Economic optimization for the rehabilitation of co-located mixed assets

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 820-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina A. Saad ◽  
Tarek Hegazy
Keyword(s):  
Implementation Strategies ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Fund Allocation ◽  
Economic Justification ◽  
Infrastructure Rehabilitation ◽  
The Right ◽  
Benefit Cost

Managing the rehabilitation of co-located infrastructure assets (pavements, pipelines, culverts, etc.) has become a major challenge for municipalities due to the varying rehabilitation requirements of these assets and the need for better coordination of rehabilitation works. Yet, most of the existing fund-allocation methods are not structured to address co-located infrastructure rehabilitation work in a systematic manner. This paper, therefore, extends the enhanced benefit-cost analysis (EBCA) optimization method that was developed earlier for a single asset type, to the case of co-located assets. The extended EBCA approach arrives at near-optimum funding decisions by achieving an equilibrium state at which fair and equitable allocations are made among all asset categories. Using a real case study consisting of bridges and culverts co-located in the right of way of a pavement network along with two different implementation strategies, EBCA proved to be able to arrive at near-optimum fund-allocations supported with a credible economic justification.

scholarly journals Midblock U-Turn and Elevated U-Turn Safety and Economy Comparison: A Case Study Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Osama H. Ahmed ◽  
Ibrahim M. I. Ramadan ◽  
Mohamed S. Abdel-Monem
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Limited Capacity ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Traffic Capacity ◽  
Analysis Technique ◽  
Accident Rates ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Study Application ◽  
Two Alternatives

Abstract In Egypt, intersections are encountering congestion and safety problems. Midblock U-turns have been used for solving these problems. The midblock U-turn increased the accidents, besides, it has limited capacity. In the last decade, elevated U-turns have been applied to solve these problems. The extensive use of elevated U-turns has not been accompanied by any research for studying the performance of elevated U-turns with respect to safety and economy. This paper developed a simple framework for comparing elevated and traditional midblock U-turns in terms of safety and economy. The study applied a case study to evaluate the two alternatives using a benefit-cost analysis technique. Although the results show the high cost of the elevated U-turns, it has been demonstrated to be the best solution since they provide the greater traffic capacity and lower accident rates. Accident number reported at elevated U-turns was 59 % less than the number associated with traditional U-turns.

An economic framework for the evaluation of rangeland restoration projects.

1990 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40 ◽  
Author(s):  
ND Macleod ◽  
BG Johnston
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Rangeland Degradation ◽  
Economic Framework ◽  
Rangeland Restoration ◽  
Formal Procedure ◽  
Benefit Cost

Statements concerning rangeland degradation and restoration issues are often supported by technically oriented evaluations, with limited consideration of the economic implications of resource conservation or rehabilitation. In the few cases where an attempt has been made to incorporate economic elements into analyses, some shortcomings have been evident in the methodology adopted. This has sometimes produced misleading results, and has made comparisons of different restoration technologies difficult. This paper examines several issues that are important in obtaining an economic perspective on the restoration of degraded rangelands. The formal procedure of benefit-cost analysis is presented as a rational framework for the economic evaluation of such activities. The framework is applied, via a case study approach, to examine the private economic value of several technologies for rangeland restoration. However, because the analysis is based on limited data, the conclusion is indicative rather than definitive. Issues relevant to the extension of the analysis to encompass social evaluations of rangeland restoration management are canvassed.

scholarly journals A Model to Improve the Implementation Standards of Street Lighting Based on Solar Energy: A Case Study

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 630 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wahyudi Sutopo ◽  
Ika Shinta Mardikaningsih ◽  
Roni Zakaria ◽  
Ahad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Lighting System ◽  
Model Framework ◽  
Street Lighting ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Black Area ◽  
Benefit Cost

This paper aims to improve the implementation standards of solar-energy-based street lighting in Indonesia. A model framework was developed to assess existing conditions regarding the level of lux, the distance between poles, pole height, and lamp power. According to the evaluation of the existing circumstances, the street lighting system is not satisfactory according to the national standard, with 64.7% black area. An alternative installation of street lighting designed by DIALux application was proposed to fulfill the technical standard of street lighting. The result shows that this alternative design can be used for renewing existing street lighting with better performance and reliability. Economic analysis of all technically feasible alternatives was conducted afterward by benefit–cost analysis. The analysis shows that solar-energy-based street lighting requires as much as 621,473,620.00 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), with 1.06 benefit–cost ratios and a 9% reduction of total cost. Therefore, the analysis indicates that solar-energy-based technology can be feasibly implemented in a street lighting system. The results show that the proposed model can be applied to improve the implementation standard of solar-energy-based street lighting.

Research on Optimization of Ground-Coupled Heat Pump Systems under Specific Constraint Conditions

2014 ◽  
Vol 953-954 ◽  
pp. 673-679
Author(s):  
Yang Yang Wang ◽  
Ping Fang Hu ◽  
Fei Lei ◽  
Na Zhu ◽  
Tian Hua Wu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Pump ◽  
Optimization Problem ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Optimization Method ◽  
Simulation Software ◽  
Design Parameters ◽  
Decision Variable ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Ground Coupled Heat Pump

A design method for ground-coupled heat pump (GCHP) systems with specific constraint conditions is proposed. The total borehole number, borehole depth, borehole space and average velocity of fluid in the U-tube are considered as variables in the optimization problem. The optimization problem of four variables is transformed into that of single decision variable. A case study, which includes different schemes for designing GCHP systems of an office building and the corresponding economic analysis, is performed with the aid of simulation software. The result shows that optimal design parameters could be found in an economic optimization problem with specific constraint conditions. Additionally, design parameters may have a notable influence on the energy consumption of circulating pumps. The optimization method in this paper could be utilized by engineering designers for reference.

Case Study of Benefit–Cost Analysis of an Intercity Passenger Rail Service

2017 ◽  
Vol 2608 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-85
Author(s):  
Francis E. Loetterle ◽  
Melanie Johnson ◽  
Charles Quandel ◽  
Carey Barr ◽  
Andrew Komendantov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Project Assessment ◽  
Passenger Rail ◽  
Target Field ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Rail Service

The economic assessment of transportation projects is evolving from a reliance on user benefits (travel time, cost, or safety) to encompass a wider spectrum of potential benefits, fostered by advances in economics and recognition that different project modes deliver different portfolios of benefits. Sponsors develop projects to address specific problems in their communities. This progression in how investments are evaluated opens the door for projects whose outcomes span a variety of benefit categories rather than concentrating on traditional user benefits and permits an improved intermodal comparison of candidate investments. Transit and intercity rail projects are particular beneficiaries of the broader project assessment approach. This paper presents a case study of how a comprehensive approach to project assessment was applied to the Northern Lights Express project that would reintroduce passenger rail service between the cities of Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, the state's largest economies. Owned and operated by BNSF Railway, Amtrak's service in the corridor ended in 1985. Six stations are planned: Target Field in Minneapolis; stations in Coon Rapids, Cambridge, and Hinckley, Minnesota; a station in Superior, Wisconsin; and Union Depot in Duluth. The goal for the analysis was threefold: ( a) to confirm that the investment would yield a positive return; ( b) to communicate with partners, stakeholders, and the public about the project's expected outcomes; and ( c) to contribute to the selection of an alternative. The benefit–cost ratio was estimated for eight alternatives that varied by physical alignment and service plan.

Indirect and Induced Benefit-Cost Analysis: A Case Study

1978 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph E. Haring ◽  
Allen Van Deventer
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost Analysis ◽  
Benefit Cost

scholarly journals Assessment of Cost and Benefit Associated with Ecological Restoration in Ghana: A Case Study in Bekwai Municipal Area

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Owusu ◽  
Nelly Ataawomba Afuubi ◽  
Fanglin Li
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Gold Mining ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Illegal Mining ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Benefit Cost

Ghana has had a long-standing problem of illegal gold mining that has led to the destruction of the environment. The government of Ghana is taking steps to not only curb illegal mining but also to restore destroyed lands that resulted from illegal mining. The government intends to spend financially in the area of ecological restoration to returned disturbed lands to their natural states possible, but the question remains whether restoring those disturbed lands will be beneficial to the country. The study was undertaken in Bekwai Municipal Area in the Ashanti region of Ghana where most locals are farmers. The research studies whether the benefits of ecological restoration outweigh the cost of ecological restoration? The research deployed a quantitative data collection. The data collected was analyzed using benefit-Cost ratio. The result shows that the benefit of ecological restoration outweighs the cost incurred as dependent on the land use as a carbon sequestration project. In conclusion, investment in ecological restoration is a step in the right direction for a country endowed with gold resources. This will spur growth and at the same time improve and protect the country’s natural resources and environment.

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