Analysis of cost estimation disclosure in environmental impact statements for surface transportation projects

Reliability in cost estimates in publicly funded projects is more important today than ever with increased governmental funding to infrastructure projects and associated accountability requirements, but surface transportation projects, large and small, in the United States have a legacy of cost overruns. The problems with these overruns start with the cost estimation process before projects begin. Studies have shown that early cost estimations reflect best-case scenarios rather than realistic expectations, and have attributed technical, economic, psychological, and political reasons for underestimation. The primary objectives of this research were to determine how costs have been presented and updated in environmental impact statements, to identify endemic technical problems with cost estimation during the environmental review of surface transportation projects, and to develop recommendations for improving cost estimation and disclosure. Cost estimation methods were analyzed from the documents of 100 projects, including draft environmental impact statements, final environmental impact statements, and records of decision. The study concluded that the lack of guidance on how to include cost estimation in environmental review revealed itself in the level of detail and attention given to estimating costs. Agencies omitted or included various aspects of cost estimation randomly. Professional organizations should fill the gap of the need for specific guidance to cost estimation for environmental review so it can evolve as a state of the practice.     

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.     

Service-oriented computing and model-driven development as enablers of port information systems: an integrated view

Port information management is considered a critical instrument towards enabling international transport and trade; thus, various forms of Port Information Systems (PORTIS) have been developed today, namely Port Community Systems, Terminal Operating Systems and Single Window systems. In Europe, the nautical information system SafeSeaNet is viewed as an important e-infrastructure. PORTIS systems are expected to evolve into next-generation technological platforms in order to offer a fully integrated digital environment to a multitude of maritime business actors and public authorities towards more efficient, safe and environment-aware transport and trade infrastructures and services. We propose service-oriented computing and model-driven development techniques as a robust PORTIS modelling and development approach. We present a reference model of PORTIS and a particular enabling methodological and technological framework. The proposed approach has been tested in a maritime single-window case.     

印第安纳州桥梁安全荷载分级

本文介绍了印第安纳州为确保桥梁安全运营而实施的桥梁荷载分级方法,以及实施背景、目的和使用方法等.     

水下航行体应用鱼类仿生推进技术的试验研究

水下仿生推进技术将是水下航行体推进技术的革命，这种推进方式是仿生学和水下航行体推进结合的产物，突破了传统的螺旋桨推进理论。初步研究了水下航行体仿生推进技术，以及波状摆动推进中C形起动模式使用不同形状尾鳍的流场结构及动力性能。一般可以将尾鳍形状划分为对称与不对称两大类，选择矩形和三角形作为这两类尾鳍的代表，对其进行了流动显示以及力矩和力测量。研究发现，两种尾鳍模型具有截然不同的流场结构：矩形会在翼尖处产生一个主涡环，而三角形会在尖角上下出现两个涡环。不同的尾迹流场结构有着不同的动力学效果。据此对比分析了不同形状的尾鳍在波状摆动推进中各自的优缺点，在此基础上进一步分析了尾鳍形状在实际工程中的应用。     

Special issue: Importance of public transport

The transport demand in most major cities around the world can only be met with a high‐quality public transport system. The requirements on bus, rail, underground and tram systems are manifold with reliability and efficiency as the key factors. The service operating hours and the size of the network are often extended in order to serve the needs better. Further, most metropolitan areas are trying to provide more incentives for citizens to leave the car at home and use the local transit systems instead. The reasons are well known. Not only does a public transport system only make economical sense if it is well used, but most urban areas with a high car‐dependency face at least three major problems; safety, congestion, and pollution (noise and air pollution, land separation, etc.). It is generally recognised that to decrease car usage and to increase public transport usage a stick & carrot approach is needed. The London congestion‐charging scheme is an example since all revenues collected by the scheme are put into the improvement of bus and underground services.     

Transient Properties of a Magnetorheological Damper - Discussion to the Paper by Seung-Bok et al.: "H∞ Control Performance of a Full-Vehicle Suspension Featuring Magnetorheological Dampers"

A discussion in terms of dynamic properties of a magnetorheological damper is lead to those in the denoted paper. Results of experimental evaluation of the properties of a commercially available magnetorheological damper are presented. A possibility of use of the damper in practical applications is also considered.     

Risk and investment decisions in non-liner shipping

The investment decisions of non-liner shipping firms based on their behaviour towards risk, stochastic demand for capacity, inelastic supply and foregone profits are discussed. These aspects are formalized in a simple stochastic model, which, together with definitions of two broad categories of risk behaviour, is then used to examine and contrast the investment decisions of the two different strategic groups. The analysis shows that the capacity expansions/investments sought by the risk averter and the risk lover will differ under 'normal' circumstances with the risk averter having significantly less capacity than the risk lover. The risk lover will have higher capacity in a volatile market than in a stable market situation. During periods of high capital costs, the investment decisions of the two risk groups tend to be indistinguishable.