The concept of value for money (VFM) is the fundamental reason for most PFI projects to be attractive in many developed and developing countries. The concept encourages governments to deliver Mega projects by using PFI procurement method. The aims of this paper are to investigate the notion of VFM for PFI projects by different countries (i.e. UK, Australia and Japan) and to discover the detailed components of Public Sector Comparator ( PSC ) protocol to evaluate VFM.Based on the consideration of these models, the paper proposes a framework of VFM assessment for PFI projects in Malaysia. The proposed framework outlines six processes to be considered: key assessment criteria (affordability, risk sharing and competition) of VFM assessment; VFM assessment approach by using PSC; VFM appraisal by application of three tests (financial, qualitative and cost benefit analysis); VFM drivers; benefits; and barriers that could affect the VFM assessment process. Hence, achieving VFM can be described in terms of three core components; economic, efficiency and effectiveness of PFI projects. The framework developed in this paper will help to gain a better understanding of VFM in PFI projects and to establish PSC guideline in the evaluation of VFM.

Monitoring water quality in large dams is becoming a necessity for protecting stored water from various forms of pollution. This process requires analysis of several samples on a weekly or monthly basis. Our study aims to determine the relationship between water quality parameters (WQP) and digital data from the Sentinel-2 satellite to estimate and map the WQP in the Bin El Ouidane Reservoir. The in situ sampling was carried out in the Bin El Ouidane Reservoir (Azilal Province), followed by analysis of physicochemical parameters in the laboratory.These measurement results were compared with the reflectance in each sampling location to investigate the correlations between bands and laboratory chemical analysis results. The correlation results showed that all studied parameters have an R 2 greater than 0.52, and they can be transformed to predictive models by stepwise regression.The accuracy of our proposed models was tested using the Oum Er-Rbia Hydraulic Basin Agency data, and the results showed that only three parameters yield admissible verification results (Chlorophyll A, dissolved Oxygen and Nitrate). Those models were then used in geographic information system software to produce a thematic map of each parameter over the entire surface of the reservoir. As a conclusion, the Sentinel-2 images could help indicate the eutrophication stage in the Bin El Ouidane Reservoir, which is a major risk in major Moroccan reservoirs.

Today's competitive global environment has led governments around the world to seek new ways to finance projects, build infrastructure and deliver services. Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is increasingly being used as a tool to bring together the strengths of both sectors, public and private to facilitate the delivery of projects and services. However, the new PFI Scheme introduced by the Government of Malaysia through the Ninth Malaysia-Plan in the delivery of public infrastructure is subject to criticisms, in particular when the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was used as a main source of project financing. The study presented in this paper investigates the acceptability of PFI in Malaysia, taking into consideration factors contributing to success, negative factors, and key differences between PFI and the traditional forms of procurement. Empirical research was undertaken based on a questionnaire survey to public and private sectors in Malaysia. In total 60, valid responses were received, constituting a response rate of 45 per cent. The results were analysed by means of various statistical methods. The study disclosed that 97 percent (public) strongly disagree that EPF was the main source of project financing in implementing PFI projects in Malaysia.

Recently, the remote sensing technologies have been used increasingly in various domains in order to explain or detect different phenomena in a rapid manner and covering large areas. This study aims to use Landsat 8 Oli imagery product to elaborate a map of soil salinity in the northeast part of Tadla plain, by implication of spectral reflectance and electrical conductivity (EC) measured in the laboratory. Based on salinity Index (SI), the Normalized Differential Salinity Index (NDSI), and Landsat bands, we carried out a statistical study via the JMP13 software to determine the most correlated bands with EC measured. The obtained results were very satisfactory with an R 2 = 71.3% and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.084. The elaborated map showed that the salinity is high near Oum Er Rbia River and the two cities of Beni-Mellal and Ouled Yaich, which is due to saline waters of Oum Er Rbia River and Béni-Moussa-East (Dir) groundwater used for irrigation. These results signify that the combination of remote sensing and laboratory EC measurements would be a suitable method for predicting soil salinity.

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