity Chain (CCA) structure model tailored for innovation in sustainable infrastructure development. In today’s competitive environment, fostering innovation is crucial for maintaining the relevance and effectiveness of infrastructure projects. The research underscores that a significant portion of a project’s long-term value is established during its initial concept and planning stages, highlighting the critical role of creativity in infrastructure development. The CCA model is developed through theoretical frameworks and empirical data, encompassing three key dimensions: creative subject chain, creative action chain, and creative operation chain. The model’s validity is tested with data from five large infrastructure development firms in China, involving 768 R&D staff as respondents. Rigorous statistical methods, including exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), structural equation modeling (SEM), and regression analysis, confirm the model’s robustness. The findings reveal significant positive correlations between the creative activity chain’s dimensions and the successful development of sustainable infrastructure projects. Additionally, the study examines the mediating effect of link strength within the creative activity chain, demonstrating its substantial impact on project outcomes. Implications for management include promoting diverse creative teams, systematic process management, and leveraging varied operational tools to enhance creativity in infrastructure development. This research contributes to the literature by introducing an integrated model for managing creative activities in sustainable infrastructure development, offering practical insights for improving innovation processes.

Perceptions of women’s roles and leadership in urban governance vary from country to country and culture to culture. While women are represented and participate fully in political decision-making in some countries, in Togo women’s participation in local governance is still limited. The aim of this research is to analyse perceptions of women’s leadership in urban governance in the communes of greater Lomé. Specifically, the study of the influence of general perceptions of the role of women on the development of their leadership in the urban governance of greater Lomé (i) and the implications of these perceptions on the participation of women in the urban governance of greater Lomé (ii). Semi-structured interviews were conducted in all the town halls of the thirteen greater Lomé autonomous district communes with 222 women and 162 men, i.e., a total of 384 people. The corpus created from the interviews, which were transcribed in their entirety, was analyzed using the theory of social dominance developed by Sidanius and Pratto to explain power relations and inequalities between social groups. The results show that perceptions of women’s participation in urban governance vary and are generally associated with several significant implications. The general perception is that women are not as competent or legitimate as men in political and administrative leadership roles. However, there is a growing recognition of the value of gender diversity in urban governance, with a growing awareness of the importance of including women in decision-making processes. From the point of view of the significant implications of perceptions, positive perceptions favor increased representation of women, innovation, and creativity, strengthening legitimacy, reducing inequalities, and presenting women as positive role models in urban governance.

This study aims to explore the urban resilience strategies and public service innovations approaches adopted by the Shanghai Government in response to COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized a combination of primary and secondary data sources, such as government reports, policy documents, and interviews with important individuals involved in the matter. The current research focused on qualitative data and examined the different aspects resilience, including infrastructure, economy, society, ecology, and organizations. The findings indicate that infrastructure resilience plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability and dependability of essential public facilities, achieved through online education and intelligent transportation systems. Implementing rigorous waste management and pollution control measures with a focus on ecological resilience has significantly promoted environmentally sustainable development. Shanghai city has achieved economic resilience by stabilizing its finances and providing support to businesses through investments in research, technology and education. Shanghai city has enhanced its organizational resilience by fostering collaboration across several sectors, bolstering emergency management tactics and enhancing policy execution.