Boateng, P; Omotayo, T; Osunsanmi, T and Ekundayo, D (2025) Socio-ecological risks management dynamic simulation in megaproject development of the edinburgh tram network. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, 43(1), pp. 75-92. ISSN 2398-4708
Abstract
Purpose: The inherent risks and their interactive impacts in megaproject development have been found in numerous cases worldwide. Although risk management standards have been recommended for the best practice in engineering construction projects, there is still a lack of systematic approaches to describing the interactions. Interactions such as social, technical, economic, ecological and political (STEEP) risks have complex and dynamic implications for megaproject construction. For a better understanding and effective management of megaprojects such as the Edinburgh Tram project, the dynamic interaction of concomitant risks must be studied. Design/methodology/approach: A systems dynamic methodology was adopted following the comprehensive literature review. Documentary data were gathered from the case study on Tram Network Project in Edinburgh. Findings: A casual loop of typical evolution of key indicators of risks was then developed. A hypothesised model of social and ecological (SE) risks was derived using the system dynamics (SD) modelling technique. The model was set up following British Standards on risk management to provide a generic tool for risk management in megaproject development. The study reveals that cost and time overruns at the developmental stage of the case project are caused mainly by the effects of interactions of risk factors from the external macro project environment on a timely basis. Originality/value: This article presented a model for simulating the socio-ecological risk confronting the management and construction of megaprojects. The use of SD provided the opportunity to explain the nature of all risks, particularly the SE risks in the past stages of project development.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | megaproject; risks; system dynamics; tram project |
| Index terms: | case study, time overrun, modelling, interaction, key indicator, project development, risk factor, risk management, best practice, literature review, megaproject, methodology, evolution, construction project, system dynamics |
| Subjects: | strategic project management, analytical methods, environmental science, environmental hazards, behavioral psychology, production management, research methods, project delivery, data analysis and analytics, computing systems, business, risk assessment, data collection methods, project controls |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Time Control, Research Practice, Business Strategy, Project Management, Engineering Principles, Sustainability, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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