Towards resource-efficient and service-oriented integrated infrastructure operation

Roelich, Katy; Knoeri, Christof; Steinberger, Julia K. and Martin, Chris (2015). Towards resource-efficient and service-oriented integrated infrastructure operation. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 92 pp. 40–52.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2014.11.008

Abstract

Infrastructure is a means to an end: it is built, maintained and expanded in order to enable the functioning of society. Present infrastructure operation is characterised by: governance based on unmanaged growing demand, which is both inefficient and ultimately unsustainable; lack of integration of the end-users, in terms of the variety of their wants, needs and behaviours; separate and parallel delivery of different infrastructure streams prohibiting joint solutions. To achieve long-term sustainability, infrastructure needs to be designed and operated to provide essential service delivery at radically decreased levels of resource use. This new approach will need to: (1) incorporate the end-user, in terms of their wants and behaviours; (2) focus on the service provided; (3) use information and communication technologies more effectively; (4) integrate the operation of different infrastructure systems; (5) be governed in a manner that recognises the complexity and interconnectedness of infrastructure systems; and (6) rethink current infrastructure valuation. Possible configurations incorporating these aspects with the explicit goal of contributing to long term sustainability could be Multi Utility Service Companies or “MUSCos”. This article presents new insights and ideas generated by considering the challenge of the transition towards a MUSCo infrastructure.

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About

  • Item ORO ID
  • 41476
  • Item Type
  • Journal Item
  • ISSN
  • 0040-1625
  • Project Funding Details
  • Funded Project NameProject IDFunding Body
    Land of the MUSCosNot SetEPSRC
  • Keywords
  • sustainable infrastructure operation; performance economy; Energy Service Company ESCo; infrastructure integration; valuation; Multi Utility Service Company (MUSCo)
  • Academic Unit or School
  • Faculty of Business and Law (FBL)
  • Copyright Holders
  • © 2014 The Authors
  • Depositing User
  • Chris Martin
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)

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