Founders\u27 Day 1958

Founders Day, 3/14/1958. Reel #3

Interpretation of the 115 Day Periodic Modulation in the X-ray Flux of NGC 5408 X-1

We comment on the recent observation of a 115-day modulation in the X-ray flux of the ultraluminous X-ray source (ULX) NGC 5408 X-1, and in particular, the interpretation of this modulation as the orbital period. We suggest that this modulation may instead be due to a precessing jet, and is thus superorbital in nature. Comparing the properties of this ULX with those of the prototypical microquasar SS 433, we argue that NGC 5408 X-1 is very similar to SS 433: a hyper-accreting stellar mass black hole in a shorter-period binary. If the analogy holds, the 115-day modulation is best explained by the still poorly-understood physics of inner-disc/jet precession and a longer observing baseline would be able to reveal an intrinsic phase jitter that is associated with such a precession.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, Accepted for publication in Ap

Making the most of transit oriented development opportunities

Transit Oriented Development (TOD) offers a strategy to build population density and transit patronage. Key contributing success factors for TOD that are identifiable through a review of best practice international research include; innovative and supportive planning policies, high quality urban design, 21st century transport infrastructure and improved co-ordination between stakeholders. TOD provides opportunities for transport providers and operators, local governments, private business and communities. Quality TOD offers major opportunities to leverage private development and public open space in close proximity to the people-moving capacity provided by existing and planned transit infrastructure. As such, quality TOD offers the opportunity to make the most of transport infrastructure dollars. With a co-ordinated approach, transit ridership might also be boosted through TOD, and this should offer benefits for transport efficiency and transport authority revenues. Challenges and complicating factors for TOD include; identifying workable approaches that can assist with putting extensive existing knowledge and research on TOD into practice in building a network of TOD projects. Innovative means to overcome various barriers are also required. The coming challenge in TOD might be characterised as a need to turn opportunity into reality through a co-ordination of project management and long-term transport planning

A Step-by-Step Approach to Transit Oriented Development Project Delivery

A major challenge in successfully implementing transit-oriented development (TOD) is having a robust process that ensures effective appraisal, initiation and delivery of multi-stakeholder TOD projects. A step-by step project development process can assist in the methodic design, evaluation, and initiation of TOD projects. Successful TOD requires attention to transit, mixed-use development and public space. Brisbane, Australia provides a case-study where recent planning policies and infrastructure documents have laid a foundation for TOD, but where barriers lie in precinct level planning and project implementation. In this context and perhaps in others, the research effort needs to shift toward identification of appropriate project processes and strategies. This paper presents the outcomes of research conducted to date. Drawing on the mainstream approach to project development and financial evaluation for property projects, key steps for potential use in successful delivery of TOD projects have been identified, including: establish the framework; location selection; precinct context review; preliminary precinct design; the initial financial viability study; the decision stage; establishment of project structure; land acquisition; development application; and project delivery. The appropriateness of this mainstream development and appraisal process will be tested through stakeholder research, and the proposed process will then be refined for adoption in TOD projects. It is suggested that the criteria for successful TOD should be broadened beyond financial concerns in order to deliver public sector support for project initiation

Developments in transit fare policy reform

Transit providers around the world are progressively migrating from automatic fare collection systems to state-of-the-art contactless smartcard systems. The introduction of this new technology provides a unique opportunity for transit agencies to review fares and ticketing policy and leverage the full functionality of these new ticketing systems. Research being undertaken at the University of Queensland seeks to develop recommendations on potential fares and ticketing policy reform using contactless smartcard technologies. Recent experience indicates that introduction of many of the new ticketing systems have been technology- rather than policy-driven. The fare structure is basically a relationship between fare levels and distance travelled, including flat, distance based, time-based and zonal fare structures. Transit fares policy results from trade-offs between competing objectives, such as economic, social or political, but examples of actual policies are extremely hard to find. The availability of new smartcard technology provides the opportunity to provide a 'closed' fare collection system, without physical barriers, allowing more differentiated fare structures based on distance travelled. In addition, there are significant opportunities for integrated ticketing and product innovation

Successful Incident Management on a Major Reconstruction Project

Reconstruction of high traffic roads presents considerable challenges to minimizing delays due to traffic incidents. The Pacific Motorway Project was a fast-track reconstruction of 43 km of one of the most heavily trafficked inter-urban routes in Australia, carrying up to 90,000 vehicles per day between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in South East Queensland. Reconstruction by the State Department of Main Roads involved upgrading from four to eight lanes, under traffic and along an existing corridor. Keeping traffic flowing route was a priority, and key objectives during the construction and operation phases (with sections progressively opened to traffic) were to ensure smooth traffic flow, minimizing impact on road users; to ensure the Motorway operated safely; and, to limit project cost, balancing design and construction with the operation of the existing roadway, to reduce costs, traffic delays and safety risks to acceptable levels. While these objectives are at times in tension, they were able to be satisfactorily achieved through a range of incident management initiatives, including setting clear objectives and performance standards, building good working partnerships, application of appropriate cost-effective technology and well thought out communication strategies. Successful incident management during the project meant that delays were minimized and response times to traffic incidents substantially reduced. This paper focuses on institutional issues and outlines the experience in keeping traffic flowing during a major road reconstruction project, in particular the incident management techniques implemented and the results and lessons learned in managing the impact on traffic

Visions for a sustainable transport future: A comparative analysis of transport planning approaches in Singapore, Vienna and Brisbane

Singapore, Vienna and Brisbane represent three mid-to-large sized metropolitan regions with advanced economies and highly developed societies. On a worldwide basis, Singapore and Vienna are recognised for their enlightened approaches to transport and urban planning – and to some extent are recognised reference cases for any city that is developing or improving its transport planning and systems. This paper offers a comparative analysis of the three city regions and their key transport planning policy arrangements. The overarching concern is for the philosophy of transport planning in the three cities, as well as the effectiveness of the planning documents themselves. In order to draw out other important themes, a number of key areas for comparison will be covered. These include: • transport and urban performance parameters • a review of key projects, investments and implementation phases • the manner in which the cities approach the topic of “an integrated public transport network” • the role of road network management • transport/land use relationships and policy