Infrastructures and buildings, environmental sustainability, ecology and natural environment protection, sustainable urban planning and design, water resources and transportation networks are the key elements of municipal engineering. Municipal Engineer has been playing a significant role in disseminating advances of multi-interdisciplinary research in relation to the health and quality of life of communities as a result of urbanisation, and to raise critical awareness regarding design and management of sustainable urban infrastructures and construction in light of environmentally friendly, energy-saving and cost-effective initiatives.
This issue presents one briefing and four papers covering a collection of research topics. The briefing paper by Uzzell (2015) aims to raise awareness of designers to improve surface water capture capability and run-off efficiency of drainage systems caused by high-intensity storms to prevent or minimise the potential impact from drainage overflow and downstream flooding. Interested readers should consider participating in this discussion topic.
In the first paper of this issue, Metje et al. (2015) highlight the importance of eliminating strikes on buried utility assets (e.g. gas, water, sewers, electric and telecoms) as a result of the excavations/earthworks in civil engineering construction industry and the associated impacts and costs due to the direct damage to infrastructure, injuries to workers/public and service disruptions. Metje et al. found from 3348 incidents provided by nine organisations that: 1) utilities with low-voltage electricity and telecom cables had most strikes and damages; 2) 09:00–12:00 was recorded to have the highest occurrences of utility strikes; and 3) hand tools caused the largest proportion of utility strikes followed by larger equipment (e.g. excavators and mini diggers). The Utility Strikes Avoidance Group method was recommended as a standard data recording structure to facilitate an industry-wide analysis and more accurate conclusion to be drawn.
The gap analysis of Ireland's physical infrastructure is presented in the second paper by Moloney and McKeogh (2012), which reveals the potential impact on economic growth attributable to the shortcomings of broadband connectivity, quality water supply and transportation networks. Moloney and McKeogh conclude the essential need to develop and implement a “holistic and inclusive” methodology to aid the long-term Irish infrastructure investment.
The third paper (Nguyen et al., 2015) focuses on the influences of bicycle infrastructure towards sustainable transport management and planning to improve traffic congestion and reduce environmental impacts. The cycling network in Tampines New Town, Singapore was used as a case study. The research has shown a clear transition of transport mode from bus to cycling as a result of the enhancement in bicycle network and connectivity. The authors recommend the expansion of public education, enforcement and publicity to further increase the cyclist volume.
The final paper differs from the scope of the other papers. Emuze et al. (2015) demonstrate how the supply chain structures affect the procurement systems in the Malawian construction industry for which the main clients are public organisations. Emuze et al. recommend three methods for improvement of the existing situation in Malawi; introducing construction management as alternative procurement method, exercising a more transparent public tendering process to avoid perceptions of corruption, and revisiting the traditional method for the selection of contractors as the lowest bidder usually fails to perform efficiently.
Founded in 1992, Municipal Engineer has a frequency of four issues per year with an impact factor of 0·241 in 2013. The journal publishes the accepted articles Ahead of Print (AoP) on its Virtual Library homepage, which are fully citable using the DOI system. All researchers worldwide are welcome to submit their articles about breakthroughs, new findings and advancements in the area of municipal engineering.
