This section covers the process of the development of the conceptual framework. The development of the conceptual framework was initiated by identifying the key issues of the study resulting from the literature review process. Following this process, the identified key issues were further refined in the second phase of literature review and used as input and guidelines for the pilot interviews. The process was later followed by the refining the boundaries of the study, the key concepts, and the interrelationship between them. The process of the conceptual framework development is illustrated in Figure 4.1, and the resulting conceptual framework is illustrated in Figure 4.2.
Literature Review
Key concept
Key issue Key issue
Key issue Pilot interviews Key concept Key concept Inter-relationships Conceptual framework Specific Literature Review
153 The following sections elaborate how the key issues lead to the process of key concept identification and definition of the boundaries, as well as the inter-relationship between them.
4.4.1 Key concepts
As a result of the literature review process, the identified key issues of the research were further refined through specific literature review and pilot interview process. As discussed in section 3.2.3, the pilot interviews underline the concerns regarding the sustainability of the road infrastructure reconstruction assets. Particular emphasises were further addressed to the capacity of the local governments in road maintenance who bear the greatest responsibility to maintain the infrastructure in the decentralised government system. The respondents also highlight the lack of awareness of the local government towards the importance of maintenance and further suggest identifying the underlying problems.
Accordingly, the key concepts for the development of the conceptual framework are therefore the road reconstruction process, the involvement of the local government in the road reconstruction process, and factors affecting local governments’ capacity in road maintenance. Additionally, the impact of the post-conflict is also considered as one of the key concepts. Having identified the key concepts of the conceptual framework, the following sections will describe the relationship between the identified concepts.
4.4.2 Interrelationships between key concepts
Having presented the key concepts of the conceptual framework, this section will elaborate the relationship between them. This research merges two major areas; the disaster management and the road infrastructure maintenance. Both subjects are connected by the need to restore and improve the road infrastructure condition damaged by the disaster. This is particularly due to the life cycle of the road infrastructure, which spans between two periods of time; the planning, procurement, and the construction processes which take place during the disaster recovery period, and the operation and maintenance processes which take place in the post- reconstruction period.
Due to the inadequate capacity of the affected local governments to take the lead to restore the damaged road infrastructure, the road reconstruction activities were performed by the
154 national government and donor agencies. Since the local governments are held responsible for the long-term maintenance needs, there is accordingly a need to explore the involvement of the local government in the road reconstruction process as one of the main stakeholders of the road infrastructure.
Furthermore, after completion, the reconstructed road assets were handed-over to the local governments for the operation and maintenance. Since the maintenance capacity of the local governments has been renowned to be limited, the research highlights the need to evaluate the capacity of the local governments in the maintenance of the post-disaster road reconstruction assets and identify the underlying problems of the road maintenance issue, which will be linked back to the post-disaster reconstruction process. These issues eventually demonstrate the interrelationship between the key concepts. The contributions that each of these key concepts provides to the capacity of the local government in maintaining the post- disaster road reconstruction assets are illustrated in the conceptual framework.
4.4.3 Boundaries
Once the key concepts and the relationship between them have been identified, the conceptual framework requires a clear definition of the research boundaries. The specific literature review and pilot interviews suggest that unlike the normal development process, post-disaster reconstruction frequently engages great scale and rapid reconstruction activities. Also, assuming the fund is sufficient, post-disaster reconstruction would also be used as an opportunity for the physical, social, political, and the environmental development such as better road construction and the expansion of the road networks, which is aimed to reduce isolation and improve the economic condition (section 2.2.3.1). Nevertheless, the literature suggests that the road infrastructures in the developing countries suffer from rapid deterioration and loss of investment, due to the lack of maintenance. A study of Harral and Faiz (1988) regarding the road maintenance in 85 countries concludes that as much as $45 billion worth of investment in the road infrastructure could have been saved by a provision of less than $12 billion of preventive maintenance. Another study confirms that the rehabilitation of a paved road after 15 years of lack of maintenance may cost as much as $200,000 per km, whilst the provision of regular maintenance for the 15-year period will only cost as much $60,000 per km (Heggie, 1996).
155 In the event of the earthquake and tsunami on December 26th 2004, twelve countries were affected by the disaster. In Indonesia, the province of Aceh was the most devastated area. From the road infrastructure perspective, more than 3600 km of road networks were reconstructed. This condition raised a concern over the maintenance of the extensive reconstruction assets. Accordingly, the boundary of the research was defined as the post-disaster reconstruction of road infrastructure in the Province of Aceh, Indonesia. In addition, this study is particularly focused on the road maintenance at the district level, as most of the roads are under the responsibility of the local governments. However, as Aceh province underwent a conflict for almost 30 years prior to the tsunami, the impact of conflict is also considered as an additional boundary of the research. Additionally, it is worth noting that this study is conducted under the sponsorship of the local government of Aceh province. Hence, the result of this study is expected to have a direct contribution to the development of Aceh province. Among other factors, this has also been the justification for selecting the maintenance of road infrastructure in Aceh as the main focus of this study.