Stakeholder-associated impact factors in the promotion of electric construction machinery for plateau tunnels: A social network analysis

Promoting electric construction machinery (ECM) in plateau tunnels is pivotal for advancing environmental sustainability and green innovation in extreme infrastructure contexts. However, the unique challenges of high-altitude environments—coupled with complex stakeholder dynamics—hinder its widespread adoption. This study applies Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map the intricate network of factors influencing ECM promotion in plateau tunnels, analyzing 43 stakeholder-associated factors and 1048 interconnections across six key stakeholder groups (governments, contractors, manufacturers, etc.). SNA reveals that tunnel construction contractors (S4) and governments/policy makers (S1) act as central "network architects," wielding high status centrality and brokerage roles to bridge policy, technical, and on-site demands. Critical hub factors include market acceptance (S4F17), environmental protection requirements (S1F21), and initial investment (S4F8), which link technical, economic, and sociocultural dimensions. The analysis identifies three interconnected challenges: plateau-specific technical constraints, economic barriers, and policy-social drivers. Based on these findings, six targeted strategies are proposed—including context-specific R&D, adaptive policy support, and interdisciplinary collaboration—to address network vulnerabilities. This study advances understanding of sustainability transitions in extreme environments, offering a replicable SNA framework for analyzing green technology diffusion. The insights provide actionable guidance for stakeholders to integrate environmental goals with effective project management in plateau tunnel construction.