Coupling and evolution mechanism of infrastructure mega-projects complex ecosystem: Case study on Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge

Abstract

Infrastructure mega-projects (IMP), which involve complex interactions and feedback, have more significant impact on economic, social, and other systems. This paper proposes a concept—the IMP complex ecosystem—to analyze IMP from a broad perspective of organic links across engineering, social, economic, and resource environments. Moreover, this paper proposes the theoretical concept, framework, and functions for the IMP complex ecosystem based on complex ecosystem theory. First, the coupling process between IMP complex ecosystem subsystems is analyzed through material flows, energy flows, information flows, and value streams. Second, a logistic model of the IMP complex ecosystem is proposed by analyzing the evolution conditions and motivations. Third, the evolution pattern of the IMP complex ecosystem is determined. Fourth, the positive evolution strategy of the IMP complex ecosystem based on dissipative structure theory and the influencing factors of the evolutionary process is introduced. Finally, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and Sousa chinensis are used as the case study. This paper also analyzes the coupling structure on the complex ecosystem of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and investigates the coupling and evolution mechanism application of the IMP complex ecosystem on Sousa chinensis protection for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge project.

Keywords

infrastructure mega-projects (IMP) / Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge / complex ecosystem / coupling relationship / evolution mechanism

References

[1] Bossel H (2001). Indicators for Sustainable Development: Theory, Method, Applications. Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development

[2] Calvano C N, John P (2004). Systems engineering in an age of complexity. Systems Engineering, 7(1): 25–34

[3] Castejon-Limas M, Ordieres-Mere J, Gonzalez-Marcos A, González-Castro V (2011). Effort estimates through project complexity. Annals of Operations Research, 186(1): 395–406

[4] Christian A, Holmberg J, Lindgren K (1996). Social-ecological indicators for sustainability. Ecological Economics, 18(2): 135–140

[5] Fan Y H, Lu Z H, Cheng J L (2003). Key ecological environment and ecological reconstruction technology of coal mining area of China. Ecological journal, 23(10): 2144–2152

[6] Guo C Q (2007). The social responsibility and historical mission of China management science academe. Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 22(2): 132–136

[7] Hao X, Qin S S (2003). Complexity and sustainable development of compound ecosystem. Journal of Systematic Dialectics, 10: 23–26

[8] Levitt R E (2007). CEM research for the next 50 years: Maximizing economic, environmental, and societal value of the built environment. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 133(9): 619–628

[9] Ma S J, Wang R S (1984). Social-economic-natural complex ecosystem. Journal of Ecology, 4(1): 1–9

[10] Odum H T (1983). System Ecology. New York: John Wiley and Sons

[11] Ottino J M (2004). Engineering complex systems. Nature, 427(6973): 399

[12] Qin S S (2008). Study on self-organization characteristics of compound ecosystem. Journal of Systems Science, 16(4): 45–49

[13] Sahely H R, Kennedy C A, Adams B J (2005). Developing sustainability criteria for urban infrastructure systems. Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 32(1): 72–85

[14] Sauser B, Boardman J (2008). Taking hold of system of systems management. Engineering Management Journal, 20(4): 3–8

[15] Shen P, Yang H (2007). Research on coordination of traffic and transportation system by compound system theory. Railway Transport and Economy, 29(7): 4–6

[16] Shen X F, Hu G, Jiang L (1987). Theory of Dissipative Structure. Shanghai: Shanghai People’s Publishing House

[17] Sheng Z H, You Q Z (2007). Meta-Synthesis management: Methodology and paradigms–the exploration of engineering management theory in Sutong Bridge. Complex Systems and Complexity Science, 4(2): 1–9 (in Chinese)

[18] Tansley A G (1935). The use and abuse of vegetational concepts and terms. Ecology, 16(3): 284–307

[19] Tian H Y, Chen L D, Lv Y H (2006). Multi-objective system and method of ecosystem management. Chinese Journal of Ecology, 25(9): 1147–1152

[20] Wang G C, Li P F (2014). Study on complex ecosystem of coal mining area and its coupling mechanism. Ecological Economics, 30(2): 139–142

[21] Wang R S, Ouyang Z Y (2012). Social-economy-natural complex ecosystem and sustainable development. Journal of Chinese academy of sciences, 27(03): 337–345

[22] Wang R S, Zhao J Z, Zhao Q T (1989). Regeneration, self-birth, symbiosis—Ecological control of three principles and sustainable development. Ecology, 8(5): 33–36

[23] Yuan X M, Han W X (1998). Coordination and sustainable development of composite system. China Population, Resources and Environment, 8(2):51–55 (in Chinese)

[24] Zhang Q P, Hu Y Q (1995). Discussion on the complex logistic development mechanism of urban ecological economic system. Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology, 27(2):131–135 (in Chinese)

[25] Zhang X C, Xue C Z (1995). Systematization of large-Scale project management. Metallurgical Economy and Management, (4): 21–26

Acknowledgments

Thanks Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Authority for information provision and case study.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2018 The Author(s) 2018. Published by Higher Education Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)