Giorgio Passerini - Böcker

Originating from presentations at the 17th International Conference on Railway Engineering Design and Operation, this volume contains selected research works on the topic. These research studies will be of interest to all involved in the development of railways, including managers, consultants, engineers, designers and computer specialists.

Formed of papers originating from the 9th International Conference on Safety and Security Engineering, this book highlights research and industrial developments in the theoretical and practical aspects of safety and security engineering.Safety and Security Engineering, due to its special nature, is an interdisciplinary area of research and application that brings together, in a systematic way, many disciplines of engineering from the traditional to the most technologically advanced. This volume covers topics such as crisis management, security engineering, natural disasters and emergencies, terrorism, IT security, man-made hazards, risk management, control, protection and mitigation issues.The meeting aims to attract papers in all related fields, in addition to those listed under the Conference Topics, as well as case studies describing practical experiences. Due to the multitude and variety of topics included, the list is only indicative of the themes of the expected papers. Authors are encouraged to submit abstracts in all areas of Safety and Security, with particular attention to integrated and interdisciplinary aspects.Specific themes include: Critical infrastructure; Cyber security/E security; Disaster and emergency management; Earthquakes and natural hazards; Human factors and risk perception; Modelling and experiments; Risk analysis and assessment; Safety engineering; Risk reduction in transport system in emergency conditions.

Research presented at the 7th International Conference on Disaster Management and Human Health: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes is contained in this volume. These contributions from academics and experts focus on public health, security and disaster management with the goal to assess the potential risk from various types of disaster and highlight ways to prevent or alleviate any damage.There is a need for academia and practitioners to exchange knowledge and experience on the way to handle the increasing risk of natural and human-made disasters. Recent major earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, floods and other natural phenomena have resulted in huge losses in terms of human life and property destruction. A new range of human-made disasters have afflicted humanity in modern times; terrorist activities have been added to more classical disasters such as those due to the failure of industrial installations for instance.It is important to understand the nature of these global risks to be able to develop strategies to prepare for these events and plan effective responses in terms of disaster management and the associated human health impacts.The papers included in this volume cover such topics as Public health risk; Socio-economic issues; Environmental issues; Emergency preparedness and risk mitigation.

Containing papers presented at the 28th International Conference on Urban and Maritime Transport and the Environment, this volume covers two, apparently, parallel topics which meet in the transport and environmental management of coastal cities, both being affected positively and negatively by landside and seaside traffic.The continuing requirement for better urban transport systems and the need for a healthier environment create a fertile environment for original ideas, innovative approaches and applications of advanced technologies, their tests and evaluations in practice. Moreover, there is a growing need for integration with IT systems and applications to improve safety and efficiency.Maritime Transport is highly interconnected with rail, road and air services, as well as inland waterways. Each of these must therefore operate complimentary of one another to maximise efficiency and respond rapidly to variable economic and political contingencies.The variety of topics covered by the included research works reflects the complex interaction of transport systems with their environment and the need to establish integrated strategies. The shared aim is to arrive at optimal socio-economic solutions while reducing the negative environmental impacts of transportation systems typically by interdisciplinary approaches. Therefore, a focus is placed on multidisciplinary research and development, as well as operational experiences.

Originating from papers presented at the 18th International Conference on Railway Engineering Design and Operation, this book provides up-to-date research on the use of advanced systems, promoting their general awareness throughout the management, design, manufacture and operation of railways and other emerging passenger, freight and transit systems. A key emphasis is placed on the use of computer systems in advanced railway engineering.The included works are compiled from a variety of specialists interested in the development of railways, including managers, consultants, railway engineers, designers of advanced train control systems and computer specialists.Topics covered include: Traffic safety, security and monitoring; Train and railways analysis; Operation of rail networks; Advanced train control; Energy-efficient design; Traffic modelling and simulation.

Urban areas face a series of environmental challenges arising from the consumption of natural resources and the subsequent generation of waste and pollution, which contribute to the development of social and economic imbalances. According to current trends, the population is concentrating in urban areas that continue to grow all over the world. Old and new problems tend to become more acute and require the development of innovative solutions to create liveable urban areas without endangering our common future.The task of researchers is to improve the capacity to manage human activities, pursuing welfare and prosperity in the urban environment. Any investigation or planning in a city ought to consider the relationships between the parts and their connections with the living world. The dynamics of its networks (flows of energy-matter, people, goods, information and other resources) are fundamental for an understanding of the evolving nature of today’s cities.Coastal areas and coastal cities have some specific features, their study is therefore an important topic covered by this book. Their strategic location facilitates transportation and the development of related activities, but this requires the existence of large ports, with the corresponding increase in maritime and road traffic and all of the inherent negative effects. Urban agriculture and food sovereignty are crucial issues that are included due to their impact on city life. In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion in initiatives and projects exploring innovative methods and processes for sustainable food production. Other specific issues addressed in this volume include: urban strategies, urban metabolism, urban transportation and planning, green infrastructure and sustainable urbanism, environmental management, planning for mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and other natural hazards, water resources and public health.Large cities constitute a fertile ground for architects, engineers, city planners, social and political scientists, and other professionals able to conceive new ideas and time them according to technological advances and human requirements. Their works are essential in order to help public policies progress and become more committed to environmental challenges.