Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics
Rapid infrastructure growth in developing countries has intensified environmental challenges due to cost-prioritizing practices over sustainability. This study evaluates 21 identified sustainable-driving tools to improve the management of infrastructure throughout its life cycle, by interacting with...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Buildings |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/210 |
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| author | Julio Juarez-Quispe Erick Rojas-Chura Alain Jorge Espinoza Vigil Milagros Socorro Guillén Málaga Oscar Yabar-Ardiles Johan Anco-Valdivia Sebastián Valencia-Félix |
| author_facet | Julio Juarez-Quispe Erick Rojas-Chura Alain Jorge Espinoza Vigil Milagros Socorro Guillén Málaga Oscar Yabar-Ardiles Johan Anco-Valdivia Sebastián Valencia-Félix |
| author_sort | Julio Juarez-Quispe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapid infrastructure growth in developing countries has intensified environmental challenges due to cost-prioritizing practices over sustainability. This study evaluates 21 identified sustainable-driving tools to improve the management of infrastructure throughout its life cycle, by interacting with 20 out of 36 key infrastructure system management variables (ISMVs). Using a systems thinking approach, a Sustainable Systems Dynamic Model (SSDM) is developed, comprising a nucleus representing the interconnected stages of the life cycle: planning and design (S1), procurement (S2), construction (S3), operation and maintenance (S4), and renewal and disposal (S5). The model incorporates a total of 12 balance (B) and 25 reinforcement (R) loops, enabling the visualization of critical interdependencies that influence the sustainability of the system. In addition, its analysis shows the interdependencies between variables and stages, demonstrating, for example, how the implementation of tools such as LCA, BIM, and Circular Economy principles in S1, or IoT and SHM in S4, significantly improve sustainability. A gap between theory and practice in the adoption of sustainable practices is identified, which is aggravated by the lack of knowledge in specific developing countries’ context. Hence, this study contributes to its closure by offering a model that facilitates the understanding of key interactions in infrastructure systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c86cce26a8544207b68e995affa4a87b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-5309 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Buildings |
| spelling | doaj-art-c86cce26a8544207b68e995affa4a87b2025-01-24T13:26:12ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092025-01-0115221010.3390/buildings15020210Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System DynamicsJulio Juarez-Quispe0Erick Rojas-Chura1Alain Jorge Espinoza Vigil2Milagros Socorro Guillén Málaga3Oscar Yabar-Ardiles4Johan Anco-Valdivia5Sebastián Valencia-Félix6School of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruSchool of Civil Engineering, Universidad Católica de Santa María, Arequipa 04013, PeruRapid infrastructure growth in developing countries has intensified environmental challenges due to cost-prioritizing practices over sustainability. This study evaluates 21 identified sustainable-driving tools to improve the management of infrastructure throughout its life cycle, by interacting with 20 out of 36 key infrastructure system management variables (ISMVs). Using a systems thinking approach, a Sustainable Systems Dynamic Model (SSDM) is developed, comprising a nucleus representing the interconnected stages of the life cycle: planning and design (S1), procurement (S2), construction (S3), operation and maintenance (S4), and renewal and disposal (S5). The model incorporates a total of 12 balance (B) and 25 reinforcement (R) loops, enabling the visualization of critical interdependencies that influence the sustainability of the system. In addition, its analysis shows the interdependencies between variables and stages, demonstrating, for example, how the implementation of tools such as LCA, BIM, and Circular Economy principles in S1, or IoT and SHM in S4, significantly improve sustainability. A gap between theory and practice in the adoption of sustainable practices is identified, which is aggravated by the lack of knowledge in specific developing countries’ context. Hence, this study contributes to its closure by offering a model that facilitates the understanding of key interactions in infrastructure systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/210sustainable infrastructuresustainable infrastructure systemssystem dynamicssystems thinkinginfrastructure systemsinfrastructure systems management |
| spellingShingle | Julio Juarez-Quispe Erick Rojas-Chura Alain Jorge Espinoza Vigil Milagros Socorro Guillén Málaga Oscar Yabar-Ardiles Johan Anco-Valdivia Sebastián Valencia-Félix Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics Buildings sustainable infrastructure sustainable infrastructure systems system dynamics systems thinking infrastructure systems infrastructure systems management |
| title | Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics |
| title_full | Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics |
| title_fullStr | Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics |
| title_short | Advancing Sustainable Infrastructure Management: Insights from System Dynamics |
| title_sort | advancing sustainable infrastructure management insights from system dynamics |
| topic | sustainable infrastructure sustainable infrastructure systems system dynamics systems thinking infrastructure systems infrastructure systems management |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/15/2/210 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juliojuarezquispe advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT erickrojaschura advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT alainjorgeespinozavigil advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT milagrossocorroguillenmalaga advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT oscaryabarardiles advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT johanancovaldivia advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics AT sebastianvalenciafelix advancingsustainableinfrastructuremanagementinsightsfromsystemdynamics |