Publications


Book Description




Smart Urban Development


Book Description

Debates about the future of urban development in many countries have been increasingly influenced by discussions of smart cities. Despite numerous examples of this "urban labelling" phenomenon, we know surprisingly little about so-called smart cities. This book provides a preliminary critical discussion of some of the more important aspects of smart cities. Its primary focus is on the experience of some designated smart cities, with a view to problematizing a range of elements that supposedly characterize this new urban form. It also questions some of the underlying assumptions and contradictions hidden within the concept.




Euroabstracts


Book Description




Project and Policy Evaluation in Transport


Book Description

This title was first published in 2002: There is a multitude of assessment methods available for analyzing and reporting on the impacts of policies, all with different underlying assumptions and a wide range of criteria. Since the 1950s, much research has gone into creating guidelines for policy analysis, yet only a small percentage of evaluation has been carried out on transport policy - and none by political scientists or social policy specialists. The editors of this volume recognize that European integration has seen a drive to bring policy evaluation on to the transport agenda and has increased demands for ’strategic assessments’. It has become apparent that to gain a fuller understanding of the success of a transport programme, a much more complex combination of analytical methods must be used, and a set of guidelines specifically for the field of transport must be developed. This book achieves this by bringing together a multidisciplinary team of analysts from throughout the EU to discuss in a much broader way the various types of assessment methods and how they can best be used to evaluate transport programmes and systems, both individually and in combination.




Transport research


Book Description







The Scorned and the Slayer


Book Description

In the tropical continent of Gutom exists dense jungles and bustling cities. To the north lies the nations established by the human and dwarven refugees of Umin. To the south lies the native nations of Gutom. For decades they have existed in a fragile state of peace, with each nation waiting to pounce should their neighbors make one false move. Though they remain divided by their beliefs, they have often been forced to unite in order to survive the wrath of their ancient enemy, the Yansorken. The Yansorken leaders, the dread triumvirate have long sought to master their powers over life and death. Their will to rule over the living and the dead alike has led to many wars with the people of Gutom, but never have they claimed total victory over their foes. Now the Yansorken seek to forge dark alliances in the hopes of succeeding where they had previously failed. The Shadow Sentinels, a band of outlaws, addicts, and misfits have come together under the guidance of a witch, who seeks to preempt the Yansorken's invasion. Will the Shadow Sentinels and the people of Gutom be able to put aside their differences to fend off this new invasion and if so, will their combined might be enough.... Find out in this riveting tale of swords and sorcery.




Evaluation


Book Description




The Infrastructure We Ride On


Book Description

This book explores the various economic and institutional factors that explain why huge investments are made in unworthy transportation mega-projects in the US and other countries. It is based on research, the general literature, economic analyses, and results from a specifically collected database showing that a significant proportion of implemented mega-projects have been found to be inferior ex-ante or incapable of delivering the returns they promised ex-post. Transportation infrastructure and other public investments of a similar scope (“mega-projects”) reflect public sector priorities and objectives, non-pecuniary as well as financial constraints, and a range of decision-making processes. This book describes how decisions made in the public sector with respect to transportation infrastructure investments are affected by the large populations and territories they serve, the estimation of the substantial opportunity costs they entail, the formal procedures instituted for quantitatively appraising projected outcomes and monetary returns, and the political environment in which these decisions are made.




Eurosynt


Book Description