Sustainability Challenges and Opportunities in a University Police Fleet: A Case Study of Idling, Emissions, and Electrification Potential

Strategic evaluation of cycling infrastructure in emerging contexts: a case study of high-capacity corridors in Ljubljana, Slovenia

This paper presents a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) of proposed high-capacity cycling corridors in the wider Ljubljana area, representing the first such evaluation in Slovenia, where comparable infrastructure has not yet been implemented. The low baseline cycling demand presents methodological challenges for accurately forecasting user response. To address this, a discrete mode choice model calibrated with regional data was applied to estimate modal shifts from private car and public transport to cycling, based primarily on anticipated travel time savings. Long-term projections incorporate behavioral responses to improved infrastructure, such as enhanced comfort, continuity, and perceived safety. The analysis accounts for capital investment, land acquisition, maintenance, and renewal costs, while quantifying external benefits including public health improvements, reduced fuel consumption, lower emissions, and travel time savings. Conservative assumptions were applied throughout, and a detailed sensitivity analysis was conducted to test the robustness of results under alternative cost and uptake scenarios. Findings indicate that the investment shows positive economic performance under the baseline and in most tested scenarios, with greater sensitivity to demand-side parameters than to cost variations. These results highlight the importance of integrating infrastructure planning with complementary policy measures to stimulate early adoption and maximize societal benefits. The study proposes a framework that could be transferable for the appraisal of transformative cycling infrastructure and contributes to the growing body of evidence on active mobility in emerging markets, particularly within Central and Eastern Europe.

Journal of Engineering Issues and Solutions Closing the Willingness–Infrastructure Gap in End-of-Life EV Battery Management: Stakeholder Evidence and Policy Pathways for Urban Nepal

ASSESSING THE PHYSICAL IMPACT OF FUEL TANKER EXPLOSIONS ON PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN SULEJA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Fuel tanker explosions remain one of the most devastating transportation-related disasters in Nigeria, causing significant loss of lives, environmental degradation, and extensive damage to public infrastructure. Despite the frequency of these incidents, empirical studies examining their direct effects on local infrastructure at the community level remain limited. This study assessed the physical impact of fuel tanker explosions on public infrastructure in Suleja Local Government Area, Niger State. A descriptive survey research design was adopted, and data were collected from 353 respondents using a structured questionnaire administered to residents, business owners, transport operators, and relevant government officials within affected communities. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations, were employed to analyze the data using SPSS. The findings revealed that fuel tanker explosions have caused substantial damage to critical infrastructure, including roads, drainage systems, electricity distribution facilities, commercial buildings, and residential structures. The results further indicated that road infrastructure and electricity facilities were the most frequently affected, resulting in disruption of transportation, public services, and economic activities within the study area. The study concludes that recurrent fuel tanker explosions constitute a significant threat to infrastructure resilience and sustainable urban development in Suleja. It recommends stricter enforcement of petroleum transportation safety regulations, routine maintenance of fuel tankers, improved emergency response mechanisms, and strategic urban planning aimed at reducing infrastructure exposure to tanker-related hazards. The findings contribute empirical evidence to the growing discourse on disaster risk reduction and infrastructure protection in rapidly urbanizing communities in Nigeria.

Feasibility assessment of an integrated green urban transportation system for Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley faces acute urban mobility challenges, including severe traffic congestion, a disproportionately high share of fossil fuel dependent private vehicles, severely degraded pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and decades of unplanned urban expansion that has consumed road reserves and public space. These conditions impose measurable costs on public health, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability, and they require a structured, evidence informed response grounded in local spatial conditions rather than generic policy templates. This study presents a planning level feasibility assessment for an integrated green urban transportation system specifically tailored to the Kathmandu Valley context, with the Gaushala-Ratopul corridor selected as a representative pilot study area. Field observations were conducted at four locations within the corridor during weekday morning peak hours (8:00–9:00 am), recording vehicle counts ranging from approximately 85 vehicles per hour at the heritage adjacent Jaya Bageshwori Road to approximately 560 vehicles per hour on the Ring Road segment, with motorcycles and microbuses constituting the dominant modes. An Origin and Destination (O&D) survey engaged 35 respondents across five stakeholder categories: daily commuters, shop owners, students, transport workers, and traffic police through purposive sampling at key corridor nodes. A pedestrianisation acceptance survey administered to eight accessible residents and business operators along Jaya Bageshwori Road recorded positive opinions from six respondents (75%), treated as an exploratory qualitative indicator rather than a statistically representative finding. Based on these field observations and secondary evidence from international case studies, the study proposes a phased framework of interventions encompassing pedestrian zone creation, dedicated cycling infrastructure across three spatial typologies, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor development on two proposed routes, electric vehicle (EV) adoption incentives, smart traffic management through Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), and integrated digital mobility platforms. Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals 6, 7, and 11 is articulated through measurable indicator linkages supported by international precedent evidence. The proposed framework explicitly acknowledges the absence of transport simulation, emission modelling, and demand forecasting limitations that constrain the study to a planning level contribution and identifies these as priorities for future engineering level investigation.

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES IN URBAN GREEN BUILDINGS OF THE UAE: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

The construction industry in the UAE plays a crucial role in socio-economic growth while contributing significantly to environmental challenges, producing around 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions and a considerable amount of national waste. In response to international climate agreements and the UAE's Net Zero 2050 initiative, this study delivers a detailed literature review on the strategies, challenges, and performance related to green buildings in the region, synthesizing insights from 31 peer-reviewed and practical studies. It notes a transition from optional international standards like LEED to obligatory local codes such as Estidama and Al Sa’fat. Key findings underscore the effectiveness of passive design techniques in enhancing thermal efficiency in hyper-arid conditions; however, a "performance gap" persists, where real energy usage often diverges from predicted values due to behavioral influences and dependency on Western thermal comfort models. Implementation hurdles are categorized into a seven-factor model, highlighting that high initial investment costs and a lack of skilled green professionals are major obstacles. The review also anticipates future directions in Industry 4.0, focusing on technologies like Digital Twins, Machine Learning for enhancing predictive capabilities, and sustainable practices such as using recycled materials. Ultimately, strategies for policymakers and stakeholders to reconcile sustainability initiatives with actual building outcomes are recommended.

Beyond the Landfill: An Evaluation of Lagos State's Waste Disposal Management Methods and the Transition towards a Circular Economy (2020-2026)

Lagos, Africa's most populous megacity, generates approximately 17,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, presenting one of the most formidable urban environmental challenges on the continent. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of waste disposal management methods operated by the Lagos State Government between 2020 and 2026, examining the systemic evolution from a landfill-dependent linear model towards a circular economy framework. Drawing on recent empirical data, including landfill performance metrics, Private Sector Participation (PSP) operator assessments, and community-level studies, the research identifies critical infrastructure deficits, policy implementation gaps, and governance challenges that have perpetuated the waste crisis. The study reveals that while the government has demonstrated commendable policy ambition including plans to decommission the ageing Olusosun and Solous landfills, develop Transfer Loading Stations (TLS) and Material Recovery Facilities (MRF), and enforce mandatory waste sorting significant operational bottlenecks persist. These include inadequate collection infrastructure, PSP operator underperformance, limited community access to formal services, and weak enforcement mechanisms. The paper proffers a multi-dimensional framework for sustainable waste management reform, encompassing infrastructure modernization, PSP sector restructuring, informal sector integration, community engagement, and enhanced regulatory enforcement. The findings contribute to the scholarly discourse on urban waste management in developing megacities and offer actionable policy recommendations for Lagos and analogous contexts.