With global infrastructure needs mounting but budgets strained, the need to avoid undertaking boondoggle projects is greater than ever.

Throughout the developed world, aging infrastructure needs replacement or upgrades, even as whole new industries are slated to be built out, such as power-hungry data centers, EV charging facilities, solar and wind farms, and other green initiatives.

In the developing world, the still-growing populations in the billions need the basics of transportation and utilities, and flood control or water management for agriculture — even as cities are built for urbanizing populations.

Business consulting giant PwC estimates it will take nearly $4 trillion annually to meet global infrastructure funding needs, and that outlook does not anticipate new industries that may require additional outlays.

Obviously, sidestepping infrastructure failures is a high priority, and not only for common-sense reasons, but also to assure citizen po