Development of scientific-theoretical provisions to clarify the concept of road infrastructure in the road sector
Abstract. The article presents the author`s view on the interpretation of the concept of «road infrastructure". The relevance of the research is determined by the need to develop the theoretical foundations of transport logistics, due to the specifics of the road sector and its close integration with the sphere of road transport, when the implementation of road construction work on the creation and operational activities for the maintenance, improvement of reliability and extension of durability of roads are combined in time and space with the processes of transport and logistics services. The aim of the article is to clarify the theoretical provisions in terms of specifying the concepts that characterize the road component of the infrastructure of the transport and logistics system of the country, as well as to develop recommendations for its further development. The paper uses the system-structural approach to explaining the essence and content of road infrastructure, its development is proposed to be based on the logistic approach. The main provisions resulting from the study of the economic essence of road infrastructure are presented, the basic theoretical aspects are systematized with clarification of the conceptual apparatus used in the economic development of road facilities on the basis of the logistic approach. The analysis of its forming elements is performed, which allows to exclude the spontaneous use of the concepts of «roads» and «road infrastructure". The refined interpretation of the objects that form the road infrastructure is based on the selection of the main functions they perform in the process of solving relatively discrete economic problems in the service of traffic flows, as well as the physical location in relation to the road. At present, the sectoral structuring of infrastructure facilities is predominant. Having synthesized and investigated by means of the general theory of systems road and transport-logistic activity, the necessity of theoretical modeling of road infrastructure from the standpoint of processes and procedures of management of its development has been established. It is carried out to achieve the methodological goal and allows a new way to consider the ways of structural relationships and their functioning in the economic development of road facilities. As a result, the likelihood of a strategic alliance of road transport and road economy in transport and logistics systems is increased.
Keywords: road infrastructure, road facilities, logistics approach, roadside service, development, traffic flows, transport and logistics system, elemental composition
Highlights:
♦ the theoretical foundations of economic development of road economy are developed, including clarification of the definition of «road infrastructure";
♦ the author revealed the economic essence of road infrastructure and scientifically substantiated the logical and analytical models of its elemental composition;
♦ a conceptual approach to the economic maintenance of road infrastructure and management of its condition is proposed.
Irina M. Tsarenkova, Belarusian State University of Transport, Gomel, Belarus