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November – December 2017 TRENDS

Parul Dubey on December 23, 2017 - in Featured, Trends

In this section, Informed Infrastructure compiles infographics from trusted sources that reveal insight on infrastructure spending. We also compile some of the top infrastructure stories that shouldn’t be missed. For ongoing news coverage, turn to Informed Infrastructure online (www.informedinfrastructure.com), our Twitter feed (@IInfrastructure) and our weekly e-newsletter.


According to a World Bank Group report, multi-billion dollar projects are fueling stronger private-sector investment in infrastructure projects in developing countries, which increased by 24 percent from 2016 levels, reflecting US$36.7 billion across 132 projects.

However, although the growth of larger-sized projects is contributing to improved figures for the first half of 2017, investment levels remain 15 percent lower than the half-year averages of the last five years. Excluding the mega-projects, average project sizes increased from US$156 million in 2016 to US$171 million in 2017.

“Private-sector investors are committing increased investment in infrastructure projects, and that is a welcome development given the tremendous need for more infrastructure in developing countries,” said Cledan Mandri-Perrott, head of the Infrastructure, PPPs and Guarantees Group at the World Bank Hub for Infrastructure and Urban Development in Singapore and leader of the report team. “Since 1990, the private sector has invested only US$1.6 trillion overall in infrastructure projects in developing countries.”

To read the full report, visit bit.ly/2A0ReMS.

 


 Autodesk and Esri Partner to Advance Infrastructure Planning and Design

Autodesk and Esri plan to work together to better integrate their respective technologies, allowing industry professionals to synthesize information from BIM and GIS to enable more connected infrastructure.

Autodesk and Esri plan to work together to better integrate their respective technologies, allowing industry professionals to synthesize information from BIM and GIS to enable more-connected infrastructure.

Autodesk and Esri announced a new relationship to build a bridge between BIM and GIS mapping technologies. The companies plan to enable a broad range of industries to gain better context by visualizing data of the man-made world, the environment, citizens and the networks that weave it all together.

“It is important to consider the needs of future generations during the design and building of projects today,” said Jack Dangermond, president, Esri. “The benefits of partnering with Autodesk will include securing sustainable resources for the growing population, a responsible human footprint on our natural environment, better use of our planet’s resources, and more resilient cities.”

 


 
New York City Ranks First in Sustainable Urban Transportation in North America

New York City ranks No. 1 among 23 North American cities for overall sustainability of its urban transportation systems, according to the first Arcadis Sustainable Cities Mobility Index.

No city in the United States or Canada made it into the top 20 cities ranked in the global index. New York City, sitting 23rd globally, is the most-sustainable city for transportation in U.S. and Canada, buoyed by an efficient, expansive and heavily used metro system operating around the clock.

The index, one of the most-comprehensive sustainable transit studies ever conducted, is an indicative ranking of sustainable urban transportation practices across 100 of the world’s leading cities. It looks at more than 20 elements of mobility that are essential to a city’s competitive advantage, economic vitality and overall sustainability. The study was conducted for Arcadis by the London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr).

Exploring the three pillars of sustainability—People (social), Planet (environmental) and Profit (economic)—the study measures financial investments and infrastructure improvements to urban transportation systems, including access to multiple transit modes, active commuting, bicycle infrastructure, commuting travel time, affordability of public transit, digital mapping and payment capabilities, air and emissions pollution, internet connectivity, and more.


On Nov. 7, 2017, voters in 20 U.S. states approved more than 80 percent of 215 transportation investment ballot measures, mostly at the local level, according to analysis conducted by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center (ARTBA-TIAC).

Preliminary results show voters approved 176 of the 215 measures, and results are still pending in six Michigan localities. The approved measures will support $2.9 billion in new transportation investment revenue and $1.3 billion in continued funding through tax extensions or renewals. The timing of the market impact of these actions is difficult to project as revenue approved will last as long as 25 years.

 


The jobsite safety of the men and women who build and maintain America’s transportation infrastructure—as well as that of those who travel through our work zones—has been a top priority for the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) since its founding in 1902.

The ARTBA Foundation took that commitment to the next level by launching a new “Transportation Construction Safety Center” found at www.artbasafetycenter.org.

“Safety has always been a core ARTBA competency,” says ARTBA Chairman Matt Cummings, an AECOM executive vice president. “The safety center is the online gateway to help industry professionals take advantage of the many programs and services that are aimed at improving safety for workers and motorists in roadway work zones.”

Visit bit.ly/2AUKkpA to read a 16-page publication providing an overview of the center that will be sent to nearly 10,000 industry professionals.

 


The following are the top stories from the last few months (in terms of traffic) on the Informed Infrastructure website. This also reflects key coverage areas that are regularly refreshed online and via our weekly e-newsletter. Simply search key words on Informed Infrastructure online to find the full story.

Buildings

Michael Baker International Awarded Contract to Provide Value Engineering Services to the U.S. Department of State

JEC Group Publication: A New Book On the Growing Use of Composites in Construction

Viewpoint, BKD & FMI Corporation Form Industry Alliance to Address Construction Productivity Issues

AISC Introduces New Steel Construction Manual

Video: Austin’s Tallest Tower

 

Transportation

Ground Broken for Newark Regional Transportation Center

I-4 Ultimate P3 Improvement Project Earns National Envision Platinum Award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure

U.S. Cities are Starting to Expand Transportation Options for Low-Income Residents

How the Internet of Things is Transforming Public Transit

In Response to Lawsuit, Highway Administration Reinstates Transportation Clean Air Rule

 

Water

Water Utilities Recognized for Future-Focused, Sustainable Innovations

Norfolk, Virginia, Enlists Arcadis to Design Stormwater Flood Protections

Houston Flooding Affected by Infrastructure

Orange County Water District Leads National Science Foundation Funded Study of the Metagenomics of Water Quality

New Study: Billions of People Drinking Micro Plastic Particles in Tap Water

 

Tools and Technology

Site Scan Processing Now Powered by Pix4D

Skyline Software Systems Releases PhotoMesh 7.2 with Full Motion Video Capability

IMAGINiT Technologies Creates New Tools for Utilities for Autodesk Revit and Civil 3D

How the Internet of Things is Transforming Public Transit

GeoSLAM Launching Enhanced SLAM Software and Next Generation Mobile Scanner

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