Understanding Crude Oil Transport Strategies in North America

On July 6, 2013, an oil-laden unit train derailed and exploded in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, killing 47 people, shocking many, and leading to significantly increased public scrutiny of crude oil by rail. Simultaneously, there has been intense scrutiny of several proposed pipelines from the oil sands of northern Alberta. Not only is there concern about the potential environmental impacts of the pipelines themselves, such as a potential spill of diluted bitumen (a form of crude oil to be shipped), but also about the consequences of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by the energy-intensiveness of bitumen production and refining. From the point of view of the railroads, until such impacts are considered through political and regulatory processes in Canada and the US, railroads deciding whether to invest in capacity to transport bitumen are presented with considerable uncertainty. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches, this paper characterizes some of this uncertainty and discusses its short- and long-term implications for railroads and policy makers

Energy Resource Transportation Governance: Case Studies of The Alberta Oil Sands and The Argentinian Vaca Muerta Shale Oil Fields

In recent years, there has been increasing focus on the economic and other benefits of the development of “unconventional” sources of oil—resources that cannot be produced using traditional production techniques—partly due to the increased scarcity of conventional oil reserves. This paper compares and contrasts unconventional oil resources in Canada and Argentina. Canada has deposits of bitumen known as oil sands/tar sands. Bitumen is “a thick, sticky form of crude oil that is so heavy and viscous that it will not flow unless it is heated or diluted with lighter hydrocarbons” (Government of Alberta 2009), and when mixed with sand and clay, is known as the oil sands. In Argentina there are shale oil formations, which is crude oil found in low-permeability rock formations. The unconventional hydrocarbons in Canada (the oil sands) and Argentina (shale oil) are significant resources for both countries, especially when compared with their conventional reserves. Though the institutional structure is different in both countries—Canada’s oil and gas and transportation companies are privately-owned, whereas in Argentina, they are partially government owned—the rhetoric of the discussions seems to be similar in both countries: many are in favor of development due to the significance of the economic benefits. However, in both countries, the development of transport infrastructure has been hindered by different factors, on environmental grounds, notably with regard to concerns regarding greenhouse gas emissions (in Canada) and lacking sufficient planning capabilities and institutional framework for long-term investments such as railroads (in Argentina)

Survivors, Not Invaders, Control Forest Development Following Simulated Hurricane

Wind disturbance profoundly shapes temperate forests but few studies have evaluated patterns and mechanisms of long-term forest dynamics following major windthrows. In 1990, we initiated a large hurricane simulation experiment in a 0.8-ha manipulation (pulldown) and 0.6-ha control area of a maturing Quercus rubra–Acer rubrum forest in New England. We toppled 276 trees in the pulldown, using a winch and cable, in the northwesterly direction of natural treefall from major hurricanes. Eighty percent of canopy trees and two-thirds of all trees ≥5 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) suffered direct and indirect damage. We used 20 years of measurements to evaluate the trajectory and mechanisms of forest response after intense disturbance. Based on the patch size and disturbance magnitude, we expected pioneer tree and understory species to drive succession. The first decade of analyses emphasized tree seedling establishment and sprouting by damaged trees as the dominant mechanisms of forest recovery in this extensive damaged area. However, despite 80% canopy damage and 8000-m2 patch size, surviving overstory and advance regeneration controlled longer-term forest development. Residual oaks make up 42% of stand basal area after 20 years. The new cohort of trees, dominated by black birch advance regeneration, contributes 30% of stand basal area. There were shifts in understory vegetation composition and cover, but few species were gained or lost after 20 years. Stand productivity rebounded quickly (litterfall recovered to pre-disturbance levels in six years), but we predict that basal area in the pulldown will lag behind the control (which gained 6 m2/ha over 20 years) for decades to come. This controlled experiment showed that although the scale and intensity of damage were great, abundant advance regeneration, understory vegetation, and damaged trees remained, allowing the forest to resist changes in ecosystem processes and invasion by new species.Organismic and Evolutionary Biolog

Analysis of High-Speed Rail Implementation Alternatives in the Northeast Corridor: the Role of Institutional and Technological Flexibility

In this paper, an engineering systems framework using the CLIOS Process, scenario analysis, and flexibility analysis is used to study the implementation of a high-speed rail corridor in the Northeast Corridor of the United States. Given the tremendous uncertainty that characterizes high-speed rail projects, the implementation of the alternatives proposed, which are very similar to other commonly accepted ways to implement high-speed rail in the corridor, are analyzed under different scenarios. The results motivate incorporation of flexibility into the alternatives to allow decision makers to adapt as situations evolve. While designing-in this flexibility has a cost, it may facilitate the implementation of the alternatives by enabling adaptation to uncertain outcomes, thereby improving performance

NEC FUTURE Tier I Scoping Process: Public Comment

Utilizing its special expertise, the Regional Transportation Planning and High Speed Rail Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) sought to provide input via public comment to the NEC FUTURE Tier I scoping process. Earlier in 2012, we completed a comprehensive look at the complexities and challenges associated with mobility in the NEC. This submittal is based on a report prepared for and funded by the Institute for Transportation Policy Studies (ITPS) in Tokyo, Japan, entitled Transportation in the Northeast Corridor of the U.S.: A Multimodal and Intermodal Conceptual Framework. We applied novel combinations of system analysis methods to seek new insights for planning in this corridor. With the lessons learned from this account, we seek to provide input to the NEC FUTURE scoping process, and enrich the NEC FUTURE Tier I EIS study. We recognize that the Purpose and Need and a comprehensive and carefully articulated range of alternatives are of utmost importance for the EIS process, and we are focusing our comments in these two areas. With our lessons learned, we hope to offer insights useful in formulating and refining the project’s Purpose and Need, and as well in defining the alternatives to be considered

Extending the Research Data Toolkit: Data Curation Primers

Niche and proprietary data formats used in cutting-edge research and technology have specific curation considerations and challenges. The increased demand for subject liaisons, library archivists, and digital curators to curate this variety of data types created locally at an institution or organization poses difficulties. Subject liaisons possess discipline knowledge and expertise for a given domain or discipline and digital curation experts know how to properly steward data assets generally. Yet, a gap often exists between the expertise available within the organization and local curation needs. While many institutions and organizations have expertise in certain domains and areas, oftentimes the heterogeneous data types received for deposit extend beyond this expertise. Additionally, evolving research methods and new, cutting-edge technology used in research often result in unfamiliar and niche data formats received for deposit. Knowing how to ‘get-started’ in curating these file types and formats can be a particular challenge. To address this need, the data curation community have been developing a new set of tools – data curation primers. These primers are evolving documents that detail a specific subject, disciplinary area or curation task, and that can be used as a reference or jump-start to curating research data. This paper will provide background on the data curation primers and their content detail the process of their development, highlight the data curation primers published to date, emphasize how curators can incorporate these resources into workflows, and show curators how they can get involved and share their own expertise