Renewable Energy Essay Example for Free

Renewable Energy Essay The possible downsides associated with different types of renewable energy resources are briefly listed below. Hydroelectric dam Located in remote hilly regions mostly prone to earth quakes Requires construction of large dams in potentially seismic zones Seasonality in power output as water flow is more in rainy season Nuclear Power Plants Accident if occur will cause lot of damage Radioactivity exposure to the personnel Radioactive waste disposal continues to be an unsolved issue Nuclear proliferation fear Solar Power Technology is yet to mature in terms of affordable and efficient solar panels Conversion efficiency is low Scalability is an issue Depends on sky condition Cannot produce electricity in night so storage device is required Green power refers to renewable energy resources which do not adversely affect ecological balance. Some examples are hydroelectric power, wind power, solar power, biomass etc. Advantages and disadvantages are listed below. Green Power Source Advantage Disadvantage Wind energy Free, clean Reliability is a big question mark Solar Energy Free, Clean, Plentiful Low conversion efficiency Hydroelectric Clean, free Located in remote hilly regions Today, the world is interested in renewable energy resources because the fossil fuels are limited in reserve and will deplete completely one day. Also, exploitation of the fossil fuels is leading to ecological imbalances and causing green house effect leading to global warming, which is a very serious issue, globally. The only answer to these problems is to go for renewable energy resources. Therefore, the world is so much interested in decreasing energy production from fossil fuel and increasing the same from renewable energy resources.

The Fat Girl, Andre Dubus

The Fat Girl, Andre Dubus To accept the others, first we have to accept ourselves and accept who we are The Fat Girl is a short story about a girl that tries to fit in todays standards and satisfies her parents as well. The author , Andre Dubus , shows how trying to fit in the society standards , individuals have the pressure of conforming to a superficial image. This idea is developed through the early years of Louise , her weight change and new life , and back to the old habit. First of all, Andre Dubus, takes us into the life of a young girl whose mother is convincing her that she will become fat and how hard is to make friends. We can see this after the mom tell her daughter , You must start watching what you eat, her mother would say. I can see you have my metabolism. As the mother doesnt want that, she puts Louise onto a strict diet. In order not to displease her mother, but still satisfy her hunger, Louise started eating food when no one was watching. While her mother was strict and caring, on the other side her father was loving and misguided. Louise didnt have a lot of friends. Her two childhood friends, Joan and Marjorie were both thin but they felt as a social outcast in other ways. Louise only feels comfortable in the presence of others who were also insecure and unhappy. Ironically Louise intentionally chooses friends who are not heavy because she worries about the way others will see her. I was always thinking about what people saw when they loo ked at me and didnt want them to see two fat girls. It appears that Louise finds her weight issues to be bigger than her friends insecurities. She chooses to exclude those who are heavy from her life while welcoming those with different negative issues. In addition to her self-image issues, Louise also doubts her ability to find happiness in an intimate relationship. Her mother put in her head some negative perceptions such as In five years youll be in high school and if youre fat the boys wont like you; they wont ask you out . This quote shows the overall feeling of the people who dont meet todays standards. Louise continues down this negative road when she decides to go to an all-girl college so she can avoid rejection from guys. Up until this point her only contact with a boy was at a picnic with a drunken kiss . Once in college , Louise shows us how changing and losing weight makes a lot of difference in someones life. Louise continues her self-loathing into college where the only close friend she makes is this thin girl with emotional issues. In the story we can see a strong friendship between the two girls, which leads to the important point where Louise decides to go on a diet, and it is only because her best friend Carrie convinces her that she needs to become thin so that some boy will love her as Carrie does. Carrie pleads, I want you to be loved the way I love you. Louise, if I help you, really help you, will you go on a diet?. Although Carrie is trying to help her best friend, she is actually reinforcing Louises views of her own body. She starts losing fat and her mother starts threating her differently. She finds her way more beautiful and starts buying all kinds of stuff .As Louise progresses with her new diet, she becomes more and more irritable and unhappy with life. In all her l ife she had never been afflicted by ill temper and she looked upon it now as a demon which, along with hunger, was taking possession over her soul .With this quote the author wants to show us that Louise is being pressed into losing weight for strictly superficial reasons, and so she can get accepted into society and fit todays standards. This can be further seen when Louise feels shame and embarrassment when she goes to Carries house for thanksgiving, all because she is aware Carries parents know she is dieting. Louise is uncomfortable and feels excluded in partaking of the many dishes the other thin people can comfortably enjoy. In the end , we cant forget our old habits and sometimes we should accept who we are and stay the way we are. After college, the new thin Louise meets a young lawyer named Richard, who finds her attractive and has no knowledge of her life before. Louise is sure he would never have looked at her if she had still been heavy. They get married and Louise becomes a housewife. While Louise struggles to keep herself thin, her husband can eat anything he wants and still remain fit. She makes him all kind of Italian food that she is unable to consume. It is ironic that she marries a person who has the metabolism of a pencil sharpener when Louise must watch every calorie she eats. The next five years shows a Louise who is thin with new friends, a loving husband, and an active lifestyle, which is by most accounts a perfect life. In her fifth year of marriage, Louise becomes pregnant and her eating begin to become uncontrollable. The new changes in her body frighten her as Louise remarks that sh e is starting to gain weight but she told herself it was only the baby, and would leave with its birth. But at other times she knew quite clearly that she was losing her discipline she had fought so hard to gain during her last year with Carrie. A baby is born, but Louise has now returned to her bad habits and though she cares for her child, she continues to alienate her husband. They fight at nearly every dinner over her appetite and weight gain . Andre Dubus finishes his story with a surprised Louise enjoying a candy bar and shocked to discover her husband Richard is still there. In conclusion, The short story The Fat Girl by Andre Dubus shows many of the negative aspects associated with eating disorders, fat people, and the way society addresses them. Todays standards are too high and people who dont fit in them are getting rejected and they feel sad about their body. Sometime they try changing , but sometimes is better to be who you are and accept yourself.

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect Essay -- Environmental Global

Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect The greenhouse effect, in environmental science, is a popular term for the effect that certain variable constituents of the Earth's lower atmosphere have on surface temperatures. It has been known since 1896 that Earth has been warmed by a blanket of gasses (This is called the "greenhouse effect."). The gases--water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4)--keep ground temperatures at a global average of about 15 degrees C (60 degrees F). Without them the average would be below the freezing point of water. The gases have this effect because as incoming solar radiation strikes the surface, the surface gives off infrared radiation, or heat, that the gases trap and keep near ground level. The effect is comparable to the way in which a greenhouse traps heat, hence the term. Environmental scientists are concerned that changes in the variable contents of the atmosphere--particularly changes caused by human activities--could cause the Earth's surface to warm up to a dangerous de gree. Since 1850 there has been a mean rise in global temperature of approximately 1? C (approximately 1.8? F). Even a limited rise in average surface temperature might lead to at least partial melting of the polar icecaps and hence a major rise in sea level, along with other severe environmental disturbances. An example of a runaway greenhouse effect is Earth's near-twin planetary neighbor Venus. Because of Venus's thick CO2 atmosphere, the planet's clo...

Queen Elizabeth Essay -- Free Essay Writer

Queen Elizabeth I was the most remarkable leader in English history. She was born on September 7, 1533 at Greenwich Palace. Her birth was not celebrated; instead it was a bitter disappointment to her father King Henry VIII, who was highly anticipating the birth of a son. Her mother was executed for treason shortly after her birth, and as Aninna Jokinen states in her article, â€Å"Elizabeth lost all heredity to the throne† (Jokinen 1). After Henry VIII’s third wife Jane Seymour died, however, Elizabeth was placed back in the order of succession after Edward and Mary by act of parliament. When she came into power, Elizabeth I had to clean up the big mess that was left by her sister Mary’s five year reign. Mary had abruptly changed the national religion from Protestantism to Catholicism, and she was not going to hear any objections. She mercilessly hunted down and executed Protestants who refused to convert. After Elizabeth I took the throne, she switched back to Protestantism and, as Miriam Greenblatt says, â€Å"restored religious order in England† (Greenblatt 15). Greenblatt continues to say that â€Å"under Elizabeth I, religion and nationality were almost the same† (Greenblatt 19). Her first act as Queen was to form a loyal government: she replaced the Privy Council with qualified advisors such as nobles, lawyers, and businessmen (Greenblatt 15). Although she had an excellent board of advisors, she did not allow them to dominate her decisions (Alchin 1). Elizabeth was determined to set up a safe and stable government. During Queen Elizabeth’s forty-five year reign, England prospered considerably. â€Å"Her reign witnessed a wide increase in literacy and achievements in the arts† (Alchin 1). Famous writers such as Shakespeare, Edmund Spenser,... ...beth had survived through all this turmoil is very remarkable. Queen Elizabeth I had truly earned the love and devotion of her people. Before she was crowned, most people did not believe that a woman could take on the responsibility of ruling a country; Elizabeth proved them very wrong. Her accession day, November 16, even became a national holiday (Havelin 65). â€Å"Queen Elizabeth I developed her image of the devoted ruler who courted her subjects’ opinions and as Gloriana, the goddess around whom England revolved† (Greenblatt 15). Queen Elizabeth I was the strongest monarch in English history. Throughout her reign she proved that she really did care about her country and the people in it. She successful in keeping the country together and safe, as many before her had failed to do. Even after four-hundred years, the people of England still love and remember her.

Not a Pencil Essay -- Writing Technology Invention Essays

â€Å"Not a Pencil† Everyday millions of people around the world use some form of writing. When they send an e-mail, sign a check, or read a billboard these people are utilizing a technology that has been around for centuries. Like the wheel, writing is hardly ever viewed as a technology when compared to HD televisions, cell phones, and X Box. However, the way people write and what they use to write are more complex technologies than they seem. For nearly as long as writing has been around there have been those who have discussed, challenged and praised this technology, but these kinds of theories can sometimes be difficult for a literate person to consider. By trying to create a new writing technology, such theories become far easier to understand. As part of an assignment for my writing class, I was asked to invent my own writing technology including something to write with and on. For my writing technology, I formed words with the juices of leaves and wrote on a piece of bark. To do this, I first needed to find a piece of bark that was big enough to write on and light enough so that the writing would show up. After getting a few pieces of bark from the trees near my house, I began experimenting by printing on them with the leaves from a houseplant. I did this by twisting one end of the leaf and smearing it onto the bark. Once I figured out the bark that worked the best, I wrote the words â€Å"Not a pencil.† I wrote this for two reasons. One reason is because it pointed out another writing technology that people rarely consider, the pencil. Secondly, it referenced the emphasis Denis Baron puts on the pencil in his article, â€Å"From Pencils to Pixels.† How â€Å"good† my writing technology came out is dif... ...iting works the same way. My own experience with leaf juice and bark was a crude type of technology that probably won’t extend beyond my own one time use. If someone were to build off of that idea though, and maybe create a tool that dispensed leaf juice onto a very smooth, light-colored piece of bark, then this technology’s application may venture into many unknown abilities. Works Cited Tribble, Evelyn B. and Anne Trubek, eds. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. New York: Longman, 2003. Baron, Dennis. â€Å"From Pencils to Pixels.† Tribble and Trubek 35-53. Baron, Naomi. â€Å"The Art and Science of Handwriting.† Tribble and Trubek 54-61. Ong, Walter. â€Å"Writing is a Technology that Restructures Thought.† Tribble and Trubek 315-37. Plato. â€Å"From Phaedrus.† Tribble and Trubek 360-64.

Operations Management Essay

1. How should quality be defined at this restaurant? Outline which quality tools you would use to assess the situation at The Raja’s restaurant. Quality of service is the most important aspect to a customer. The concept of quality can be defined in various ways. By definition â€Å"Quality is consistent conformance to customers’ expectations† (Slack, Chambers and Johnston, 2004). Each customer has expectations of different quality standards and quality service. In The Raja Tandoori restaurant quality has been declining recently. An example of this is patrons have to wait as long as 45 minutes to be seated, in addition to this it can up to 40 minutes more to get a good meal served to the table. The dimensions of service quality are reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy and tangible factors (James A. Fitzsimmons et al, 2004). The customer survey results indicate that 87% of customers believe the quality of food at the restaurant is excellent. Also, the dining experience is very good; being represented by 81% of customers. However, 78% of customers have expressed that they found the waiter to be only at satisfactory standards, this is likely to be due by the lack of staff experience. 70% of customer responses showed that they were served within a reasonable time. The 30% could be justified due to the poor quality of ingredients being delivered; restricting the chef in meal preparations. (See appendix 1 for workings). However, there are some good aspects such as the variety of food, waiters are always available and on the look for any requests, there is also the additional service of hot flannels are being brought to refresh diners. Many quality tools can be used to assess the situation at The Raja’s restaurant. Total Quality Management (TQM) is a way to approach â€Å"the organisation of quality improvements† (Slack, Chambers and Johnston, 2004). TQM is a process of involving everyone in an organisation in continuously improving products and processes to achieve on every occasion; quality that satisfies customers needs (John Naylor, 2002). â€Å"It seeks to integrate all organizational functions†¦to focus on meeting customer needs† (http://www.isixsigma.com/library/content/c031008a.asp). TQM was introduced by Feigenbaum (1957) and developed further by Deming, Ishikawa, Taguchi and Crosby. W. Edwards Deming (1950’s) introduced 14 points for quality improvement. He wanted to focus on the product instead of the process. Continuous Improvement (CI) emphasises quality and reduces cost. The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle (see appendix 2) is important in inspecting quality in one stage of the quality improvement process. The owner of The Raja restaurant can emphasise the importance of quality by having better teamwork skills and more employee involvement that can ultimately lead to a quality service. Kaoru Ishikawa developed quality circles which imply on the importance of group roles in working and learning. Teams of 3-5 members can be set up at the restaurant; their aim is to identify the causes of quality failure. Each team could focus on a certain aspect such as the quality of food or service. To assess problems of quality at the restaurant cause-and-effect diagrams (fishbone diagrams) can be used. This can help find the cause of problems by working backwards to find a possible cause of a quality problem. Below is a cause-effect-diagram for the effect of the poor service at the restaurant. TQM has an emphasis on meeting customer expectations; the Raja restaurant needs to establish this in order for it to be successful. At peak times customer meals should be prepared within the typical time limit of 25 minutes instead of 40 minutes. The variety of food that is made available to customers also needs to be considered, the wider the variety made available may ultimately attract more customers. There have also been delays in clearing tables this ultimately leads to delays in seating people. All these problems result in poor quality of service. The central foundation of the restaurant is based on customers, it is customer based service, hence the importance of improving quality. Errors that emerge from the service of the restaurant lead to inefficiency and this in turn results in poor service to customers. As the cook mainly controls the quality of the food it is essential that all ingredients are available, recently the purchase of ingredients for the restaurant have not been good enough. The lettuce has appeared wilted and the tough chicken has had more meat than bones. This has ultimately led to certain dishes not being made available. It needs to be established that each individual operation contributes to the overall success of the restaurant. Requirements of customers and the restaurant itself need to be defined for example the quality and speed of service and what customer expectations are. Mystery shoppers can be used at peak times to find out exactly how service needs to be improved. Each individual contributes to quality; therefore each person has the ability to improve quality. Members of staff need to be given empowerment to make suggestions. All staff should be involved in the improvement of performance in the restaurant; this can lead to a better team. The benefits of empowerment are: * Better customer service * Satisfied customers * Employees feel more secure about the job * Promotes ‘word-of-mouth’ advertising and customer loyalty The costs of quality are prevention, appraisal, internal and external failure costs (see appendix 3). It is essential to train and develop employee skills to suit the requirements of the restaurant. Identify problems and correct them before they have occurred. Negotiate with suppliers to improve the quality of ingredients. The ultimate goal is to increase quality of service in the restaurant, once this is achieved costs will fall. A quality strategy needs to be implemented into the Raja restaurant to provide long-term goals which are relevant to the restaurants aim. This can be achieved by implementing groups, such as quality circles and setting certain tasks and aims. Training employees is another strategy this could focus on eliminating errors and improving quality. 2. How would you improve the service experience for customers of the Raja? Following the definitions quality is a very important issue that needs to be taken into consideration for every movement that a business does, nevertheless there is also design, layout and production to be considered, is having this in mind that we overlooked at Raja’s situation. To keep up with new business and competitors you need to innovate, differentiate, create something special and unique, a customer that has an experience is likely to return and therefore be loyal to your business as well as recommend it to others. The Raja’s Restaurant needs to be re-modernised, the old wall paper should be scrapped and in its place should be something more welcoming and pleasing, giving the feel of a calm and clean environment. The layout should also be changed making a separate entrance between the dining in customers and those who just want to take the food away, one type of customer should not interfere with the other so a distinction should be made clearly. There is even the possibility of expanding the business and introducing a take-away menu where customers could place orders over the phone and have it delivered to their address that would leave even more space for customers who prefer dining in and would also increase customer numbers. Whilst many customers may enjoy listening to the radio, many others may not, it will be good to have a mixture of music, compiling a good CD collection as well as the traditional radio station, and this is likely to please almost everyone as it gives a feel of a balanced environment. Use the free parking as an advantage and make customers aware of this facility, especially on Fridays and Saturdays nights when high streets are crowded with people going to different places and parking space is limited. The Raja needs concentrate on its service speed, customers don’t like waiting and if the waiting is long they might find it easy going elsewhere, to make sure quality issues are resolved they need to reduce waiting time, focusing especially over weekends when demand is higher. In order to do that waiters should not have to help in the kitchen, fetching food, be involved in any form of food preparation or do any food sequencing for the chef. More kitchen staff needs to be employed, employing more staff will mean higher costs but it will also mean higher turn over of tables. Having more kitchen staff also means you can have more food variety and new dishes can be introduced, a new menu can be designed following seasons variations, this should prevent customers from being bored and keep coming back to try new things. As we expect the number of customers to grow we need to also plan for more waiters to be working on the waiting area, service should always be at high standard and customers should never have to ask for anything. Making sure there is good quality service means people will feel satisfied and return more often. Cost reduction is another important issue, if your ingredients are expensive your food will be expensive and it will attract fewer people, working with a single supplier that can provide good quality ingredients, fresh and reliable goods will automatically reduce cooking time, speeding up the process, also bulk buying is cheaper and a deal can be negotiated for ingredients that are bought more often. Big suppliers can also deliver, that should save even more time so management can focus on planning and improving other things, such as appraising staff and overlooking problems. Proper training should be provided to all members of staff; everyone should comply with the Health Safety Regulations for food and always maintain standards, the working environment should always be clean and well maintain, this will not only make working easier but will also show an improvement on the visual aspect. All staff should be properly dressed for their functions and always make sure they are running their tasks smoothly. Managers should concentrate in individual performances as well as team performances, having a good and healthy work environment will motivate employees and customers will notice it. After introducing this big transformation, if performance is still low promotional schemes can be created to bring customers back, a loyalty card with a discount percentage is likely to attract many people and give them the impression they are getting another advantage here that they can’t have elsewhere.

Geometric Design Of Rural Roads Engineering Essay

It is a good known fact that route accidents in South Africa are serious causes of concern. Harmonizing to the latest accident statistics at that place has been an addition in the figure of human deaths. Harmonizing to the article on the Arrive Alive web site ( Road decease toll ‘unacceptable ‘ ) [ 1 ] dated 3 January 2010, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele is disappointed with the route decease toll, stating that one human death on the state ‘s roads is one excessively many. Preliminary statistics released by the section on 2 January 2010 revealed that 1050 people had died in route related incidents during December 2009.N3Road safety is non merely a major concern for South Africa but so a concern that requires the immediate attending of other states worldwide. The Commission for Global Road Safety has during June 2006 presented a study titled â€Å" Make Roads Safe † [ 2 ] that could hold an consequence on the manner we approach route safety. The study aims to concentrate on political and public attending and relates to the planetary route traffic hurt epidemic that claims the lives of 1.2 million people and hurts around 50 million yearly. Table: Gay period figures – December 2008StateClangFatalitiesDriversPassengersPedestriansSumGeneral practitioner 206 69 58 105 232 KZN 194 44 95 109 248 WCP 104 35 38 51 124 ECP 117 36 56 53 145 FST 83 30 42 35 107 MPU 131 65 52 44 161 NWP 81 28 38 40 106 LIM 132 59 80 35 174 NCP 24 9 19 5 33 1073 371 478 471 1331 Beginning: Traffic Focus March 2008, p38, â€Å" Fatal Road Accident Statistics † by Cielie Karow ( RTMC ) The study besides indicates that unsafe roads have a important impact on developmental aims, particularly because of the huge economic and societal cost of route clangs to low and in-between income states. South Africa is in this class. It is of import that the cognition gained by high income states be transferred and implemented in South Africa. The N3 path is a popular path during vacations and with high volumes of rider and cargo traffic on the roads, there is prone to be serious and fatal accidents. Road fury, velocity and driver behaviors are non the lone cause of these accidents. Holiday periods are by and large during the rainy season and route elements, particularly drainage, contribute to accidents.SuperelevationThere are changing point of views and sentiments among civil technology professionals on the use of superelevation values given in the TRH 17 [ 3 ] and SANRAL ‘s Geometric Design Guidelines [ 4 ] . The geometric design considerations need to be reviewed particularly when it relates to route surface drainage at points where the route has no crossfall during development of superelevation. Presently the SANRAL Drainage Manual, 5th Edition Final Revision, p5-2 [ 5 ] recommends that the flow deepness during a 1:5 twelvemonth storm should non transcend 6mm. This is in contrast to the Highway Drainage Manual ( FHWA-TS-79-225 ) [ 6 ] recommendation of 4mm. Harmonizing to Highway Surface Design ( Transit New Zealand ) Manual [ 7 ] , the critical deepness for aquaplaning scopes from 4mm to 10mm depending on Sur and paving surfacing. The surface H2O deepness hence, should be restricted to 4mm for all but particular state of affairss where superelevation produces long, curved flow waies. There are three common particular state of affairss where surface H2O deepness may go critical, viz. , horizontal alliance curvature, intersections and inclines and superelevation development.2.2 Why is th e research being undertaken?Standards for superelevation where steep perpendicular classs have a direct consequence on drainage on horizontal curves have non been developed harmonizing to the TRB [ 8 ] . Drain jobs associated with superelevation has resulted in an addition ( particularly at route broadenings ) in vehicular accidents and a thorough survey of the surface H2O flow waies on route surfaces due to superelevation demands need to be farther investigated, researched and analysed. The proposed analysis and context of the research proposal will place the factors such as velocity impacting the vehicle kineticss at crisp or decreased horizontal curves where flow waies of surface H2O are debatable and can take to aquaplaning. Driver behavior during aquaplaning in concurrence with the geometric design of the roadway are factors considered in the research. This survey will be done under heavy vehicular traffic conditions during inauspicious conditions conditions. ‘Context Sensitive Design ‘ ( CSD* ) [ 9 ] for the geometric design of safer roads will be addressed in the research survey.2.3 How will the consequences add to the organic structure of cognition?The TRH 17 papers was compiled to be a design guideline for the geometric design of rural roads in penchant to criterions. An aim of the TRH 17 was to continuously amend the bill of exchange papers, through audience between the governments, treatment with practicians and ongoing research. This has non happened. It is common pattern by geometric interior decorators to utilize the TRH 17 papers for the design of rural roads without oppugning the values obtained in the tabular arraies and graphs. The cogency of the guidelines should be judged by t he geometric interior decorator in each specific state of affairs every bit good as the effects of going from the values suggested. Similarly SANRAL ‘s Geometric Design Guidelines have been developed to help design advisers. The inceptions of the guidelines stem from AASHTO [ 10 ] . Currently there is no criterions developed for SA and these guidelines are authority specific.Literature reappraisalThe literature reappraisal will depict the current province of cognition on the component and will be researched. Applicable literature listed hereunder have been identified. * † Context sensitive design ( CSD ) asks inquiries foremost about the demand and intent of the transit undertaking, and so every bit addresses safety, mobility, and the saving of scenic, aesthetic, historic, environmental, and other community values. CSD involves a collaborative, interdisciplinary attack in which citizens are portion of the design squad. †3.1 Reference certificationRefer to list of mentions ( 11.3 List of Mentions ) .How will the literature reappraisal nexus with the job statement and research aims?The literature reappraisal gives a background and base cognition to develop in this research survey.Case surveyAs portion of the on-going committedness towards route safety, convenience and mobility, N3TC conducted a comprehensive route safety audit in 2006 [ 11 ] which highlighted velocity as the chief cause of accidents at assorted locations along the N3 between Cedara and Heidelberg. Sections where velocity bounds are posted necessitates forbearance, approp riate decreases in velocity and full concentration on the portion of drivers. Accidents in these countries frequently occur because drivers lose control due to rushing, every bit good as the high velocity derived functions between heavy and light vehicles. Mist and inauspicious conditions conditions have a important impact of driver conditions. Van Reenen ‘s Pass is one of the most beautiful subdivisions of the N3 exceeding the escarpment between the Free State and Kwazulu-Natal renowned for its slippery and unstable roads ( peculiarly as a consequence of the frequent brumous conditions ) .The route is steep, really steep in topographic points, and turns and turns as it follows the cragged terrain. The conditions is risky at times with high air currents capable of blowing trains, light vehicles and light trucks onto their sides. Snow has on a figure of occasions wholly closed the Van Reenen ‘s Pass, whilst mist and rain on a regular basis cut down visibleness and render the route faithlessly unsafe. It is of peculiar involvement the visibleness of a figure of skid Markss on the route surfacing and guardrail replacing. Traffic, in peculiar heavy traffic, increases yearly as the economic system grows. Trucks unrelentingly ‘grind ‘ up and down Van Reenen ‘s Pass twenty-four hours and dark, while during extremum traffic periods every bit many as 3000 vehicles per hr use the base on balls. Using September 2004 to August 2006 statistics [ 12 ] , the day-to-day norm traffic was 9100 vehicles, of which 2600 were big trucks ( 5 axles or more ) , about a 3rd of all vehicles. During the month of December 2007 recorded at the Van Reenen ‘s Pass, the mean day-to-day traffic reached 11000. The velocity derived functions between trucks in low cogwheel and the powerful new coevals of light vehicles is highly awful, both up and down the base on balls. High velocity derived functions ( 76 % of drivers exceed the velocity bound on the base on balls ) and failure to accommodate velocity in relation to fortunes, have contributed to 70 % of all accidents on the base on balls over this period. Th e consequences do non portray a pretty image and from a route safety point of position, Van Reenen ‘s Pass is the individual most unsafe subdivision of the N3. N3TC has identified and addressed route safety on Van Reenen ‘s Base on balls from three points of position, viz. technology, instruction and enforcement [ 13 ] . N3TC has implemented intercessions to cut down the figure of accidents on the base on balls but presently the greatest causes of accidents is by vehicle softness ( inoperative brakes in peculiar ) , rear-end hits due to high velocity derived functions, unsafe inter-lane tactics and driver freak out in utmost conditions conditions.Elementss impacting safety at superelevationThe drainage conditions of the roadway in relation to the vehicle kineticss need to be farther investigated as superelevation along crisp horizontal curves with decreased sight distances presents a important degree of driver concentration. The driver tends to rectify the vehicular way. The surface stormwater run-off flow way along the horizontal curve effects natural braking forces which in bend can take to seaplaning ( or aquaplaning ) . Aquaplaning occurs when H2O force per unit areas build up in forepart of a traveling Sur ensuing in an uplift force sufficient to divide the Sur from the paving. During high strength rainfall events, a H2O movie builds up on the surface on the route. The hazard of vehicle aquaplaning additions as the deepness of this movie increases. The loss of maneuvering and drag force produced during aquaplaning may so do the vehicle to lose control, particularly when a guidance Sur is involved. Rainfall strength is the most of import environmental factor in hydroplaning. The hazard of dynamic aquaplaning is straight relative to the deepness of H2O in the route surface. This deepness is affected by a broad scope of factors that are contributed to by the environment such as the geometric design, paving design, drainage design and care and by the status of the vehicle. The geometry of the route has a big consequence on the H2O deepness and is the factor over which the geometric interior decorator has the most control. The length of clip H2O is able to remain on the route will act upon the deepness it achieves. Longer flow waies intend more clip to roll up rainfall and consequence in higher movie deepnesss. Changes in superelevation, reduced horizontal alliance and droop curves are some of the job countries where the incline is low or where H2O has to flux a long manner over the paving before being intercepted by a drainage system or dispersing into the next terrain. Superelevation alterations can ensue in long curving flow waies which may be debatable. Steeper longitudinal inclines can besides increase the flow way length and ensuing deepness. The paving texture deepness effects the H2O deepness by leting some of this H2O to flux between the sum or in channels supplying flow waies to let H2O in forepart of the Sur to be forced out under force per unit area. Porosity can besides be considered as some pavings such as open-graded porous asphalt allow H2O to run out through them, taking it off from the surface. Wheel path depressions have a important consequence on the drainage patterns increasing H2O deepness and concentrating flow. The N3 has changing pavement surfacing of which an analysis will be done sing the flow way on these surfaces. Pavement drainage solutions is indispensable to guarantee that no H2O is able to pond on the trafficable route surface, peculiarly in sag countries. This is critical in order to cut down the aquaplaning hazard. Vehicle features and behaviors are besides of import factors in aquaplaning. The velocity at which a vehicle needs to go to get down aquaplaning is determined by H2O deepness but besides by the vehicle ‘s weight and Sur features. The vehicle weight determines how much uplift force is needed to bring on separation and it follows that a lighter vehicle will aquaplane at a lower velocity. Higher Sur force per unit areas increase the aquaplaning velocity by cut downing the contact country between Sur and route, increasing the vehicle ‘s weight to country ratio. Tyre pace deepness besides affects aquaplaning the same manner as pavement texture, with deeper pace traveling the H2O off from the country of contact more efficaciously. While minimal tyre pace deepness and maximal velocity are both specified by jurisprudence, minimal weight and Sur force per unit areas are non. These are vehicle maker recommendations specific. In drumhead, drainage demands versus vehicle kineticss are the cardinal factors to be considered in the development of superelevation standards at decreased horizontal curves to minimise aquaplaning on the N3. Practical considerations such as Sur deepness, paving features and drainage solutions will be evaluated along the path. The assorted literature reviewed amplifies the demand for safer roads and the N3 is considered to be the most traveled path in South Africa.Research backgroundSignificant roadway debasement such as shining of sums, hemorrhage of bitumen and rutting depletes the clash supply available for cornering. This depletion consequences from the usage of a part of the clash supply to supply the necessary braking force required to keep velocity on the downgrade. The velocity of the vehicles on the roadway and the vehicle kineticss will necessitate to be analysed as differing vehicles have different clash forces exerted on the roadway. It can non be assumed that the relevant design standards for a auto is similar to that of a truck or frailty versa. As the Independent Engineer, my old audit studies [ 14 ] on the N3 has indicated the assorted surfacing failures. Skid Markss are significantly prevailing and N3TC/SANRAL/DOT accident studies will necessitate to be investigated as portion of the resea rch survey. It is noted from the TRH 17 that the design vehicle is a individual unit truck. This unwanted combination consequences in a important lessening in the border of safety ensuing from roadway class, particularly for heavy vehicles. On long or reasonably steep classs, drivers tend to go faster in the downgrade than in the upgrade way. Additionally, research has shown that the side clash demand is greater on both downgrades ( due to braking forces ) and steep ascents ( due to the grip forces ) . Downgrades on horizontal curves may be debatable, and that accommodation for it may be desirable in some instances. There are no guidelines as to how this accommodation should be made for two-lane or multilane divided or undivided roadways. Some accommodation in superelevation rates should be considered for classs steeper than 5 % . This accommodation is peculiarly of import on roadways with high truck volumes and on low-speed roadways with intermediate curves utilizing high degrees of side clash demand. The superelevation alteration proposition high spots that this accommodation be made by utilizing higher design velocities standards for the geometric design of the roadway. More unequivocal counsel on this accommodation, every bit good as accommodation for other elements of the horizontal curve, is needed. The design velocity versus minimal curve radii of horizontal curvature needs farther probe to guarantee safety on crisp horizontal curves taking the other related factors like superelevation, etc into consideration. The article published in the Pretoria News, â€Å" Wet conditions causes a spike in route accidents † [ 15 ] refers to the important addition in roadway accidents during showery conditions. The drainage demands and vehicle kineticss in relation to superelevation design of the roadway will be investigated and researched. I have consulted assorted professional applied scientists, engineers [ 16 ] and independent advisers [ 17 ] in the transit industry. The response received was favourable in footings of the demand for farther probes of superelevation in relation to drainage demands and vehicle kineticss for roadway geometric design.Research jobs and purposesI am presently the IE ( independent applied scientist ) and have audited the everyday route care points of the N3 for the past 3 old ages. As such, I have entree to some informations to analyze as portion of the survey. Assorted subdivisions of the N3 are presently being upgraded or rehabilitated to better the quality and lifetime of the route due to vehicular traffic additions. There is important freight motion. This has resulted in an addition in vehicular accidents. My point of view on the design considerations adopted on the N3 is subjective as driver safety factors and other extenuating hazards of vehicular accidents need to be farther investigated. From a geometric design analysis point of view, road-widening and general roadway rehabilitation are designed harmonizing to the bing roadway conditions and drainage jobs associated with superelevation is prevailing. Ponding has been recorded and ocular grounds is prevailing in certain countries. The general stormwater design standards should be viewed and analysed otherwise from the Kwazulu-Natal conditions as opposed to the Free-State and Gauteng conditions as the overflow rainfall strength and clip of concentration varies significantly. This survey will sketch and place the undermentioned conditions with specific superelevation standards development on the N3 path: Superelevation standards at steep gradients ( turn overing to cragged terrain ) with reduced/sharp horizontal curves ; Drain jobs associated with superelevation ; Flow waies on route surfaces due to superelevation ; and Speed and Vehicle kineticss at crisp horizontal curves. Steep classs at crisp horizontal curves presents a unsafe state of affairs for traffic. The two scenarios where this status is prevailing is at broken-back curves on cragged terrain ( Van Reenen ‘s Pass specifically and other identified countries ) with multi-lane, 2-way roads ( whether it is divided or undivided ) and/or high velocity downgrade at/before perpendicular droop curves. At these locations, the perplexing factors of vehicle â€Å" off-tracking † , pavement incline ( crossfall ) , and pavement clash tests the drivers ability to supply right vehicle positioning without compromising control of the vehicle. It has besides been recorded that air current has been a cause of accidents as the vehicles can non ‘grip ‘ onto the roadway ( particularly at ‘Windy Corner ‘ on the Van Reenen ‘s Pass. From old design considerations, accident-related jobs have arisen where, as a consequence of Reconstruction, bing main roads have been rebuilt utilizing the 8 % -10 % superelevation rates in conformity with current guidelines. The rate of superelevation development is nevertheless non reviewed or adjusted.Research methodological analysisThe research attack has a both qualitative and quantitative attack. The theoretical research will consist of mathematical analysis with mold and simulation. The current geometric design guidelines for rural roads ( TRH 17 and SANRAL ‘s Geometric Guidelines ) will be used as base certification for values in the research input. Case survey subdivisions of the N3 will be decided upon and N3TC, SANRAL and the DoT ( both national and provincial ) will be informed of the research survey. Data aggregation and statistical information will be sourced from the relevant governments with anterior consent. This research would necessitate: the reappraisal of current design guidelines ; the development of an action program to accomplish the research objectives ; the aggregation of statistical informations ( from SANRAL, N3TC, etc ) and other relevant information ; elaborate ocular appraisal and rating of the roadway subdivision ; Falling Weight Deflection ( FWD ) measurings will be performed at 50m intervals instead on the left and right exterior wheel paths along the subdivision identified ; rut and siting quality measurings will be measured in both wheel waies every bit good as texture deepness along the outside wheel way as portion of the FWD measurings ; Measurements of the stormwater sheet flow overflow deepnesss will be measured utilizing conventional agencies ; vehicle kineticss will be physically and theoretically analysed ; the rating of the effects of assorted options contextualized in geometric design guidelines and campaigner standards taking into consideration the CSD attack ; and the readying of extenuating hazards, route safety steps and concluding geometric design standards for superelevation, drainage demands taking into consideration the velocity and vehicle kineticss at sharp/reduced horizontal curves. The accident studies sourced by SANRAL/N3TC/DoT ‘s archives will be of import for the research survey. The possible restrictions could be the hold in recovering these accident studies and ocular appraisals will be carried out as an option.Research aimsThe aim of this research is to: analyse the velocity and vehicle kineticss at crisp horizontal curves ; develop drainage criterias for flow waies or deepnesss on route surfaces due to superelevation ; develop superelevation standards for steep classs on crisp horizontal curves by placing and analysing drainage jobs associated ; design safe roads from a geometric design point of view by taking factors such as clip, cost, quality, CSD into consideration ; and develop an independent package tool to help geometric interior decorators and governments in the civil technology industry. It is noted that other standards associated with the design of horizontal curves such as tangent-to-curve passages, the demand for paving broadening, and minimal curve radii would besides be considered in the development of the standards. The standards will be based on quantitative informations obtained from theoretic considerations and simulations and verified by existent field observation. The identified countries for the existent field observations will be done by going the path and monitoring of the N3. Accident statistics will be indispensable as fact-finding mention for the background of the research survey.Plan of research activitiesActivityThe activities to set about the research proposal will be to: expand literature survey ; collate statistical informations ; get permission for design informations from confer withing technology houses and SANRAL/N3TC/DoT archives ; coordinate with SANRAL/N3TC with regard to experimental countries identified ; analyse the design guidelines ( geometric and drainage ) for rural roads ; fix the roadway mold and simulation for the assorted superelevation standards taking into consideration the drainage demands and vehicle kineticss ; Analyse the sheet flow way ( hydraulic analysis ) for the drainage demands ( perpendicular class versus route width – at sharp/reduced horizontal curves ) – the Rational Method will be used ; Investigate the CSD of route rehabilitation undertakings in relation to geometric design considerations for future route rehabilitation and major building undertakings ( It is noted that the De Beer ‘s Pass will be constructed as an option to the Van Reenen ‘s Pass ) ; Analyse research findings and observations utilizing relevant package ; Synthesize the research findings, observations and consequences ; and Write the study.TimeframeThis research would take 18 months to finish.Potential end productsThe possible end products for the research survey will be to: Reduce or increase the superelevation values or rates, dependent on research end products, with regard to vehicle kineticss and roadway breadths ; Analyse the drainage flow waies as superelevation rates or values in relation to the drainage demands and vehicle kineticss will find the standards to be adopted for safe driver conditions ; The velocity versus vehicle kineticss analysis at crisp or decreased horizontal curves will supply suited guidelines for future rehabilitation and road-widening undertakings ; CSD findings and observations to be adopted in future route rehabilitation and major Reconstruction undertakings ; and Produce an independent package plan which will be exhaustively researched, tested and developed as a tool for geometric interior decorators and governments in the civil technology industry. This package can be integrated utilizing current technology package utilised by confer withing technology service suppliers, authorities establishments and assorted organisations will be investigated.Research resultsThe result of this research will help design advisers in finding a much easier and safer design attack to plan rehabilitation, road-widening and major building undertakings, by placing job countries and supplying appropriate design values. The recommended standards would be documented in the concluding study and besides presented in a signifier that could be used by assorted governments. Presentations will be made at national and international conferences, seminars or symposiums associating to geometric design of roads. Workshops and talks will be conducted or presented through educational institutes, CESA and other governments in the civil technology industry. The research survey will be published as an article in transit diaries and the research sum-up will be published in several magazines. I am of the sentiment that I envisage national acclamation for the research and part of the research outputs to constructing the cognition base in South Africa.Key mentions and certification11.1 Governments, Institutes and other beginning of mentionDepartment of Transport ( National and Provincial ) ( DoT ) Road Traffic Management Corporation ( Pty ) Ltd ( RTMC ) South African National Roads Agency Limited ( SANRAL ) N3 Toll Concession ( Pty ) Ltd ( N3TC ) Council for Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR ) Transport Research Board ( TRB ) American Society for Civil Engineers ( ASCE ) Consulting Engineers South Africa ( CESA ) Durban University of Technology ( DUT ) University of Stellenbosch ( SUN ) Aurecon SA ( Pty Ltd ( AURECON ) WSP SA Civil and Structural Engineers ( WSP ) 3D Compu-Systems ( 3DCS )11.2 Design Guidelines and StandardsTechnical Recommendations for Highways ( TRH 17 – Geometric Design of Rural Roads – Draft 1988 ) SANRAL Geometric Design Guidelines SANRAL Drainage Manual ( 5th Edition – to the full revised ) Design of Highway Drainage Manual ( FHWA-TS-79-225 ) AASHTO – A Policy on the Geometric Design of Highways and Streets 5th Edition ( 2004 )