Drivers need to make judgements of physical relationships related to driving speed, such as mean speed, risks, travel time and fuel consumption, in order to make optimal choices of vehicle speed. This is also the case for the general public, politicians and other stakeholders who are engaged in traffic issues. This thesis investigates how drivers’ judgements of travel time (Study I and II), fuel consumption (Study III) and mean speed (Study IV) relate to actual physical measures. A cognitive time-saving bias has been found in judgements of travel time. The time saving bias implies that people overestimate the time saved when increasing speed from a high speed and underestimate the time saved when increasing speed from a low speed. Previous studies have mainly investigated the bias from a cognitive perspective in questionnaires. In Study I the bias was shown to be present when participants were engaged in a driving simulator task where participants primarily rely on perceptual cues. Study II showed that intuitive time saving judgements can be debiased by presenting drivers with an alternative speedometer that indicate the inverted speed in minutes per kilometre. In Study III, judgements of fuel consumption at increasing and decreasing speeds were examined, and the results showed systematic deviations from correct measures. In particular, professional truck drivers underestimated the fuel saving effect of a decrease in speed. Study IV showed that subjective mean speed judgements differed from objective mean speeds and could predict route choice better than objective mean speeds. The results indicate that biases in these judgements are robust and that they predict behaviour. The thesis concludes that judgements of mean speeds, time savings and fuel consumption systematically deviate from physical measures. The results have implications for predicting travel behaviour and the design of driver feedback systems. / Förare bör göra bedömningar som relaterar till hastighet, såsom bedömningar av medelhastighet, risk, restid och bränsleåtgång. Dessa bedömningar är nödvändiga för att föraren ska kunna välja en optimal hastighet, men också för att allmänheten, politiker och andra intressenter som är involverade i trafikfrågor ska kunna fatta välgrundade beslut. Denna avhandling består av fyra delstudier där förares bedömningar av restid (Studie I och II), bränsleåtgång (Studie III) och medelhastighet (Studie IV) studeras i relation till faktiska fysikaliska mått. Tidigare enkätstudier har påvisat ett kognitivt bias i tidsvinstbedömningar vid höga och låga hastigheter som påverkar mänskligt beteende. Studie I visade att detta bias också förekommer i en primärt perceptuell motorisk uppgift där förarna i studien kör i en körsimulator. Studie II visade att dessa intuitiva tidsbedömningar kan förbättras genom att köra med en alternativ hastighetsmätare i bilen som indikerar den inverterade hastigheten i minuter per kilometer istället för hastigheten i kilometer per timme. I Studie III undersöktes bedömningar av bränsleåtgång vid hastighetsökningar och hastighetssänkningar, och resultaten visar att bedömningarna systematiskt avviker från faktisk bränsleåtgång. Ett intressant resultat var att lastbilsförare i allmänhet underskattade bränslebesparingen som kan göras till följd av en hastighetssänkning. Studie IV visade att subjektiva bedömningar av medelhastighet som avviker från objektiva medelhastigheter kan predicera vägval, vilket tyder på att systematiska fel i dessa bedömningar är robusta och kan predicera vägval. Sammanfattningsvis visar avhandlingen hur bedömningar av medelhastighet, tidsvinst och bränsleåtgång systematiskt avviker från fysikaliska mått. Resultaten har betydelse för modellering av resebeteende och design av förarstödssystem. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

Drivers need to make judgements of physical relationships related to driving speed, such as mean speed, risks, travel time and fuel consumption, in order to make optimal choices of vehicle speed. This is also the case for the general public, politicians and other stakeholders who are engaged in traffic issues. This thesis investigates how drivers’ judgements of travel time (Study I and II), fuel consumption (Study III) and mean speed (Study IV) relate to actual physical measures. A cognitive time-saving bias has been found in judgements of travel time. The time saving bias implies that people overestimate the time saved when increasing speed from a high speed and underestimate the time saved when increasing speed from a low speed. Previous studies have mainly investigated the bias from a cognitive perspective in questionnaires. In Study I the bias was shown to be present when participants were engaged in a driving simulator task where participants primarily rely on perceptual cues. Study II showed that intuitive time saving judgements can be debiased by presenting drivers with an alternative speedometer that indicate the inverted speed in minutes per kilometre. In Study III, judgements of fuel consumption at increasing and decreasing speeds were examined, and the results showed systematic deviations from correct measures. In particular, professional truck drivers underestimated the fuel saving effect of a decrease in speed. Study IV showed that subjective mean speed judgements differed from objective mean speeds and could predict route choice better than objective mean speeds. The results indicate that biases in these judgements are robust and that they predict behaviour. The thesis concludes that judgements of mean speeds, time savings and fuel consumption systematically deviate from physical measures. The results have implications for predicting travel behaviour and the design of driver feedback systems. / Förare bör göra bedömningar som relaterar till hastighet, såsom bedömningar av medelhastighet, risk, restid och bränsleåtgång. Dessa bedömningar är nödvändiga för att föraren ska kunna välja en optimal hastighet, men också för att allmänheten, politiker och andra intressenter som är involverade i trafikfrågor ska kunna fatta välgrundade beslut. Denna avhandling består av fyra delstudier där förares bedömningar av restid (Studie I och II), bränsleåtgång (Studie III) och medelhastighet (Studie IV) studeras i relation till faktiska fysikaliska mått. Tidigare enkätstudier har påvisat ett kognitivt bias i tidsvinstbedömningar vid höga och låga hastigheter som påverkar mänskligt beteende. Studie I visade att detta bias också förekommer i en primärt perceptuell motorisk uppgift där förarna i studien kör i en körsimulator. Studie II visade att dessa intuitiva tidsbedömningar kan förbättras genom att köra med en alternativ hastighetsmätare i bilen som indikerar den inverterade hastigheten i minuter per kilometer istället för hastigheten i kilometer per timme. I Studie III undersöktes bedömningar av bränsleåtgång vid hastighetsökningar och hastighetssänkningar, och resultaten visar att bedömningarna systematiskt avviker från faktisk bränsleåtgång. Ett intressant resultat var att lastbilsförare i allmänhet underskattade bränslebesparingen som kan göras till följd av en hastighetssänkning. Studie IV visade att subjektiva bedömningar av medelhastighet som avviker från objektiva medelhastigheter kan predicera vägval, vilket tyder på att systematiska fel i dessa bedömningar är robusta och kan predicera vägval. Sammanfattningsvis visar avhandlingen hur bedömningar av medelhastighet, tidsvinst och bränsleåtgång systematiskt avviker från fysikaliska mått. Resultaten har betydelse för modellering av resebeteende och design av förarstödssystem. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

No description available.

This thesis on the analysis of the main reasons influencing the energy consumption in the moving transport vehicles is focused on point out the effect of the driving resistances and other quantities on the total energy consumption. In the first part the thesis deals with the theory of road transport, theory of driving resistances and also economics of driving and measurement of fuel consumption. The second part deals with the calculation of resistance of selected cars and their consumption.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-06-21Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:52:14Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 montanha_gk_me_botfca.pdf: 2033085 bytes, checksum: 2e751dc5d7ab5ae708d14186b7eaed88 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A mecanização permitiu grandes avanços na agricultura, dentre eles, melhor eficiência nas operações agrícolas e aumento da produtividade. Contudo, a utilização de máquinas agrícolas aumentou o consumo energético e os custos de produção das propriedades rurais, sendo a cultura do algodão em regiões semi-áridas um caso que caracteriza-se por apresentar altos custos de produção com alta dependência dos processos mecanizados. Nesse contexto, o trator agrícola surge como a principal fonte de energia e de trabalho nas propriedades rurais onde sua correta utilização e a calibração adequada dos pneus agrícolas podem influenciar diretamente na eficiência de trabalho e no consumo de combustível. O objetivo desse trabalho foi comparar o consumo de combustível de um trator agrícola em duas operações de preparo de solo, variando duas pressões de inflação nos pneus em dois tipos de texturas de solos em uma região de clima semi-árido para a cultura do algodão irrigado. Os ensaios foram realizados na Fazenda Experimental Maricopa Agricultural Center - MAC, pertencente à The University of Arizona, localizada na cidade de Maricopa estado do Arizona, Estados Unidos com um trator Case 4x2 TDA com potência de 88kW (120 cv), equipado com sistema de piloto automático, com pneus dianteiros tipo 320/85R38 e 329/90R54 os traseiros. Foram instalados no trator agrícola um sistema de medição de combustível composto por fluxômetros, reguladores de fluxo e monitor digital e um sistema de aquisição de dados que coletou os dados gerados pelo receptor GNSS e pelos sensores durante a realização dos ensaios O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com um arranjo fatorial 2x2, sendo analisados a pressão de inflação dos pneus: 242 kPa (35 psi) e 124 kPa (18 psi) e o tipo de textura de solo: franco argilo arenoso (Área 1) e franco arenoso (Área 2)... / Mechanization has allowed great advances in agriculture, among them, better efficiency in agricultural operations and increasing productivity. However, the use of agricultural machinery led to higher energy consumption and production costs on the farms, where the cotton crop in semi-arid regions is characterized by presenting of high production costs with high dependence on mechanized processes. In this context, the tractor comes as the major source of energy and work in the farms where their correct use and the correct calibration of the tires can directly changes the impact on work efficiency and fuel consumption. The objective of this study was to compare the fuel consumption of an agricultural tractor in two operations of tillage, varying two inflation pressures in the tires on two types of soil texture in a region with semiarid climate for growing irrigated cotton. The tests were conducted at the Experimental Farm Maricopa Agricultural Center - MAC, owned by The University of Arizona, located in the city of Maricopa Arizona, USA, with a tractor Case 4x2 TDA, 88kW (120 hp) equipped with autopilot system, using the tires 320/85R38 type for the front and 329/90R54 for the rear. The tractor has been installed with a measurement fuel system, consisting of flowmeters, dampers and digital display and a data acquisition system that collected the data generated by the GNSS receiver and the sensors during the test. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with a 2x2 factorial arrangement, analyzed the tire inflation pressure: 242 kPa (35 psi) and 124 kPa (18 psi) and the type of soil texture: sandy clay loam (Area 1) and sandy loam (Area 2)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:24:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-07-23Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:31:30Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 lyra_ga_me_botfca.pdf: 590042 bytes, checksum: fe8b33db7cea3a3888f4507511e1edd5 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O setor sucroalcooleiro brasileiro encontra-se em pleno processo de modernização, utilizando novas tecnologias em diversas áreas o que demanda mão-de-obra qualificada dos técnicos envolvidos. A atual realidade deste setor frente ao avanço da produção de cana-de-açúcar, aos problemas causados pela queima da palha e da crescente demanda por mecanização agrícola nas diversas etapas do processo produtivo, torna a modernização do campo um caminho inevitável. Um dos fatores que vêm sendo analisado e pesquisado de forma mais intensa é o consumo de combustível das colhedoras mecanizadas de cana-de-açúcar, visto que o mesmo está além dos valores estimados para essa operação. O alto consumo é decorrente da falta de treinamento adequado dos operadores, que trabalham com a máquina em potência máxima a maior parte do tempo, mesmo quando não é necessário. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o consumo de colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar, para isso foram analisadas duas colhedoras: CASE IH modelo A8800, em canaviais de alta produtividade (mais de 100 t.ha-1), e CASE IH modelo A7700, em canaviais de menor produtividade (menos de 40 t.ha-1). As colhedoras foram avaliadas em três faixas de velocidade (5 a 6 km.h-1, 6 a 7 km.h-1 e 7 a 8 km.h-1) e três diferentes rotações do motor (1900 RPM, 2000 RPM e 2100 RPM). Os resultados mostraram que em canaviais de maior produtividade não foi viável utilizar a máquina na rotação de 1900 RPM, abaixo da recomendada pelos fabricantes (2100 RPM). A colhedora A8800 teve consumo horário médio menor, quando utilizada com 2000 RPM no motor (54,4 L.h-1). O mesmo ocorreu para o consumo de combustível por tonelada de cana-de-açúcar colhida, sendo o consumo a 1900 RPM do motor o mais alto (0,60 L.t-1). Nas áreas de menor produtividade o menor... / The Brazilian sugar and ethanol sector is in the process of modernization, by using new technologies in several areas which demand skilled labor of the technicians involved. The actual reality of this sector forward to advancing the production of sugar cane, the problems caused by the burning of straw and growing demand for agricultural mechanization in the different of the productive process, modernization of the countryside makes an inevitable path. One of the factors that have been examined and studied more intensively is the fuel consumption of mechanized harvesters for sugar cane, since it is beyond the estimated values for this operation. The high consumption results from the inadequate training of operators, working with the machine at full power most of the time, even when not necessary. This work was aimed at evaluating the consumption of sugarcane's harvesters, to do this two sugarcane's harvesters were analyzed: CASE IH model A8800 in sugarcane high yield (over 100 t.ha-1), and CASE IH model A7700, lower yield (less than 40 t.ha-1). The harvester were evaluated at three speed ranges (5-6 km.h-1, 6-7 km.h-1 and 7-8 km.h-1) and three different engine speed (1900, 2000 and 2100 revolutions per minute). The results showed that higher yield of sugarcane field was not viability of using the machine well below by the manufacturer recommended (1900 RPM). The harvester A8800 the meddle of hourly consumption was lower when used the engine to 2000 RPM (54.4 l.h-1). The same happened to the fuel consumption... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Resumo: A mecanização permitiu grandes avanços na agricultura, dentre eles, melhor eficiência nas operações agrícolas e aumento da produtividade. Contudo, a utilização de máquinas agrícolas aumentou o consumo energético e os custos de produção das propriedades rurais, sendo a cultura do algodão em regiões semi-áridas um caso que caracteriza-se por apresentar altos custos de produção com alta dependência dos processos mecanizados. Nesse contexto, o trator agrícola surge como a principal fonte de energia e de trabalho nas propriedades rurais onde sua correta utilização e a calibração adequada dos pneus agrícolas podem influenciar diretamente na eficiência de trabalho e no consumo de combustível. O objetivo desse trabalho foi comparar o consumo de combustível de um trator agrícola em duas operações de preparo de solo, variando duas pressões de inflação nos pneus em dois tipos de texturas de solos em uma região de clima semi-árido para a cultura do algodão irrigado. Os ensaios foram realizados na Fazenda Experimental Maricopa Agricultural Center - MAC, pertencente à The University of Arizona, localizada na cidade de Maricopa estado do Arizona, Estados Unidos com um trator Case 4x2 TDA com potência de 88kW (120 cv), equipado com sistema de piloto automático, com pneus dianteiros tipo 320/85R38 e 329/90R54 os traseiros. Foram instalados no trator agrícola um sistema de medição de combustível composto por fluxômetros, reguladores de fluxo e monitor digital e um sistema de aquisição de dados que coletou os dados gerados pelo receptor GNSS e pelos sensores durante a realização dos ensaios O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados com um arranjo fatorial 2x2, sendo analisados a pressão de inflação dos pneus: 242 kPa (35 psi) e 124 kPa (18 psi) e o tipo de textura de solo: franco argilo arenoso (Área 1) e franco arenoso (Área 2)... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Mechanization has allowed great advances in agriculture, among them, better efficiency in agricultural operations and increasing productivity. However, the use of agricultural machinery led to higher energy consumption and production costs on the farms, where the cotton crop in semi-arid regions is characterized by presenting of high production costs with high dependence on mechanized processes. In this context, the tractor comes as the major source of energy and work in the farms where their correct use and the correct calibration of the tires can directly changes the impact on work efficiency and fuel consumption. The objective of this study was to compare the fuel consumption of an agricultural tractor in two operations of tillage, varying two inflation pressures in the tires on two types of soil texture in a region with semiarid climate for growing irrigated cotton. The tests were conducted at the Experimental Farm Maricopa Agricultural Center - MAC, owned by The University of Arizona, located in the city of Maricopa Arizona, USA, with a tractor Case 4x2 TDA, 88kW (120 hp) equipped with autopilot system, using the tires 320/85R38 type for the front and 329/90R54 for the rear. The tractor has been installed with a measurement fuel system, consisting of flowmeters, dampers and digital display and a data acquisition system that collected the data generated by the GNSS receiver and the sensors during the test. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with a 2x2 factorial arrangement, analyzed the tire inflation pressure: 242 kPa (35 psi) and 124 kPa (18 psi) and the type of soil texture: sandy clay loam (Area 1) and sandy loam (Area 2)... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Saulo Philipe Sebastião Guerra / Coorientador: Pedro Andrade-Sanchez / Banca: Kléber Pereira Lanças / Banca: Roberto Antonio Colenci / Mestre

Orientador: Kléber Pereira Lanças / Banca: Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva / Banca: Marcelode Almeida Silva / Banca: Edilson Renato Silva Ruiz / Banca: Fabricio Campos Masiero / Resumo: A expansão das lavouras de cana-de-açúcar no Brasil favorece a utilização do sistema de colheita mecanizada, contudo as diferenças de relevo, solo e clima das regiões produtoras impactam na tomada de decisão quanto às características das colhedoras que serão utilizadas, a fim de promover o rendimento operacional e econômico, com melhor qualidade da matéria-prima colhida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo elaborar e avaliar uma metodologia para verificar do estado do canavial em pré colheita, considerando-se as condições culturais, de solo, plantio e sistematização, utilizando uma ferramenta de análise qualitativa para determinação do índice de colheitabilidade em diferentes canaviais e a partir deste, avaliar o desempenho operacional e a qualidade da colheita de colhedoras de cana-de-açúcar, visando a adequação da operação de colheita. Foram realizados dois ensaios, com delineamento em faixas, onde cada tratamento foi aplicado em uma faixa e representou a colheita de uma parcela experimental. O ensaio 1 foi realizado utilizando-se duas colhedoras (A e B), três rotações do extrator primário (Baixa, Intermediária e Alta), duas áreas com produtividade agrícola distintas (Baixa e Alta) e duas velocidades de trabalho (Padrão de 4,0 km h-1 e máxima alcançada), constituindo-se 24 tratamentos ou parcelas experimentais. O ensaio 2 foi realizado utilizando-se duas colhedoras (C e D), três rotações do extrator primário (Baixa, Intermediária e Alta), duas áreas com produtividade agrícola ... / Abstract: The expansion of sugarcane plantations in Brazil favors the use of mechanized harvesting system, however the soil and climate differences of the producing regions impacts the decision in which characteristics of harvesters that will be used in order to promote operational and economic efficiency with better quality of the raw material harvested. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a methodology to verify the characteristics of sugarcane plots in pre harvest, considering soil, planting and leveling conditions, using a qualitative analysis tool to determine the harvestability index in different plots and from this, to evaluate operational performance and the harvest quality of sugarcane harvesters, aiming to improve the harvesting operation. Two experiments were conducted with in a splitplot strip block experimental where each treatment was applied in a strip that represented the harvest of an experimental plot. The test 1 was performed using two harvesters (A and B), three primary extractor rotations (Lower, Middle and Upper), two areas with different yield (Low and High) and two ground speeds (Standard of 4.0 km h-1 and the Maximum reached by the harvester), totalizing 24 treatments or experimental plots. Test 2 was conducted using two harvesters (C and D), three primary extractor rotations (Lower, Middle and Upper), two areas with different yield (Low and High) and two ground speeds (Standard of 5.0 km h-1 and the Maximum reached by the harvester), totalizing 24 treatments or experimental plots. It was observed that the Lodging, yield, systematization/leveling, soil declividy, alignment between rows and stump position ... / Doutor

Orientador: Kléber Pereira Lanças / Banca: Alberto Kazushi Nagaoka / Banca: Paulo Roberto Arbex Silva / Resumo: O trator agrícola é a principal fonte de potência utilizada na agricultura e a maioria dos novos modelos disponíveis no mercado apresenta tração dianteira auxiliar (TDA). A preferência pelos tratores com tração dianteira auxiliar é devido à sua maior capacidade de tração, principalmente em condições trativas adversas e, sobretudo pela relação benefício e custo ser positiva e maior que os outros modelos. Esse trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar o rendimento dinâmico na barra de tração de tratores agrícolas com tração dianteira auxiliar (4x2 TDA) em diferentes condições de superfície trativa comparando-os com os valores teóricos e práticos da bibliografia ("Fator 0,86" de Wendel Bowers e norma D497.4 ASAE, 1999) e determinar o rendimento dinâmico na barra para a superfície de solo com cobertura vegetal, pois existe pouca bibliografia e é uma realidade no Brasil com o plantio direto na palha. Avaliaram-se onze tratores agrícolas em diversas condições de ensaio de campo e condições de superfície, variando-se o tipo construtivo e modelos de conjunto de pneus, pressões de inflação dos pneus, relações entre o peso e potência do motor e velocidade teórica de deslocamento. Os dados de rendimento máximo na barra de tração do trator obtidos nos ensaios foram arranjados em grupos, obtendo-se o rendimento dinâmico médio na barra de tração e desvio padrão para cada condição de superfície. Foram coletados os dados para o cálculo do rendimento na barra de tração do trator, velocidade de deslocamento, patinagem das rodas dianteiras e traseiras do trator, consumo de combustível, força de tração e potência disponível na barra de tração.a realização do experimento, utilizou-se a Unidade Móvel de Ensaio... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The agricultural tractor is the main power source used in the agriculture and the most of available new tractor models in the marketing present auxiliary front drive (4WD). The preference for the 4WD tractors is due to biggest traction capacity, mainly in adverse tractive conditions and, mainly for the relationship benefit and cost to be positive and larger than the other models. This research was accomplished with the objective to evaluate the dynamic drawbar performance of several agricultural tractors 4WD in different surface condition (concrete, firm soil and tilled soil) comparing them with the theoretical and practical values of the bibliography (Wendel Bowers "0.86 Factor" and D497.4 ASAE standard, 1999) and to determine the dynamic drawbar performance for the soil surface with vegetable covering, that doesn't exist in the bibliography and it is a reality in Brazil with the minimum cultivate. Eleven agricultural tractors were evaluated all 4WD in several field test conditions and surface conditions, being varied the tire constructive type and models, tire inflation pressures, relationships between the weight and engine power and forward speed. The maximum tractor drawbar performance obtained in the tests was arranged in groups, being obtained the medium dynamic drawbar... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

abstract: There are significant fuel consumption consequences for non-optimal flight operations. This study is intended to analyze and highlight areas of interest that affect fuel consumption in typical flight operations. By gathering information from actual flight operators (pilots, dispatch, performance engineers, and air traffic controllers), real performance issues can be addressed and analyzed. A series of interviews were performed with various individuals in the industry and organizations. The wide range of insight directed this study to focus on FAA regulations, airline policy, the ATC system, weather, and flight planning. The goal is to highlight where operational performance differs from design intent in order to better connect optimization with actual flight operations. After further investigation and consensus from the experienced participants, the FAA regulations do not need any serious attention until newer technologies and capabilities are implemented. The ATC system is severely out of date and is one of the largest limiting factors in current flight operations. Although participants are pessimistic about its timely implementation, the FAA's NextGen program for a future National Airspace System should help improve the efficiency of flight operations. This includes situational awareness, weather monitoring, communication, information management, optimized routing, and cleaner flight profiles like Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Continuous Descent Approach (CDA). Working off the interview results, trade-studies were performed using an in-house flight profile simulation of a Boeing 737-300, integrating NASA legacy codes EDET and NPSS with a custom written mission performance and point-performance "Skymap" calculator. From these trade-studies, it was found that certain flight conditions affect flight operations more than others. With weather, traffic, and unforeseeable risks, flight planning is still limited by its high level of precaution. From this study, it is recommended that air carriers increase focus on defining policies like load scheduling, CG management, reduction in zero fuel weight, inclusion of performance measurement systems, and adapting to the regulations to best optimize the spirit of the requirement.. As well, air carriers should create a larger drive to implement the FAA's NextGen system and move the industry into the future. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Aerospace Engineering 2014