Understanding the interaction between public policy, managerial decision-making and the engineering of critical infrastructures

摘要

This editorial introduces a special issue on the safety and security of critical infrastructures. It is difficult to underestimate the importance of this topic. There is a rising demand for infrastructure services in many economies. This can be illustrated by the impact of rising demand on the air traffic infrastructures described in Licu, Cioran, Hayward and Lowes' contribution to this special edition. For example, it is predicted that the number of UK air passengers will rise from approximately 180 million in 2005-2006 to 475 million by 2030. Most of the expansion has been in scheduled flights within Europe and can be attributed to public policy decisions, in particular, the 1993 European Union directives to open up the internal aviation market. The growth in demand has also been fueled by the growth of low-cost carriers and the development of regional airports. Newcastle Airport will welcome over 3.5 million passengers between May and October 2006.