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Azzouz, Labib 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2138-3958
(2021).
Benchmarking international high-speed railways from the sustainability perspective.
University of Birmingham.
Ph.D.
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Azzouz2021PhD_redacted.pdf
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Abstract
HSR are capable of meeting many of the mobility needs of individuals and societies in a safe, clean, and reliable manner. There is no unified reporting framework that gathers HSR sustainability topics and issues under the three pillars of sustainability. Also, no previous research has inspected the overall sustainability reporting practices of HSR operators.
To fill these research gaps, this study formulates a sustainability reporting and benchmarking framework which comprises key economic, social, and environmental factors that are representative of the sustainability performance of HSR. A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods is used. Primary data are obtained from visual observation, surveys, and face-to-face interviews with railway experts, while secondary data are extracted from a wide range of sources.
The study created a 26-factor sustainability framework that could be used for reporting and benchmarking purposes. Sustainability factors were selected with the help of experts from the International Union of Railways (UIC). Then, the study examined the availability of the selected factors in HSR operators’ publications. Reporting variations were detected and revealed at the levels of sustainability pillars, factors, operators, and indicators. After that, the study proposed a variety of quantitative parameters and qualitative indicators for expressing the 26 selected sustainability factors. The applicability, usability, and availability of data for the proposed indicators were tested with benchmarking exercises which compared both operators and corridors. Benchmarking exercises provided insights into the actual sustainability performance of the benchmarked entities. Finally, in a special case study, the project looked at obstacles that exclude specific groups from using HSR services in China. The study offers recommendations and points towards areas of improvement which could facilitate a more accurate measurement of the sustainability performance of HSR.
| Type of Work: | Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.) | |||||||||
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| Award Type: | Doctorates > Ph.D. | |||||||||
| Supervisor(s): |
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| Licence: | All rights reserved | |||||||||
| College/Faculty: | Colleges > College of Engineering & Physical Sciences | |||||||||
| School or Department: | School of Engineering, Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering | |||||||||
| Funders: | Other | |||||||||
| Other Funders: | University of Birmingham Postgraduate Scholarship, Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA) | |||||||||
| Subjects: | T Technology > TF Railroad engineering and operation | |||||||||
| URI: | http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/11270 |
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