The governance and evaluation of ‘megaprojects’ – that is, large-scale, complex, high-stakes infrastructure projects usually commissioned by governments and delivered through partnerships between public and private organisations – is receiving increased attention. However, megaproject evaluation has hitherto largely adopted a linear-rationalist perspective to explain the frequent failure of such projects to meet the ‘iron triangle’ of performance criteria: delivering on time, within budget, and according to specifications. This approach recommends greater control and accountability to remedy megaproject ‘pathologies’. Drawing on empirical examples mainly from the transport sector and radioactive waste disposal, this book offers new perspectives to megaproject evaluation. Comprising contributions from leading experts in project evaluation and appraisal, this collection opens up new avenues by suggesting two ways of improving megaproject evaluation: 1) approaches that go beyond the dominant linearrationalist notion of policy processes, and emphasise instead the objective of opening up appraisal processes in order to enhance learning and reflexivity; and 2) approaches that extend evaluative criteria beyond the ‘iron triangle’, to cover the various socioeconomic impacts and preconditions for project success. This volume will be of great relevance to scholars and practitioners with an interest in megaprojects, energy and climate policy, radioactive waste management, urban design, and project planning and management.

This book showcases the discussion about megaprojects carried out at the MeRIT (Megaproject Research Interdisciplinary Team) workshop 2022: the crisis, discontinuity, rising prices, and supply chains disruption force radical reflection for those involved in megaprojects. It raises a modern-day challenge, the creation of value for stakeholders. Indeed, the aim of the volume is to encourage readers to think more broadly, articulately and less stringently than the mainstream claims. There is a need to design, implement, and manage megaprojects by abandoning the old paradigm that leveraged solely on time and cost. We need to move beyond that by going to explore the value generated, the positive impact on people, communities and territories. Economic, social and environmental sustainability takes on a new and broader articulation: issues of the circular economy applied to megaprojects are addressed and ample space is ensured for the inclusion of social needs in current practices.

This book is the last part of a trilogy and concludes a long-term project that focussed on nuclear waste governance in 24 countries. It deals with core themes of the disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW), e.g. the wicked problems of housing nuclear waste disposal facilities, public participation and public discourse, voluntarism and compensation in siting as well as the role of advisory bodies and commissions. The volume reflects on the diverse factors that shape the debate on what can be considered an ”acceptable solution” and on various strategies adopted in order to minimise conflicts and possibly increase acceptability. The various theoretical and empirical contributions shed light on several mechanisms and issues touched upon in these strategies, such as the role of trust, voluntarism, economic interests at stake, compensation, ethics, governance, and participation.

Infrastructure projects are notoriously hard to manage so it is important that society learns from the successes and mistakes made over time. However, most evaluation methods run into a conundrum: either they cover a large number of projects but have little to say about their details, or they focus on detailed single-case studies with little in terms of applicability elsewhere. This book presents Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) as an alternative evaluation method that solves the conundrum to enhance learning.

Providing crucial background information for those who want to understand decision-making processes on large transport infrastructure projects, this fascinating Handbook will prove an important source of information for academics, researchers and stude

This volume examines the national plans that ten Euratom countries plus Switzerland and the United States are developing to address high-level radioactive waste storage and disposal. The chapters, which were written by 23 international experts, outline European and national regulations, technology choices, safety criteria, monitoring systems, compensation schemes, institutional structures, and approaches to public involvement. Key stakeholders, their values and interests are introduced, the responsibilities and authority of different actors considered, decision-making processes are analyzed as well as the factors influencing different national policy choices. The views and expectations of different communities regarding participatory decision making and compensation and the steps that have been or are being taken to promote dialogue and constructive problem-solving are also considered.​

This book provides a comprehensive global coverage of energy management as it relates mostly to developing countries. In an era of unprecedented global population growth, the demand for energy has reached staggering levels. The United Nations reported an enormous 200% increase in population between 1950 and 2020, with projections indicating a further rise to 10.9 billion by 2100. As a direct consequence, global primary energy usage has surged from 3701 Mtoe in 1965 to 13511 Mtoe in 2017, putting immense strain on existing energy sources. If current growth rates persist, these sources could be depleted within a mere 130 years. To address this impending crisis, governments worldwide have implemented regulations and incentives to promote energy conservation. While numerous studies and publications have emerged within the field of energy management, there remains a significant research gap, particularly concerning the energy challenges faced by developing countries. Existing edited books on energy-related topics often narrowly focus on specific aspects, hindering readers from gaining a holistic understanding of energy management challenges and potential solutions. This book fills this void. Recognizing the pivotal role these nations play in achieving sustainable development goals, this book provides a wide-ranging perspective on the trends, challenges, and potential solutions to energy crises in these regions. It not only acknowledges the challenges faced by developing countries but also offers viable strategies to address them. The editor, leveraging his successful leadership experience in global academic endeavors, including publishing a book on Occupational Safety & Health practices during the COVID-19 era and coordination of multinational research projects, is well positioned to bring together exceptional chapters from various countries. His extensive network ensures the inclusion of diverse perspectives, enriching the book's content and offering invaluable insights to readers. Designed for a broad readership, including energy industry organizations, professionals, researchers, government bodies, policymakers, and students, this book delves into a wide array of energy management issues. By facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the subject, it equips readers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the complex landscape of energy management in the modern world.

This Research Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the role of project management in sustainable development. Examining how to successfully integrate sustainability into the processes and practices involved, it highlights the significant development in sustainable project management whilst exploring potential future directions for the field.

This cutting-edge Research Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of research on the governance of projects. Spanning sectors, project types, and organizational hierarchies, it delves into diverse theoretical and practical approaches to the governance of projects, identifying valuable new phenomena for future study.