A system dynamics approach to support strategic planning for sustainable paved-road infrastructure management in Uganda

Abstract

Sustainable transport infrastructure and services contribute significantly to the rate of economic growth and improvement of a country's standard of living; and also critical to a country’s competitiveness and ability to harness its regional and globalization potential. However, unlike in the developed economies where a holistic approach is applied for strategic planning and management for sustainable construction and maintenance of the paved-road network, a good number of developing economies where this approach is not applied are challenged on sustainable transport infrastructure development and management. This study aimed at providing a system dynamics model to support holistic strategic planning for sustainable paved-road infrastructure construction and maintenance management with Uganda as a case study. Using secondary data, the study developed a model capable of predicting the behaviour of such a system. The study suggested a number of recommendations most importantly the need to experiment the envisaged system beforehand and base on lessons learnt to make informed decisions and formulate appropriate policies and legislation before actual strategy implem