Cost Estimation for the Operation and Maintenance of Automated Monitoring and Early-Warning Equipment for Geological Hazards

Gan Luo, Mingqi Tao, Baohe Wu, Mingzhi Zhang, Shuai Zhong (), Junfeng Li and Xiaodi Yang
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Gan Luo: Development and Research Center, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037, China
Mingqi Tao: Development and Research Center, China Geological Survey, Beijing 100037, China
Baohe Wu: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China
Mingzhi Zhang: Chinese Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100081, China
Shuai Zhong: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Junfeng Li: Chinese Institute of Geological Environment Monitoring, Beijing 100081, China
Xiaodi Yang: Institute of Exploration Technology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Chengdu 611734, China

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-17

Abstract: Geological hazards impede regional economy sustainability. To limit their destructive impacts on human life and property, the Chinese government has independently developed automated monitoring and early-warning equipment, which has been deployed in over 250,000 locations nationwide, yielding effective early warnings. The smooth operation of this equipment necessitates substantial human, material, and financial resources for its maintenance. To allocate funds rationally, the Ministry of Finance of China has mandated the urgent establishment of budget standards for the operation and maintenance of automated monitoring and early-warning systems for geological hazards. Addressing the research gap in this area, this study meticulously develops a cost model, subcategorizing operating costs, maintenance costs, and management costs. Addressing the intricate issue of maintenance expenditures, this study ingeniously breaks down routine operations and urgent repairs stipulated in technical standards into personnel, materials, and vehicular needs for each equipment type. Considering the total manpower involved in equipment maintenance, the per-unit maintenance cost is determined. This method allocates costs to individual pieces of equipment, thereby sidestepping the quantification hurdle created by varying types and quantities of monitoring equipment at each monitoring site due to various geological disaster types and magnitudes, and technical personnel’s maintenance responsibility for multiple equipment types in a single operation. Finally, incorporating regional adjustment coefficients, we have formulated theoretical costs for the operation and maintenance of automated monitoring and early-warning equipment for geological hazards. By contrasting theoretical costs with actual project budgets, the error margin is within 2%. Following nationwide consultation, these theoretical costs have been officially endorsed as the budget standard. These standards will lay the groundwork for project budgeting and review, facilitate efficient fund utilization, and ensure the financial sustainability of monitoring and warning systems for geological hazards. Concurrently, this paper bridges the global lack in budget norms for the operation and upkeep of automated geological disaster monitoring systems. The cost calculation model introduced serves as a pivotal reference globally for the evaluation of analogous system’s operations and maintenance expenses.

Keywords: geological hazards; automated monitoring and early-warning equipment; operation and maintenance; cost estimation; budget standards; financial sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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