Ontario Ministry of Transportation

About: Ontario Ministry of Transportation is a government organization based out in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Poison control & Asphalt. The organization has 4652 authors who have published 3882 publications receiving 59011 citations.

Development and Deployment of Public Transport Policy and Planning in Taiwan

Abstract: Over the past decade, the escalating roadway congestion and environmental deterioration due to heavy use of private vehicles have provoked the Taiwan government to realize the importance of public transport systems. Under the “carrot-and-stick” rationales, the government has formulated public transport policies and exercised a series of related initiatives by providing sufficient and higher quality of public transport services so as to attract more private vehicle users. In this paper, the planning philosophy and policy formulation of Taiwan’s public transport development are highlighted. The most important initiatives, including the Five-year Enhancement of Mass Transportation Program and the upgrading public transport schemes in the National Development Plan are examined. Based on previous experience and lessons, we point out the most challenging issues that the government will encounter. Suggestions for the future of public transport planning are also addressed.

Energy performance contracts in the municipal sector in Norway: overcoming barriers to energy savings?

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate which factors are significant for the uptake of energy performance contracts (EPCs) in Norway’s municipal sector, based on qualitative case studies. An EPC consists of a set of energy efficiency measures provided by an energy service company. The model used in Norway guarantees that savings produced by a project will finance its full cost. Estimates indicate that an EPC is a promising way of substantially increasing savings. We find that a committed individual in the administration is essential for the adoption of an EPC. Such individuals have the technical and/or economic competence to see the potential for energy savings and the organizational competence for moving an EPC through to the political level. Further, we find that the guarantee that accompanies an EPC is well suited for addressing the logic of politicians, and is crucial when the final decision is made. These findings indicate that a standard economic understanding of energy savings is not sufficient. Efforts to increase energy savings might benefit from being targeted at the contexts where measures are to be implemented and at the logic of those making energy-saving decisions.

Evaluation on Self-healing Mechanism and Hydrophobic Performance of Asphalt Modified by Siloxane and Polyurethane

Abstract: In order to inhibit and remove the thin ice and extend the lifetime of the damaged bridge, the self-healing mechanism and hydrophobic performance of asphalt modified by siloxane and polyurethane (ASP) were studied by dynamic shear rheology (DSR), fluorescence microscope (FM), atomic force microscope (AFM), the fracture-healing-re-fracture test and molecular simulations. The experimental results indicated that the self-healing capability of ASP increased with increasing heating time and temperature. Furthermore, the addition of siloxane could improve the reaction energy barrier and complex modulus, and it is believed that the self-healing is a viscosity driven process, consisting of two parts namely crack closure and properties recovery. Contact angle of ASP increased with the increasing siloxane content and it deduced that the siloxane could improve the hydrophobic performance of ASP and the ASP molecule model could simulate well the self-healing mechanism and hydrophobic performance of ASP.

Some physicochemical and environmental factors affecting transformation rates and sorption of the herbicide Metamitron in soil.

Abstract: In addition to the molecular structure of a pesticide, environmental conditions may influence its persistence through their effect on the growth and activity of pesticide-degrading micro-organisms. As a result, transformation rates may decrease rapidly when a compound is leached into subsoil. Metamitron sorption isotherms were determined and incubation series were set up for a sandy loam soil, simulating single and combination effects that occur during transport of metamitron into subsoils. K OC values increased with increasing depth from 185 to 700 litre kg -1 . A combination of conditions that are unfavourable for microbial activity, such as low temperature (5°C), low concentrations (0.5 mg kg -1 ) and a large sorbed fraction (K OC = 700) resulted in half-lives of over one year. Oxygen inhibition decreased the transformation rate of metamitron from 0.058 to 0.019 day -1 . In order of significance, the transformation of metamitron appears to be a function of temperature, oxygen availability and sorption to organic carbon. Increasing doses did not change transformation rates significantly, although different transformation pathways were observed.