Infrastructure Asset Management for Developing Countries - Paragon E-learning/ MOOC Opportunities

This research project is proposed by the Financing for Sustainable Development Office (FSDO) in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs in the UN Secretariat, following the release of its Handbook on Infrastructure Asset Management for local and national governments.

The Columbia Capstone team has been engaged in supplying intellectual capital to the review of paragon’s e-learning modules including an existing massive open online course (MOOC) on "infrastructure asset management for sustainable development". The team has also researched and produced case studies illustrating good practices in "infrastructure asset management for sustainable development" in various countries: 

• In China -- the Oriental Beauty Valley (industrial infrastructure development), the Medical Community (integrated public healthcare infrastructure) and the Shanghai’s History Museum.
• In Malaysia -- the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART Tunnel).
• In Mexico -- the System for Ecological Management and Waste Processing (SIMEPRODE)
• In Vietnam -- the North-South Expressway (high speed train line). 

The case studies illustrate the handbook’s asset management tools in enabling robust environments towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the links between robust Life Cycle Management, Demand Management, and Financial Management while achieving the SDGs. It also features good management practices strengthening the resilience of communities in mitigating crisis, e.g.: climate change and pandemics.