National policy towards cars: Singapore

Singapore has experienced rapid growth in car ownership, and private transport accounts for just under half of motorized trips in Singapore. Yet only since 1970 have determined efforts been made to curtail this increase. Simultaneously with this growth, Singapore's land‐use planners had called for the diversion of population growth into outlying residential estates while maintaining the central area's importance as an employment centre. The resulting anticipated concentration of commuter movement suggested a need for controls to restrain car ownership, reduce central‐area congestion and divert road users on to public transport. The policies followed are described. Those against ownership have included heavy road taxes and registration fees, with a system of discounts on the latter to discourage new purchasers except when replacing scrapped cars. Policies against car use include fuel taxes and the Area Licensing Scheme in the city centre, while parking space is also closely regulated. The measures adopted imply a goal of efficiency in promoting Singapore's planning objectives rather than environmental, safety or equity considerations, although the first two of these have lately received much more attention than formerly. The policies’ effect has been a temporary reversal in the growth of car ownership, but this growth has since resumed and recent further fee increases suggest a panic reaction rather than a coordinated strategy. Such coordination appears at present to be hampered by the fragmented administration of matters relating to transport. Other measures relating to car ownership and use in Singapore are also described.     

Contributors to this issue

Contributors to this issue     

What makes a car-sharer?

Information from various sources, but most specifically from the YORKSHARE car-sharing schemes, is brought together in an analysis of public reaction to, and participation in, a car-sharing scheme with centralised matching of applicants. The importance of various attributes of the sites, of the individuals and of the scheme organisation are assessed and conclusions are drawn.The motivation of individual participants is analysed and is seen to vary from one person to another depending to some extent on their circumstances, but the universal importance of some features, notably cost savings, is revealed.     

Tractor Handling during Control Loss on Sloping Ground

Tractor behaviour on sloping ground following a control loss due to rear wheel locking is examined. A mathematical model to predict the tractor trajectory is presented and the results obtained from this model are compared with those obtained from experiments with a remotely controlled tractor.

Reasonable agreement is reached between measured and predicted results - the discrepancies arise from limited tyre data or local random variations in slope, ground roughness or tyre/ground frictional values.

Within these limitations, the model is used to examine possible driver strategies following a control loss. Applying and maintaining full lock for this particular type of accident appears to improve safety; it certainly tends to avoid the worst situation in which the tractor accelerates backwards down the slope and reaches dangerously high speeds although inevitably it increases the likelihood of a low speed overturn.     

Coastal and Ocean Science-Based Decision-Making in the Gulf of California: Lessons and Opportunities for Improvement

The Gulf of California hosts astounding biodiversity that supports numerous economic activities in the region. These activities, and emerging threats, are placing pressure on the region's ecosystems. Government and civil society are working to address threats through several conservation and management mechanisms. Nevertheless, the use and incorporation of scientific information—a key component for creating effective and durable management—is still deficient. This article presents the concept of science integration and discusses the findings of a study that assesses the regional landscape, existing institutional arrangements, and capacity for using science to inform policy and management decisions. It also explores the current use of science within fisheries policy and management and the capacity of the National Network of Information and Research of Fisheries and Aquaculture (RENIIPA) and the State Fisheries and Aquaculture Councils, two mechanisms in the region. Finally, it shares lessons learned and offers recommendations on how the region can strengthen science-based decision-making. Results indicate that while there are some actors in the Gulf of California producing relevant science, there is varying capacity of intermediary groups connecting producers with users of science, or mechanisms in place to ensure that science is being utilized in decision-making processes. Moreover, despite having a well-developed landscape of producers and intermediaries and mechanisms in place for fisheries management in the region, effective science integration is not occurring.     

开源汽车公司

坦白讲,实际上这是一篇软文,是一家美国的小规模汽车公司Local Motors的软文。很显然,远在大洋彼岸的我们完全与这个汽车公司所在的市场没有任何关系,也就不可能因为刊登这个软文获得任何商业上的好处。但我还是认为Local Motors的传奇创立者的传奇故事,以及他对待汽车的全新角度将会让你看到一种全新的汽车制造模式,或者说关于汽车制造的思考方式。"我想象的微型工厂里不仅能制造汽车,还会是汽车结束生命的地方。"     

Buckling strength assessment of corrugated panels in offshore structures

There is an increasing trend of living quarters in offshore structures being constructed using corrugated panels in order to save construction time and cost. Different from corrugated bulkheads in ship structures, the corrugated panels used in the living quarters are designed in triangular or trapezoidal profile with unequal flanges and with a corrugation angle between 45° and 90°. Industry needs have prompted the American Bureau of Shipping to develop design recommendations for the buckling strength assessment of these corrugated panels. This paper describes the main features and the principles of the recommendations based on ABS experience, along with the technical background. The modeling uncertainty associated with the recommended criteria has been established by comparing the predictions with laboratory tests and finite element analysis results. Two design examples are provided to demonstrate the application of the recommendations.