SMART VILLAGES AND SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING A BODY OF KNOWLEDGE FOR A CLIMATE-POSITIVE FUTURE

Smart Villages and Sustainable Rural Development is a comprehensive resource compiling existing and emerging knowledge for transforming rural areas into sustainable and resilient communities. The construction industry accounts for over 37% of greenhouse gas emissions globally. Moreover, rapid urbanisation, coupled with extending traditional construction practices to meet the needs of rural areas, risks further worsening current climate challenges. How can we satisfy this need for development, while not further damaging our environment?

Departing from the conventional wisdom surrounding infrastructure planning and development that focuses on urban settings, the book consolidates a comprehensive suite of technical and non-technical resources, innovations and indicators that rationalise fit-for-purpose planning, development and operations of rural infrastructure. By doing so, it presents a fresh perspective on needs-based infrastructure provisions in a rural context.

Drawing from global cross-sector practices and research-based evidence, the book argues for promoting location-specific infrastructure development, encompassing wider social, cultural and economic contexts unique to rural settings, across multiple perspectives. Dividing the chapters into four key sections, namely: Smart Villages, Sustainability and Development; Implementing Programmes and Strategies; Implementing Project-based Solutions; and Technological Systems, Policies and Governance in Smart Development, the book elaborates on how the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be conceptualised for a context-specific implementation at the core of developing rural communities with necessary infrastructure provisions that are purpose-built, affordable, risk-averse and resilient.

Hemanta Doloi is an Associate Professor in the Construction Management discipline and the Project Director of the Smart Villages project at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning of the University of Melbourne. He is the Director of the Smart Villages Lab (SVL), which focuses on Data-Driven research in the area of critical needs 'Sustainable Rural Construction and Development' under the auspices of the Smart Villages program. His research interests are in: (1) Project Management, (2) Infrastructure Planning and Policy, (3) Construction Economics and Management, and (4) Rural Construction and Smart Villages.

In recognition of his academic contributions and their positive impact on human lives, Hemanta was awarded the "Nelson Mandela Leadership Award 2023" and "Hind Rattan (Jewel of India) Award 2024" by the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Welfare Society of India. Hemanta also won the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors' "Infinite Value Award in Teaching and Research".

Koshy Varghese is a Professor at the Indian Institute of Management, Madras, where he was a pioneer in establishing the first Autodesk-funded Building Information Modelling laboratory in India at the university. His research interests are primarily in the area of modelling and automating engineering processes using appropriate computational methods and tools. He has primarily focused on processes in three domains: construction design, construction planning and urban sustainability assessment.

As a pioneer in construction engineering management education in India, Prof Varghese has designed and developed program curricula for several Construction Engineering and Management programs at a national level. At IIT Madras, he has been involved in developing a unique post-graduate program in partnership with the largest construction company in India, Larsen & Toubro. He was previously president of the International Association of Automation and Robotics in Construction.

George Ofori is a Professor at London South Bank University, United Kingdom, where he was previously the Dean of the School of the Built Environment and Architecture. He has been a consultant to several international agencies and governments on construction industry development since 1978. He is the Deputy Chairman of the International Board of CoST, the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Engineers Against Poverty.

Dr Ofori specialises in Construction Management and Economics at the project, company and industry levels. His main research subject is improving the capacity and capability of the construction industry, especially in developing countries. His other research subjects are: Sustainable Construction; Productivity; Human Resources in Construction, and Professionalism and Ethics.