The Regional Municipality of York introduced a new bus service known as VIVA in 2005. Although it has been deemed a success by many, it remains to be seen to what degree transit use was affected by its introduction. This study shows that transit ridership in York jumped substantially immediately after the implementation of VIVA. Furthermore, it is determined that the majority of new transit users in York are making home-based work or post-secondary school trips. To evaluate this, home-based work and post-secondary school generalized extreme value discrete choice models are estimated. Improvements in transit service are found to have a greater impact on transit mode share than increases in congestion for both work and post-secondary school trips. It is also, however, concluded that transit improvements played a relatively small role in the considerable shift to transit amongst post-secondary students.

A nanogrid is a standalone hybrid renewable system that uses distributed renewable and non-renewable sources to supply power to local loads. The system is based on power electronics, with interface converters allowing the sources to supply power to the system and the loads to draw power from the system. The nanogrid is typically designed such that renewable sources supply the average load demand, while storage and non-renewable generation are used to ensure that the loads enjoy a continuous supply of power in the presence of the stochastic renewable sources. To maintain the power balance in the system while maximising use of the renewable sources, all sources in the system are scheduled according to a supply-side control law. The renewable sources are used wherever possible and the storage is operated as a slack power bus. The storage is controlled to absorb any excess power from the renewable sources and release it to the system when necessary. The non-renewable generation is only brought online when the storage and renewable sources are incapable of balancing the load demand. While the primary method for maintaining the power balance in the nanogrid is scheduling the sources according to a supply-side control law, a demand-side control law may also be used to help maintain the power balance in the system or protect the system from a complete collapse under overload conditions. A demand-side control strategy is implemented by shedding loads when the load exceeds the available generation, beginning with those loads having the lowest utilisation priority. Hybrid renewable systems are typically designed and controlled in a similar manner to the traditional ac power system, operating at 50/60~Hz, and maintaining the power balance in the system using frequency droop for power sharing and central coordination for scheduling the sources. However a nanogrid has different components compared to the ac system, employing power electronic converters to interface the sources and loads to the system. The control flexibility afforded by the use of power electronic interface converters opens the door to new transmission and control possibilities. This thesis evaluates a number of transmission options ranging from dc to high frequency ac in order to determine an operating frequency that is suitable for this niche system. A number of control topologies are also investigated to find a low cost strategy for implementing a supply-side control law. DC is selected as the operating frequency of choice largely for its simpler source interface requirements. A novel control strategy, dc bus signalling (DBS), is proposed as a means of implementing a supply-side control law. Its distributed structure maintains the modularity inherent in the distributed structure of the nanogrid. DBS uses the voltage level of the dc bus to convey system information. With a supply-side control law implemented using DBS, the source and storage interface converters operate autonomously based on the voltage level of the dc bus. The converters not only respond to the level of the dc bus, but they also change the level of the dc bus, automatically controlling other converters in the system. This thesis presents the theory of operation behind this control strategy and outlines a method for implementing a supply-side control law. A method for ensuring that the supply-side control law operates in a practical system where transmission line impedance affects the information conveyed by the dc bus is also given. For completeness, a method for implementing a demand-side control law using DBS is also presented. A simulation model of a nanogrid is presented and results are obtained to demonstrate the operation of DBS. The design of a small experimental system is also presented, and results are obtained to verify the operation of this new control strategy in a practical system. The simulation and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of implementing supply and demand-side control laws in a nanogrid using DBS, even in the presence of transmission line impedance.

With its core competence on bus chassis, Scania determined in the mid-2000s to co-produce coach products with two external bus body manufacturers, Lahden Autokori and Higer. However, after a decade’s cooperation, well-functioning work processes were not established and problems still existed. With this study, problems within Scania’s operations system and Scania’s supply chain management strategies towards these two partners have been identified and illustrated, by applying an abductive research method. With this study it has been evidenced that Scania’s bus operations management is affiliated with truck and the truck operations system does not fit the request from the collaborations with Lahden Autokori and Higer. Moreover, it has also been shown that even though the relationship with these two partners is by nature long-term, Scania’s attitude has been characterized by short-term thinking. This ambiguous supply chain management strategy has been causing problems. Furthermore, aside from problems within operations system and supply chain management, the third studied area is organizational identity. Due to the fact that some organizational identity issues caused by reorganization have largely influenced both of the collaborations, the formation of these identity issues as well as the impacts on the cooperation has been studied. Finally, some recommendations for improvements have been made based on the findings of this study.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 84 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 70-73).

Zugl.: Ulm, Univ., Diss., 2007

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, November, 1987. / Title from PDF t.p.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Western Seminary, Portland, Or., 1998. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-184).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-76). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves xliii-xlv).

Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993.