Infrastructure
From Halbeeg, the open encyclopedia · Af-Soomaali
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Infrastructure comprises the buildings, equipment and basic systems that a society or economy depends on. These include roads, ports, airports, power stations, water and sanitation facilities, telecommunications networks, schools and hospitals. The term is also rendered as 'social service infrastructure'.
Infrastructure is characterised by high upfront capital costs, long useful life, and benefits that are spread across large populations. For these reasons, it is usually financed by governments, international financial institutions, or public-private partnerships.
Categories of infrastructure
Infrastructure is commonly divided into two types. Physical infrastructure includes roads, railways, ports, power systems, water supply and telecommunications. Social infrastructure comprises educational facilities, health services, courts and other public services. Some classifications also add information infrastructure: data centres, fibre networks and mobile systems.
Financing and management
An infrastructure project proceeds through stages: planning and design, technical drawings, cost and benefit analysis, construction, and then operation and maintenance. Maintenance is often neglected; failure to maintain it causes future repair costs to exceed original savings. Funding can come from taxation, loans, grants or service fees such as road tolls.
Infrastructure and the economy
Infrastructure reduces transport and business costs and facilitates access to markets and services. Large projects, however, can cause displacement, local disruption and heavy debt if planning is poor. Environmental and social impact assessments are therefore carried out before construction.