Factors that promote innovation in shipping companies

This study seeks to identify factors that promote innovation in shipping companies. The study is based on an empirical investigation of 63 companies headquartered in Norway. The results imply that organizational and interorganizational variables are important to innovation. Three aspects of innovation are focused on: (1) service/product innovations, (2) market innovations, and (3) production method innovations. The explanatory variables that are applied in this study capture between 13-51% of the variability of the measures of innovation. The results indicate that an explicit strategy that promotes innovation is very important for the actual level of innovation within shipping companies. In management literature, it is often assumed that organic organizational features like decentralized decision-making promote innovation. The opposite features are assumed to restrain innovation. However, the results do not support these basic assumptions. For example, it seems to be important that managers make precise decisions in order to promote innovation.     

Wave impact on a horizontal elastic plate

The objective is to find slamming-induced local stresses in the steel or aluminum wetdeck of a multihull vessel. This is studied theoretically by representing the wetdeck as a beam model and accounting for dynamic hydroelastic effects. Two numerical methods are used, one being a simplified asymptotic solution. Satisfactory agreement between the two methods is reported. Experimental drop tests of horizontal elastic plates of steel and aluminum are also reported, and the results from the experiments agree well with the numerical computations. This study reveals, both numerically and experimentally, that slamming-induced local stresses are strongly influenced by dynamic hydroelastic effects. The maximum bending stresses are insensitive to where waves hit, the curvature of the waves, and maximum pressures. Measured maximum pressures are very sensitive to external conditions, and cannot be used as a measure of maximum local bending stresses. A simple procedure for local design stresses due to wetdeck slamming is outlined.     

Valuation of externalities through neo-classical methods by including institutional variables

Externalities are uncompensated influences that are not expressed in a market but that affect the production possibilities or the welfare level of third parties. An example is the noise pollution in airport areas. Although air transport is an important source of economic growth and employment in many countries, the social and environmental problems connected with this sector are rising rapidly. Consequently, airports are becoming a matter of concern to many politicians. On what kind of values should they base their decisions as to further growth or consolidation of the current situation? In this paper we discuss two approaches, one based on mainstream, neo-classical, economics, and one based on institutional approaches, more in particular new institutional economics, which can be seen as a development complementary to the mainstream.     

A socioeconomic analysis of commuting professionals

Transportation - Everyday commuting as a mobility phenomenon is well-investigated and has been the topic of many contributions. Nevertheless, the distinct determinants of the commuting...     

Ballast Water Treatment systems: “Old” and “New” ones

This paper offers an overview of the currently available Ballast Water Treatment systems, their efficacy in reducing the number of organisms in relation with the IMO and other, future standards, and explores potentially new and promising technologies and current gaps.     

Airline emission charges: Effects on airfares,service quality,and aircraft design

This paper explores the effect of airline emissions charges on airfares, airline service quality, aircraft design features, and network structure, using a detailed and realistic theoretical model of competing duopoly airlines. These impacts are derived by analyzing the effects of an increase in the effective price of fuel, which is the path by which emissions charges will alter airline choices. The results show that emission charges will raise fares, reduce flight frequency, increase load factors, and raise aircraft fuel efficiency, while having no effect on aircraft size. Given that these adjustments occur in response to the treatment of an emissions externality that is currently unaddressed, they represent efficient changes that move society closer to a social optimum.     

小,从何谈起?

说起汽车大家会滔滔不绝地说到很多很多经典车,但这125年来的汽车发展已经改变了人们原有的思维模式。而我们这期讲的都是以小为题的内容,但这个小可以是质量的小,也可以是观点的小,这也就是我从9月份的法兰克福车展说起的原因,这是一个揭示未来汽车发展趋势的展览,也是和国内车展本质上的区别,因为国内的车展更像一个展销会。而针对法兰克福车展我个人认为带来了两个方面的信息,第一就是汽车的小排放,第二就是汽车的小众化。     

高速磁悬浮列车测速定位系统过接缝问题研究

高速磁浮列车长定子轨道的接缝会使测速定位系统相对位置传感器的检测信号产生畸变,并导致牵引设备过流或过压保护甚至烧毁.为消除轨道接缝的影响,测速定位系统使用了两路相对位置传感器.本文依据自适应滤波器原理,设计了一种自适应预测滤波器,根据相对位置传感器输出的历史值对当前输出值进行预测,通过比较预测值与实际观测值判断检测信号是否产生畸变,并以此为基础对两路传感器的信号进行选择与切换.经过仿真验证,这种方法在传感器存在安装误差和干扰的情况下也可以很好的消除因信号畸变带来的不良影响.     

Much Ado about Nothing? - An analysis of economic impacts and ecologic effects of the EU-emission trading scheme in the aviation industry

From 2012 on, all CO₂ emissions from flights departing from or arriving at airports within the European Union have to be offset. We analyze the economic and ecological impacts that are caused by an inclusion of the aviation industry into the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS). Building on the now fixed system design we employ a simulation model to estimate the impacts of the scheme. Our results indicate that financial impacts are highly dependant on external settings, such as allowance prices and demand growth. We show that the financial burden on the aviation industry will be rather modest in the first years after the introduction of the system and therefore induce only low competition distortions. Likewise, emission reductions within air transportation will be comparably low. While aviation will induce a decline of emissions in other sectors, significant absolute reductions within air transportation can only be reached by a more restrictive system design.     

如何编制公路交通施工计划

施工计划是项目开始的首要任务,从如何编制计划进行分析,结合计划的落实与检查,保证工程最终目标的实现.