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The purpose of this research was to investigate the feasibility of a passenger rail service operating on a current rail line in Canterbury, known as the Main North Line, which connects the Waimakariri District to Christchurch. The Main North Line runs through the two main urban areas of the Waimakariri District: Rangiora and Kaiapoi. The need for research into the potential use of the Main North Line for passenger services has arisen due to increasing car congestion on arterial roads between the Waimakariri District and Christchurch. All traffic coming from the Waimakariri District into Christchurch must cross the Waimakariri River, creating a transport bottleneck. An assessment of the location of the Main North Line was conducted with respect to the travel needs of Waimakariri District residents using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate how far residents live and work from the line and resident surveys to determine whether people would use rail as their main mode of travel into Christchurch. Assessment of the infrastructure was with regard to the locations of potential railways stations and the capabilities of the infrastructure for supporting different levels of passenger service. National and regional transport strategies are placing more importance on the transportation of people and freight by way of rail. A potential rail service for Canterbury will therefore likely include national and regional stakeholders in co-operation with a private service operator, as currently occurs in Wellington and Auckland. An average of 71% of Waimakariri District residents stated they would switch to rail as their main mode of transport for the journey into Christchurch. GIS analysis found that the number of journeys which start in the Waimakariri District and terminate within 1km of Christchurch stations is around 610 which increases to around 4,300 if connecting bus services were utilised in Christchurch.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Zugl.: Karlsruhe, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M. A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 102 p. : ill. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 94-99).

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Keith D. Harris / Since the introduction of railroad systems to the United States in the early- to mid- 1800s, agricultural producers – particularly those in the grain, fertilizer and fuel industries – have benefitted from increased access to national and global markets. This study is designed to examine the Wisconsin 2017-2019 Biennium Budget as an indication of the state’s political desire to fund the state’s rail system and address the implications related to cooperative performance and competitive advantage in the agricultural markets. The objective is to collect data from Wisconsin cooperatives and: 1) determine cooperatives’ current use of rail; 2) estimate the average rail transportation cost for cooperatives; and 3) discuss whether cooperatives should evaluate (if not consider) switching from rail to another mode of transportation. When reviewing the participants’ current use of rail, the research findings suggest that a number of organizations use this method of transportation for both inbound and outbound business. In addition, the majority surveyed indicated competitors and/or customers also use rail as a mode of transportation. The research findings suggest that agricultural cooperatives in Wisconsin should independently evaluate the costs and/or benefits of switching from rail to another mode of transportation and the impact a change of this nature would have on the cooperatives’ input suppliers as well as end customers. The implications might impact future profitability or financial viability of the cooperative.

Cette thèse se situe dans l'articulation entre les thématiques du transport et du développement durable, par le biais du concept de congruence. Elle aborde plus spécifiquement la question du rôle du chemin de fer dans l'amélioration de la vie des populations rurales et particulièrement dans deux états africains, le Mozambique et le Kenya. / This thesis is the relationship between the themes of transport and sustainable development through the concept of congruence. It specifically addresses the issue of the role of the railway in improving the lives of rural populations and particularly in two African states, Mozambique and Kenya.

Raw material accounts for a large proportion (approximately 75 percent) of a sawmill’s operating costs. However, about 15 percent of raw material ends up as low valued sawdust and planer shavings due to inaccurate cutting. Sizable financial benefits can be realized through maximizing conversion of raw material into valuable solid wood. Advanced process control in a sawmill can help achieve straighter cuts closer to final product dimensions and reduce loss of valuable raw material. A novel and practical method for enhanced process control in a sawmill is presented. A laser arrangement consisting of industrial point and line scanners is used to obtain a surface profile of the entire (two-dimensional) top and bottom surfaces of a lumber board. Each surface profile is independent of the other and free of data contamination caused by relative motions between the measured surface and sensors. Point scanners and line scanners simultaneously record 1-D and 2-D height data, respectively, along the length of the board. One-dimensional height data are used to identify relative motions through a mathematical technique based on linear inverse theory. Subtracting relative motion information from raw line scanner data provides an accurate 2-D surface profile. A second line scanner placed below the board can be used to obtain a separate 2-D profile of the bottom lumber surface. Separate-sided profiling is advantageous because typically a different saw or machine mills each side of a board. Thus, knowing the surface profile of each side of a board is crucial not only in diagnosing a deficiency in the milling process but also in determining the location of this deficiency. Results demonstrate that two-dimensional surface profiling can identify common surface defects such as step, washboard and knot tear-out with an accuracy of 0.3mm. Reproduction of each surface is rapid (approximately 0.2 seconds) and stable. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mechanical Engineering, Department of / Graduate