Planning effective and efficient public transport systems

As population increases and cities continue to grow, there is an urgency to provide efficient and cost effective Public Transport (PT).  Globally there are enormous differences between transport systems; some countries have efficient systems while others appear to have no system at all.  This research is undertaken with the express purpose of investigating efficient, well incorporated PT systems from around the world, for their specific application to Australian capital city transport hubs, but also for their adaptability to other global areas. The aim of this paper is to develop strategies for planning public transport.The design of this paper relies heavily on extensive global research, seeking to discover appropriate PT systems and then investigating the benefits and feasibility in an Australian context. The paper examines case studies from Europe, Asia and Canada and focuses not only on efficiency and cost effectiveness, but also on sustainability. Case studies from major cities with cost efficient and effective public transport systems were examined and analysed to develop models of PT systems for Australian cities.This research is limited by the large volume of public transport case studies that are available, the limitations on the size of this research paper and the lack of available specific data. The goal is to expand on this introductory research over a sustained period.  This is an original study and although only in its infancy, this research will be of significant value to the Australian public transport industry to support improvements in infrastructure

The predicaments of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for Transport Infrastructure : An examination of policy stagnation and progress

Purpose – Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for transport infrastructure, should take into account geological constraints, legislative regulations, public policy, and other strategic considerations. These strategic considerations and constraints that are often seen as the most challenging issues facing transportation planners are critically reviewed. Subsequently, the evolving environmental impacts of civil transport infrastructure projects are measured. Design/methodology/approach – Using a mixed-method approach, this study examines the EIA and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) dimensions of transportation infrastructure. Findings – Through the development of the EIA and EIS policy framework for transport infrastructure, this paper found that to better enhance the EIA and to effectively calculate various indicator variables, a hybrid approach to the method, known as input-output analysis, needs to be adopted. Knowing that a feasible cost breakdown is usually available within projects, it can be concluded that it is plausible to add an I-O model into an existing environmental impact statement to obtain results not only for onsite effects but also for off-site effects. Moreover, some of the benefits of implementing a hybrid input-output analysis can (1) significantly improve the completeness of any conventional EIS for a range of quantifiable indicators, (2) improve the ability to rank alternative options, and (3) provide a valuable overview of indirect impacts to be used for streamlining the EIA audit. For these reasons, input-output techniques could be incorporated as optional elements into the EIA standards. Practical implications - With input from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and national input-output tables of the industry sector, this research was able to determine that indirect effects within transport projects are not being considered for what they are worth. This enables to answer key questions dealing with the effects of EIAs on the transportation sector. This in turn can assist with planning through the commissioning of such projects. Originality/value - The I-O model introduced in this paper will ultimately lead to better incorporation of various environmental elements. The findings of the paper can thus assist transportation planners in better aligning environmental impacts with EIA. This in turn can result in improvements in the completeness of any conventional EIS, enhance the ability to rank alternative options and provide a valuable overview of indirect impacts to be used for streamlining the EIA audit

Artificial Neural Network for Transportation Infrastructure Systems

Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) represents the overall interconnection of the systems together with numeric weighting that can be tuned based on experience, system Inputs, Processing and Outputs. Moreover, the real advantage of ANNs is the ability to solve complex system problems such as one which are found within the Transportation Infrastructure Systems. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) for Transportation Infrastructure System must incorporate system engineering techniques that will be sustainable for future years and maintained at acceptable levels. Accordingly, this paper will introduce the concept of Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and its core functions for the optimization of Transportation Infrastructure Systems in particular the maintenance processes

The construction manager as a leader

The construction manager must act as a leader throughout the life of the construction project. Acting as a leader enables the construction manager to plan, monitor, and control the progress of a project very effectively. The need for leadership ability in a construction manager depends on the tasks, teams, organizational environment, manager's abilities, project resources, available time, and budget

Sustainable Construction by Means of Improved Material Selection Process

Whilst sustainable construction relates to both a building’s structure and the use of proper life cycle processes, the selection of the most appropriate material/s is deemed a considerable undertaking. Throughout a building’s lifecycle that extends from design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, until demolition, the selection of sustainable material/s is a particularly crucial task for the development and establishment of such structures. Traditionally, there are three main materials for general construction: (1) Steel, (2) Concrete and (3) Timber. These materials not only influence the function within the structure, but also affect the operation cost and energy usage. Operation cost reduction and energy savings are typically elements of the sustainable construction sphere. However, in developing countries, there is a variety of highly critical factors, which can impact material selection as well as the long-term sustainability of the structure, including: Fire Performance, Environmental Impact, Structural Performance (strength and durability), and Functioning Capabilities. Accordingly, this paper will first compare the sustainability of these three key materials and then converse with appropriate processes for material selection. Attention will be given to the sustainable construction recompense associated with the different material selection factors. Doing so ensures a more sustainable built environment by means of an improved material selection process

Effective construction management

The role of the project manager in construction management is one of great responsibility. It is the project manager's job to direct and supervise the project from beginning to end. An effective construction manager must have many different skills, qualities, and abilities to be able to respond to most of the demanding situations within the construction projects

Application of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for Regional Development: Case Studies in Integrated Functional Approach

This paper evaluates the application of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) specifically as a part of regional development. Although ITS has been extensively studied in the context of city-wide developments, research on such developments for the regional enhancement is scarce. Importantly, transportation development for regional areas differs to that of traditional urban provinces. Whilst the transportation developments in urban areas need to concentrate on a range of diverse community requirements, for regional areas, such population are less diverse and more alike. Consequently, developed ITS in the regional areas needs to concentrate on more homogeneous communities and their needs. There are many factors influencing regional transportation developments, however functionality is one of the most critical aspects. Although functionality is an important aspect of all developments, it is considered to be the most crucial factor for regional areas. Fittingly, this paper will examine some of the most important transportation functionality issues for regional areas. To further explore this theme, the surrounding areas of Fukushima and Tokyo were studied to highlight their regional transportation requirements. These two case studies were then compared using factor analysis method. The comparison generally found that, due to its geographical location Fukushima aligned its regional functionalities more broadly. Further, this paper proposes a streamlined approach to analyze the successful application of transportation development in the Fukushima and Tokyo regional areas. To do so, an integrated functional approach was carefully undertaken. The proposed approach specifically focused on incorporating mobility and ITS as the key ingredients for the regional developments. It was found that, such integrated functional approach would therefore increase innovation and productivity as the result of successful application of ITS for regional development