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The thesis addresses the opportunities and conditions to increase the market share of intermodal barge transport in Northwest Europe. In particular, it focuses on strategies to improve the performances of the different links of the intermodal transport chain: the barge transport services, the transhipment at terminals and pre- and post-truck haulage operations. The thesis shows that the development of more complex barge transport services, implemented for instance in collection/distribution-, trunk-feeder- and hub-and-spoke service networks, can improve the market position of barge transport in the hinterland transport of containers and enables to open up new markets for intermodal barge transport. However, to support the well-functioning of these service networks appropriate terminal and transhipment concepts are needed. Basically there are three ‘locations’ in the network where tailor-made barge handling innovations are needed: (1) in the seaport, (2) in the capillaries of the waterway network and (3) in strategically located inland nodes, e.g. to support hub-and-spoke networks. In pre- and post-truck haulage, which has a relatively large share in the total chain costs, the challenge is to improve the organisation of these hauls through combining loaded trips. In developing business areas close to waterways favourable conditions are created for efficient pre- and post-haulage and this contributes to improving the competitiveness of intermodal barge transport.

In the past decade managing the university campus has become more complex and challenging, with many more stakeholders, opportunities and threats to consider. Decreasing public involvement and funding for universities puts pressure on the internal allocation of resources, comparing investments in real estate with investments in human resources. This urges the need for evidence-based management information to support campus decision-making. At the same time the university campus is aging, both technically and functionally, and in need of reinvestment, while many developments cause more uncertainty in future space demand. On top of that, various stakeholders make higher demands upon the added value of the campus for the performance of the university and for the regional knowledge economy. This research focused on information to support campus decisions. The dissertation covers a wide range of topics on campus management: from generating references for planning purposes – like current replacement costs and new space standards for the changing academic workplace – to strategies for the sustainable campus and new models that merge the campus and the knowledge city. The book includes profiles of fourteen Dutch campuses and forty campus projects to illustrate trends. The content of this book combines insights from theory – adding to new real estate management theories and the required management information for real estate decisions – and lessons for practice. The book can support the decisions of policy makers, architects, campus and facility managers about the campus of the future. Note: this dissertation is published as a book (full colour, 432 pages) and as an eBook (ePub for iPad). For more information: www.managingtheuniversitycampus.nl and a.c.denheijer@tudelft.nl

A quarter of a century ago, Emeritus Professor Hugo Priemus was one of the founders of the OTB Research Institute for the Built Environment. “We may not have developed any fantastic new theories, but we do contribute to the political decision-making process.”

To date, the focus in the field of sustainable building has been on new building design. However, existing residential buildings inflict great environmental burden through three causes: continuous energy consumption, regular building maintenance and replacements. This publication analyses and compares these three causes of environmental burden and shows that material resources needed for replacements generally have a limited potential to reduce environmental impact. Reducing energy consumption for climate control and electrical appliances is much more effective. According to the author, sustainable measures should be tested for shifts in the kind of environmental impact caused due to the use of alternative types of energy resources and altered material quantities. The sustainability of the electricity supply is essential to decrease the total environmental impact of the residential building stock.

The book explores the relationship between the characteristics of the welfare state and the characteristics of the housing system (housing policies, housing outcomes and housing market developments) in different European countries. It consists of a theoretical framework, six published articles and a concluding chapter. All six articles use the welfare state regime theory and typology of Esping-Andersen and/or the housing system typology of Kemeny, or at least some aspects of these, as an explanatory framework. The results of the investigations indicate that there are considerable differences between the various European housing systems. As far as this is concerned, especially the Southern European countries occupy a rather distinct position. For this reason, two articles in the study specifically focus on the Southern European housing system of Spain. The book is relevant for both academics and policy-makers who are interested in international housing and housing policy developments.

Van een optimaal voorschrift is sprake als door dat voorschrift een vooraf gesteld doel, tegen zo laag mogelijke extra kosten, in de praktijk is bereikt. Dit proefschrift beschrijft op welke wijze, met het effect op de praktijk als maatstaf, kan worden beoordeeld of sprake is van een optimaal voorschrift van Bouwbesluit 2003. Hiervoor is een beoordelingsmodel ontwikkeld en zijn de voor de invulling van dat model relevante onderdelen nader uitgewerkt. Zo is aangegeven aan welke voorwaarden een overheidsdoel dient te voldoen om te kunnen beoordelen of een voorschrift optimaal is en hoe dit doel kan worden vertaald naar prestatie-eisen. Hierbij is onderscheid gemaakt tussen prestatie-eisen voor het beoordelen van een bouwplan en voor het controleren van bouwwerken in de gebruiksfase. Het optimaal zijn van een voorschrift van Bouwbesluit 2003 is in sterke mate afhankelijk van controle die daarop wordt uitgevoerd. Voor het ex ante bepalen van de mate van overheidscontrole One can speak of an optimal regulation when -as result of that regulation- an objective formulated in advance is realised in practice, for costs as low as possible. This dissertation describes in which way can be assessed, that it is a matter of an optimal regulation of the Dutch Building Decree 2003. The practical effect is taken as criterion. For this purpose an assessment model is developed. For the use of this model relevant aspects are further detailed. In this manner the necessary conditions are specified which have to be fulfilled for a governmental objective, in order to asses whether a regulation is optimal. It is also specified how an objective can be applied in performance requirements. A distinction is made between performance requirements for assessing a building plan and for controlling buildings in the use phase. The optimal state of a requirement of the Dutch Building Decree 2003 depends strongly on the degree of controlling. For the ex ante assessment of the extent of governmental control (including possible certificated control) a line of thought is described.

The passing by the European Parliament of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in 2003 obliges all European member states to implement energy regulations for buildings based on the concept of energy performance by the year 2009 ultimately. Given the importance of the development of innovations in energy technology, and a transition to a sustainable energy supply system, it is necessary that policy instruments for energy conservation in the building sector stimulate the development and diffusion of innovations. This thesis contributes to knowledge about the content of energy performance policy and concludes that the effect of Dutch energy performance policy in encouraging innovation is limited. Energy efficiency improvements, by energy performance policy, seem to have come from the overall optimisation of all the energy related features of residential buildings. Insulation levels improved, although not spectacularly. Efficiencies of heating technology improved, although this seems partly to be as a result of the ongoing development that started in the 1980s. The efficiency of fans used for ventilation improved, as did the efficiency of all sorts of auxiliary devices needed in heating technology, as well as the efficiency of heat recovery in balanced ventilation systems. Although energy performance policy seems to have contributed to the optimisation of all energy related features of residential buildings, it did not cause a breakthrough of innovative technology such as solar thermal systems or heat pumps. The study of the innovation system of the Dutch construction industry identifies how the project-based nature of the construction industry is an obstacle to "learning-rich" collaboration between the various stakeholders. The study contributes to the discussion about the impact of government policy for energy conservation in the building sector, in the context of climate change policy.

Technical management is an important policy field for housing associations. Technical management processes influence the product, price, and exploitation characteristics of dwellings. At the higher level the strategic stock policy concerns the complete stock of the housing association. The design of a model relationship between the strategic stock policy and technical management by housing associations features prominently in the research, and common ground is sought between the two areas. Important points attended to in the study are the relationships between strategic stock policy, (de)investment policy, maintenance policy, and rental price policy; the relationships between investments, maintenance activities, performance levels, defects, life cycles and exploitation period; and the relationships between policy development, provision of information, organization, and management. By deriving the technical management from the strategic stock policy, the housing association can carry out maintenance and adaptations efficiently and effectively -- in other words in a professional, client-centred, sustainable manner. The likelihood of loss of capital is reduced. Product characteristics and maintenance performance levels can be adjusted to suit the target groups and clients served. Clients appreciate having more freedom of choice in the maintenance and adaptation of the (interior of their) dwellings, and set requirements with respect to maintenance work: information, approachability, client friendly attitudes, orderliness, and so forth. Through the mutual harmonisation of policy, the foundations of policy can be made clear and transparent for all parties concerned within and outside the organization. Thereby, opportunities are enhanced for controlling processes, costs and performance and contracting out parts of the management process in a responsible manner. The housing associations can concentrate on their core tasks and the planning and control of the technical management process.