A Novel Approach for Assessing the Performance of Sustainable Urbanization Based on Structural Equation Modeling: A China Case Study

In China, the demand for public infrastructure projects is high due to the acceleration of urbanization and the rapid growth of the economy in recent years. Infrastructures are mainly large scale, so local governments have difficulty in independently completing financing work. In this context, public sectors often seek cooperation from private sectors, in which public-private partnership (PPP) is increasingly common. Although numerous studies have concentrated on sustainable development, the unsustainability performances of infrastructures are often reported on various media. Furthermore, studies on the sustainability performances of PPP-type infrastructure (PTI) projects are few from the perspective of private sectors' behaviors. In this study, we adopted the modified theory of planned behavior and the structure equation model and conducted a questionnaire survey with 258 respondents for analyzing the sustainable behaviors of private sectors. Results indicated that behavioral attitude, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norm interact significantly. They have direct positive effects on behavioral intention and then indirectly influence actual behavior through this intention. Actual sustainable behaviors of private sectors have significantly positive effects on the sustainable development of cities. We offer theoretical and managerial implications for public and private sectors on the basis of the findings to ensure and promote the sustainability performances of PTI projects.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating the Sustainability Performance of PPP-Type Infrastructure Projects: A Case of China

Zheng

et al. 2018

“…Transportation safety is an indispensable section in public safety [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. In recent years, the size of cities in China have been expanding rapidly with the growth of urbanization, which leads to a large amount of transportation requirements [10]. Qualified with advantages of high speed, low pollution, large transportation, low energy consumption, and comfort, urban rail transit, including metro and light rail, is in conformity with the principle of sustainable development, and provides a variety of environmental, economic and Emergency Plan for the Disposal of Urban Subway Accidents, issued by the Ministry of Emergency Management of China [35], Regulations on Operation and Management of Urban Rail Transit issued by the Ministry of Transport of China [36], and Instructions on Ensuring Safe Operation of Urban Rail Transit issued by the General Office of the State Council of China [37], etc.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Innovative Approach to Determining High-Risk Nodes in a Complex Urban Rail Transit Station: A Perspective of Promoting Urban Sustainability

Jiao

Chen

et al. 2018

Self Cite

Abstract:Public safety presents high importance in urban sustainable development. Transportation safety is a significant section in public safety. Over the last couple of decades, as a sustainable means of public transportation, urban rail transit presents a rapid development in China. Increasing initiatives and practices have been engaged with views to facilitating people's travel and intensive utilizing land resources. Echoing this, rail transit stations with multi-floor structure have been built and show structure complexity. Due to this complexity, there is a need to focus on risk management for the stations to guarantee operation safety. Accordingly, this research introduces an innovative approach to identify high-risk nodes in the complex rail transit stations. The high-risk nodes are determined according to two aspects, which are the key nodes of the station and presenting large passenger volumes. Complex network analysis and field investigation were adopted in this study. The Lianglukou rail transit station in Chongqing, China was selected for case study. The research results in this study indicate that (1) in platform floors, stairs/escalators are almost high-risk nodes; (2) columns and metal fences that have been determined as high-risk nodes are located near stairs/escalators; (3) in concourse floor, the determined high-risk nodes present relative high degree centrality and low betweenness centrality compared with nodes in platform floor. The obtained high-risk nodes are helpful for the management firms to develop risk mitigation measures and re-allocate their resources to create a safe environment for passengers in the stations. The guarantee for the rail transit station operation safety plays an important role in enhancing urban sustainability.

“…A lack of mobility will lead to the solidification in UII between cities, namely the cities with more UII always have more UII but cities with less UII still confront UII shortages, which results in long-term uncoordinated development between cities and an unbalance of municipal public services between cities. China is now in a period of rapid urbanization [29][30][31], during which the number of urban people has increased from 172.45 million in 1978 to 771.16 million in 2015. Furthermore, the urbanization rate has increased from 17.90% in 1978 to 56.10% in 2015, since the implementation of reforms and the opening-up policy [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among them, coordination aims to promote coordinated development across all regions and accomplish the equalization of basic public services. Starting from institution building, sharing means implementing accurate poverty alleviation and comprehensive poverty alleviation strategies, increasing government transfer payments, strengthening joint construction capacities and the sharing level of basic public services China is now in a period of rapid urbanization [29][30][31], during which the number of urban people has increased from 172.45 million in 1978 to 771.16 million in 2015. Furthermore, the urbanization rate has increased from 17.90% in 1978 to 56.10% in 2015, since the implementation of reforms and the opening-up policy [32].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inequality, Bi-Polarization and Mobility of Urban Infrastructure Investment in China’s Urban System

Tao

et al. 2017

Self Cite

Abstract:In periods of rapid urbanization, investment in urban infrastructure should not only meet the increasing demands of all urban people, but also be equally allocated between cities to achieve social equity and sustainable development. This paper aimed to conduct quantitative research on the unbalance of urban infrastructure investment between cities in China. The measurement models for inequality, bi-polarization and the mobility of urban infrastructure investment were constructed by means of the Gini coefficient, bi-polarization index and mobility function from the urban system, and an empirical study was conducted based on panel data from 2006 to 2014. The results show that: (1) The overall inequality of urban infrastructure investment in China's urban system was relatively prominent and showed a "U-shaped" change generally. (2) The inequality between different administrative levels or regional cities only partially accounted for the overall inequality of China's urban system. (3) Inequality and bi-polarization showed inconsistent performance. (4) Mobility played a positive role in reducing the inequality and bi-polarization. Based on the empirical findings and the reality of China's urban infrastructure investment and financing, targeted policy suggestions were proposed in terms of adjusting inequality and bi-polarization, innovating investment and financing mechanisms, and optimizing urban infrastructure investment strategies.