i would suggest that the cost-effectiveness of highway research programs
tends to be low for the same reason as typical engineering projects.
usually the focus is on the project itself, and how well the engineering
works, rather than on the final purpose of the project.
what i mean by final purpose is the basic underlying set of goals for
virtually all engineering activity, to improve the physical living
standards of human beings. there are 5 key essentials to assure
adequate living standards - clean air, clean water, healthy food, warm
clothes and snug shelter.
how effective really are highway projects and highway research in
assisting us in realizing these 5 essentials? usually the pat answer is
that highways facilitate mobility so people can more easily travel to
transport these things from one place to another. but this is simply a
means to an end. and highways also cover up lots of perfectly good land
in ways that compromise access to or quality of these essentials. in
addition, excessive reliance on vehicle travel leads to many health
problems related to obesity and lack of exercise, especially in the u.s.
and increasingly elsewhere.
i recommend keeping a focus on these key essentials as the true goals of
human technology & economic activity. as with engineers, economists
typically also focus on means (in their case, money) rather than the
true ends that are really driving all this activity.
let's keep our eyes on the prize.
muriel
שמעון נסיכי wrote:
> Dear Friends
>
> I am asking for your help in providing me or referring me to any
> sources which may have information relevant to the following issues:
>
> 1. Percentage of highway research budgets as a percentage of total
> (national) expenditure on highways.
>
> 2. Data on cost effectiveness of national research programs (e. g.
> US-SHRP project)
>
> Thanks
>
> Shimon Nesichi, M.Sc.,
> Managing Director,
> Materials and Research Division,
> Public Works Department,
> Ben Zvi Rd. 55, POB 49057
> Tel Aviv, 61940
> Israel
>
--
Any resemblance of any of the above opinions to anybody's official
position on anything is completely coincidental.
******************************************************************
Muriel Strand, P.E.
Air Resources Engineer
CA Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-324-6771
916-322-3923 (fax)
www.arb.ca.gov
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