The net incidence of transit subsidies: a case study

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the net incidence of government subsidies to a transit system (i.e., the net impact of who pays and who benefits from transit subsidies). Rather than considering the U.S. transit subsidy program in the aggregate, the net incidence of subsidies to a particular transit system — Tidewater Regional Transit (TRT) — is analyzed. The paper concludes that the net incidence of the TRT subsidy program is progressive. Furthermore, the paper provides a methodology that can be used for investigating the net incidence of government subsidies to other transit systems.     

Optimal ship tracking on a navigation route between two ports: a hydrodynamics approach

The optimal trajectory from Calcutta port to Mumbai port is charted for a tanker transshipping from the East coast to the West coast of India during rough weather. Rough weather is simulated over Indian seas using the state-of-the-art WAM numerical wave model (WAMDI Group in J Phys Oceanogr 18:1775–1810, 1988), assimilating satellite (IRS-P4) wind fields. These simulated wave fields and two-dimensional (2D) directional wave spectrum are an absolute representation of the irregular seaway. Hence, the same for the monsoon month of August 2000 formed the input basis for this study. Loss of ship speed due to the wave field (i.e., nonlinear motion of the tanker in waves) and associated sea-keeping characteristics in the seaway are estimated (Bhattacharya in Dynamics of marine vehicles, Wiley, New York, 1978). The approach adopted in this paper is unique in that it takes into account both voluntary and involuntary speed reductions of the ship. It helps in ship tracking by the optimum route using inverse velocity as the weight function for the path in an efficient way. Dijkstra’s algorithm [Numer Math 1(3):269–271, 1959] is applied in an iterative manner for determining the optimum track. The optimum track information has broad scope for use in modern shipping industry for obtaining safe and least-time routing by avoiding schedule delays with economic fuel consumption.     

Towards a short time “feature-based costing” for ship design

Cost is perhaps the most influential factor in the outcome of a product or service within many of today’s industries. Cost assessment during the early stage of ship design is crucial. It influences the go, no-go decision concerning a new development. Cost assessment occurs at various stages of ship design development. Economic evaluation as early as possible, in the design phase, is therefore vital to find the best pricefunction compromise for the ship projects. The authors have developed a feature-based costing model for cost effectiveness measurements intended to be used by ship designers for the real time control of cost process. The outcome is that corrective actions can be taken by management in a rather short time to actually improve or overcome predicted unfavourable performance.     

Morphology and oxidation kinetics of CI engine’s biodiesel particulate matters on cordierite Diesel Particulate Filters using TGA

The impact of small compression ignition (CI) engine operation conditions and fuel properties on diesel and biodiesel particulate matters (PMs) quantity using opacity smoke meter is investigated. The biodiesel engine’s PMs are around a half of diesel engine PMs under the same engine operation conditions. Morphology of both engine’s PMs are also studied using a Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and image processing method. The average primary nanoparticle sizes of diesel and biodiesel engine’s PMs are approximately 34 nm and 32 nm, respectively. The result shows that engine operation condition and fuel property are strongly impact on the quantity and size distribution of primary nanoparticles emission. PM oxidation kinetics on conventional cordierite Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) powders by Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) is also successfully studied. The calculated apparent activation energies of biodiesel engine’s PM oxidation on conventional cordierite DPFs powders are lower than that of diesel engine’s PM and carbon black because of unburned oxygenated molecule. The calculated apparent activation energy of biodiesel engine’s PM and diesel engine’s PM oxidize on conventional cordierite DPFs powders with pure air are in the range of 109 ~ 131 kJ/mole and 117 ~ 130 kJ/mole, respectively. It might be expected that smaller primary nanoparticle size of biodiesel engine’s PMs and bio-oxygenate unburned hydrocarbon can promote more PM oxidation rate during vehicle’s DPF regeneration process.     

Comparisons of the environmental footprint of heavy vehicles in the UK and Switzerland

The European Union project Eureka Logchain Footprint is an ongoing project to identify road and rail vehicles by means of their environmental footprint as characterised by dynamic load, noise, ground borne vibrations and gaseous emissions induced by the vehicle. Part of the project involves the installation of road and rail footprint monitoring stations throughout Europe. This paper presents results of the road stations in Switzerland and the UK. Individual vehicle data from weigh-in-motion and noise are compared. The results indicate that a significant number of vehicles surpass the limits set in both countries. It was shown that the UK sites are generating higher noise levels than their Swiss counterparts; in part due to the much coarser aggregate embedded in the running course of the pavement employed in the UK. Such data can be used to create an incentive for vehicle types with a low footprint and a penalty for vehicles with a large footprint.     

Digging Deep: Managing Social and Policy Dimensions of Geoduck Aquaculture Conflict in Puget Sound,Washington

Shellfish aquaculture can result in conflicts among stakeholders who perceive impacts and tradeoffs regarding sense of place, aesthetic, recreational, economic, and ecological values. Pacific geoduck clams (Panopea generosa Gould 1850) are grown in intertidal plots using gear- and labor-intensive techniques that result in a high value export product. A confluence of issues has resulted in on-going social and legal tensions surrounding geoduck aquaculture in southern Puget Sound, Washington (WA), USA. Using interviews and document analysis, we explored stakeholder perspectives and policy issues related to geoduck aquaculture in southern Puget Sound. Twenty-three stakeholders were interviewed, including state agency employees, representatives of the aquaculture industry, nongovernmental organizations, landowners, a tribal member, and an academic. Nine state hearings board decisions on challenges to aquaculture permits were also analyzed. Stakeholders articulated a variety of perspectives regarding aesthetic, recreational, land-use, ecological, political, regulatory, and economic aspects of geoduck aquaculture activities. Hearings board cases addressed similar issues (aesthetic, ecological, and recreational), as well as challenges to restrictions on aquaculture. Potential strategies for managing this conflict include emphasizing best management practices, identifying and incorporating best available science, joint fact-finding approaches, and initiating and improving communication among all stakeholders.     

Site Selection Appraisal for Tidal Turbine Development in the River Mersey

This paper used a specialist software package to produce a detailed model of the River Mersey estuary, which can be subjected to a range of simulated tidal conditions. The aim of this research was to use the validated model to identify the optimal location for the positioning of a tidal turbine. Progress was made identifying a new optimal site for power generation using velocity data produced from simulations conducted using the MIKE 3 software. This process resulted in the identification of site 8, which sits mid-river between the Morpeth Dock and the Albert Dock, being identified as the favoured location for tidal power generation in the River Mersey. Further analysis of the site found that a 17.2-m diameter single rota multidirectional turbine with a 428-kW-rated capacity could produce 1.12 GWh annually.     

梅西河潮流能水轮机开发的场地选择评价研究（英文）

This paper used a specialist software package to produce a detailed model of the River Mersey estuary, which can be subjected to a range of simulated tidal conditions. The aim of this research was to use the validated model to identify the optimal location for the positioning of a tidal turbine. Progress was made identifying a new optimal site for power generation using velocity data produced from simulations conducted using the MIKE 3 software. This process resulted in the identification of site 8, which sits mid-river between the Morpeth Dock and the Albert Dock, being identified as the favoured location for tidal power generation in the River Mersey. Further analysis of the site found that a 17.2-m diameter single rota multidirectional turbine with a 428-kW-rated capacity could produce 1.12 GWh annually.