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Walking Back to Nature- Inland Water Transportaton - Solution to Modern Day Transportation by Oladokun Sulaiman - Oladok12@yahoo.com
Inland Waterway Hybrid Sustainable Transportation – A solution to Modern Day Transportation Problem
1.0 Introduction
In today’s transportation congestion and air pollution problem on shore infrastructure is causing more moderate concern and increasingly damaging growth in the size of the problem cal for need for formulation of policy for air- road to sea integration. By placing focus on waterborne transport, and integrating to road and air issue place a higher demand multimodal transport which in turn give leverage for need to put focus on a number of shortcomings related to the use of ships for community and freight transport in conjunction with other mode of transportation. To aid the implementation of policy for the use of inland water transportation, high number of community research and technical development actions, relevant to waterborne transport is require. Some of which could include concerted action on short sea shipping, designed to identify some of the structural or generic problems in the use of ships for relatively short-haul transport and other that target environmental impacts as well as issue of safe and efficient increase of reliability intermodal transportation. Furthermore, hybrid use of transportation will require the intelligent transportation system that incorporates use of advanced Integrated Ship Control Systems, AIS and extensive use of information technology needed to provide a solution to modern transportation problem.
Inland water transportation either in moving people and freight in a sustainable manner is increasingly becoming important, will be one of the biggest challenges for the 21st Century, an age where environmental pressure is calling for sensitive reactions, adoption of new proactive innovative behavior to relate factors associated with design, construction and operations and utilize them to deal with inherent needs response. Action associated with human life mitigation has always been part of concern of decision making, but to a less extent. In a world where warning of nature regarding need of awareness and sensitivity as well facts to how substantial nature is to the support of life and how much damage reckless human activities has cause imbalance in our planet. A situation that is vividly threatening our plant today and striping hope for our future generation survival in this planet, A situation that is equally calling for all of us to adopt new philosophy of doing things, and giving insight in inevitable return to nature earlier ways of doing things – from use of sun, water and clean energy store in earth crust to use of inland water transportation. Past engineer work on inland have been dominated with reactive, and today s world has reach a toll where by there is no chance to wait for accidents whose consequence is environmental degradation at its point form or instantaneous calamity. [1].
There is a surmountable barrier to achieving a sustainable multimodal inland water transportation where environmental impacts and risk will be mitigated and integrative components of water recourses will be utilized. However, incorporating holistic systems framework and system engineering tools back with analysis and identification leading to alternative path to short and long term solutions to the problem can facilitate achieving quality management of the evolving new philosophy of sustainability [2]. Such alternative solutions after discounting environmental concern could accommodate increasing inland waterway integration for shipping cargo containers including lock development, intermodal, information technology solution, provision of incentives to alleviate congestion during seasonal congestion hybrid of transportation mode based on best option selection [3]. Sustainable Inland water system contains physical elements that include waterways, ports, and intermodal network of railroads, roadways, and pipelines, that connect the waterborne portions of the system as required. The physical elements also include the vessels and vehicles that move goods and people within the system. The physical network is supported by a series of systems that facilitate the movement of goods and people, and provide access for recreation and to natural resources. Also associated with development of inland water transportation is dredging work to meet size of vessels, maintenance dredging and containment technologies for dredge material disposal or reuse of dredged material may be a feasible alternative that provides an economic benefit.
2.0 Inland Water Transportation System (IWTS)
Civilization has ground up along rivers, lakes, ocean, the great rivers of the world, like Amazon, Mississippi, Ganges Rhine Danube Niger, and Nile influences the lives of millions, not only their very existence but also their political, art, and science. People are inherently drawn to water, this make use of water resources an important part of human development. Properly managed river basin can augment food water supplies, improve transportation, provide energy and develop industry. Development of water resources also carry the good beneficial reward to reciprocal development of waterfront areas that provide multiuse activities; improve social interaction and a sense of community. Hybrid concept requires facilities to be strategically placed in close proximity to other modal transportation system. The design need to pay attention to historic, current and future development patterns.
Inland navigation offers important opportunities to move cargos on river, estuarine and associated tributary in an energy-efficient manner, reduced cost of good transportation per tone - kilometer compare to other mode of transportation in. It remain one of the best option available to mitigating problem associated with global warming, climate change, noise pollution as well as congestion. Capacity building, environmentally and socially friendly, taking advantage of nonstructural measures (such as fleet innovation) [3] as well as infrastructure investments, and multimodal corridor incorporation become increasingly a matter of dire need today [4].
Inland water transportation has substantially shaped the growth and development of nations in Europe and North America, however, previous work on transportation are much more based on proactive method, Recent study made by European Union indicated potential for augmentation of percentage of shipping in total transport volume in the Danube region, this lead to agreement for inland navigation improvement in an integrated manner by the ten Danube riparian states there is indication that climate change will have will bring potential development of on the further development of IWT and this make navigation management, planning and development of IWT to take the issue of climate change and ozone depletion into account.[5]
The important of transportation and utilizing full advantage of new and emerging transportation technologies remain engine of tomorrow's growth and prosperities as well as supports for safety, security, conservation of energy and environmental quality. Since, Inland transportation cannot stand alone and its efficiency, strength can only be maximized through integrative intermodalism and diversity, this provide opportunity for cooperative climate for intermodal systems, cooperative climate requires the coordination of more than one mode of transportation. With each mode having its own system-specific advantages: motor carriers have the ability to provide door-to-door service; water carriers that can handle bulk commodities safely at very low cost; and rails that can transport a broad range of commodities over long distances. Retaining sustainability principle that public good is best served by the most efficient use of transport resources, regardless of mode, and implementing the new philosophy of its sustainability equally requires `incorporation of use of water resources for other use as required by the environment [6].
Couple with this, recent issue of today especially from environmental domain called for need to adopt new sustainability philosophy, a healthy and responsive transportation system. And method that can yield vitality and growth, and the productivity of commerce, the nation needs [8]. Focusing on efficiency and complementation rather than competition between different transportation systems is a key economic growth, sustainability and productivity of a nation. Efficient freight transportation systems play a positive role both in the economic life of industrialized countries and the daily lives of their citizens. These countries realize the importance of the relationship between good systems, services and their economy. However, while these transportation systems are essential to a modern society, and there are substantial economic benefits to be realized from them, there are also significant negative environmental impacts, including preemption of land, disruption of topography, use of energy and other resources, and noise and air pollution [7].
In making choice of transportation modes, consideration should be given to the mode that does not contribute to unnecessary increases in fuel use, exhaust emissions, accidents, spill incidents, and congestion. It seems that not a day goes by without some new evidence of the increasing pollution of our environment and its consequences. There are indications everywhere those environmental rights (breathable air, drinkable water, fertile soil), which have been regarded as inexhaustible or renewable, are becoming scarce [8].
Today, with much more environmental awareness and a greater understanding of the consequences of pollution, both government and society are much less tolerant of pollution. On a global scale, pollution is a growing threat to both human health and the environment. Commercial freight transportation, with its almost total dependence on petroleum-based fuels, contributes significantly to pollution levels. Therefore, each form of transportation, as a major energy user, needs to be evaluated both as to the scarceness and future availability of the energy resources that it uses and to its impact on the environment. With each transport mode having its own specific energy-use and environmental characteristics, decisions on transport issues, whether short or long term, have inevitable impacts on the environment, which should be clearly weighed before a final decision is made[9].
Both the environment and the quality of life are receiving greater attention, resulting in a growing demand for not only an environmentally sound transportation system, but also for policies where environmental goals are given greater weight in transportation decisions. The result of this concern over the impact of transportation systems on the environment is reflected in how those systems are now being planned for the future. Transportation designers and environmentalists, both of whom recognize the interdependence between transportation systems and the environment, are increasingly concerned about maintaining an appropriate balance between the two. Likewise environmental laws are all over at the verge of established a legal framework aimed at keeping transportation decisions consistent with that goal [10].
3.0 Threat and Challenge of Green House Gas, and Impact on Trio of Global Warming, Ozone Depletion, Impact on Climate Change
Recent time has seen environmental calamity and abnormal environmental behavior which today the consensus of scientist have agreed to be linked to human activities. The world of man is madE up of the biosphere and the techno sphere, human inherited the earlier and it give all support needed for human to live, however, we neglect to know and even take care of it and we created the later whose buy product are claimed to be responsible for effect of ozone depletion that limit sunlight reaching our planet and consequentially warm up our planet and cause other chain reaction that leads to environmental revolt.
The impact on coastal resources can be classified into four broad categories. The first is tidal inundation, where about 1200 km2 in Peninsular Malaysia alone will be submerged subsequent to bund failure, and mangroves will be lost if sea level rises at a rate of 0.9 cm/year. The second is shoreline erosion, which will account for another few hundred metres of shoreline retreat. The third is increased wave action, which can affect the structural integrity of coastal facilities and installations such as power plants. The last is saline intrusion, which can pose a potential threat of water contamination at water abstraction points. Examples of other impacts include submergence of corals, coral bleaching due to increasing levels of CO2 in the water, and depletion of fisheries resources due to loss of mangrove habitats.
Water management follows three stages:
1-unregulated river water become supply – oriented , it remain so as long as water is abundant and the demand can be satisfied without modifying hydrological regime.
2-Scarcity of water-with increase pressure of demand for water and water related services, water management become resources oriented and the basis for multipurpose development.
3-Regulated natural regime-as Limit of acceptable stream flow regulation and development are reached, marginal cost of water supply radically increases, and here development management becomes important [1].
The first case apply to Terengganu, the first case apply, and significant, sustainable balancing of economic, environmental development, community involvement maximize benefits of the planning and implementation strategy that could result to dramatically improved public access, provision of new open spaces, improved quality of life, strengthened city and image and community pride.
5.0 Environmental Risk of IWTS
The environmental impacts of water transportation vary from river to river and project to project, but in many cases, the environment is not noticeably affected by waterway freight transport. Where it does have a negative impact, the effect is usually minimal. Because of the concern over the impacts that the different transportation modes have on the environment, there has been a more concerted effort to identify those impacts. Recent time have studies that are similar in nature analyzed the types and levels of impacts of a modal shift on the environment; viz. what happens if cargo movements are shifted from one mode to another. What would be the increases in fuel usage, Issues related exhaust emissions, probable accidents, traffic congestion, etc. All three studies compared the same cargoes shipped by different modes, and concluded that, ton for ton, produce vessels have fewer accidents, consume less energy, fewer harmful emissions, society in general and are less disruptive. These studies findings show that transporting of bulk commodities by water are environmentally compatible, provides a means to sustainable development, and that the use of this environmentally-friendly mode should be encouraged. [13].
Wide variety of human activities can affect the coastal and marine environment. Population pressure, increasing demands for space, competition over resources, and poor economic performances can all undermine the sustainable use of our oceans and coastal areas. The most serious problems affecting the quality and use of these ecosystems surrounding coastal water encompass release to:
1. Water – pollution release directly or washed downed through ground water
2. Air- air pollution, noise population, vibration
3. Soil- dredge disposal and contaminated sediments
4. Flood risk - biochemical reaction of pollution elements with water.
5. Collision – operational
6. Biodiversification - endangered and threatened species, habitat
Risk management should involve alternative risk reduction measures and the implementation of those that appear cost effective .where Zero discharge = zero risk, but the challenge is to bring the risk to be at acceptable level and at the same time, derive the max Benefit. Simulate extreme condition and model – using combination mathematical modeling and stochastic techniques while considering all factors in holistic manner.
Uncertainty is part of risk, but it’s and abstract nature and limitation of knowledge of unseen in real world settings make it s quantification a complex work. associated with uncertainty are normally reflect issue of influences on recovery process, Test of new advancements, Influence on policy, Address system changes over time, services & resources. The “sources” of a “lack of certainty” can be several. Moreover, the methods of measurement may be uncertain, or the Models Used inaccurate. Furthermore, uncertainty can arise from profound misunderstandings of the phenomena that are observed or are attempted to be assessed, perhaps because there is no adequate theoretical knowledge yet.
6.0 Environmental Benefits of IWTS
The commodities on which our lives and livelihood depend have to be transported by one mode or another however; the aadvantage of using Inland water transportation system over other mode of transportation has been described by various comparative studies. Advantage range from issues of concerned in of human modern world. As highlighted above there are inherent risks in shipping by barge, but yet statistics, water transport is the safest and most regulated form of transportation and has fewer accidental spills or collisions than any other mode. This excellent record is directly attributable to both exacting operational safeguards imposed by the carriers themselves as well as strict federally-mandated inspection standards. There is little public awareness of the water transport industry outside the river communities that it serves. This can be attributed primarily to the non-intrusive nature of the industry's operations and its impressive safety record. One of the primary reasons for this lack of intrusiveness is the width of most of the rivers, their location in relation to population centers, as well as levees and floodwalls.
According to the United Nations, human benefit from marine and coastal ecosystem and activities: Coastal tourism =161 billion American dollars, Trade and shipping =155 billion American dollars, Offshore oil and gas = 132 billion American dollars, Fisheries = 80 billion American dollars. Therefore, it is important to be careful and maintain balance in dealing our activities. The popular media attention is concentrated on loss of life and property. There is little prospect for preventing many of the disasters from occurring although much could be done to reduce their severity. Many impacts could be mitigated through better vulnerability and risk assessment, predictive modeling, information dissemination, and policy development [13].
6.1 Energy efficiency - The use of energy by the different modes of freight transportation has become of increasing concern in setting transportation policy. Energy efficiency is the measure of performance of our system is it structure or mobile Energy efficiency is usually measured in one of two ways: by comparing how many miles each mode of transportation can carry a ton of freight per gallon of fuel, or by how many BTUs are expended per ton mile. In considering the choice of alternative transportation modes, it is imperative to consider energy that will be spent in shifting from one mode to another will result in greater energy consumption by the less fuel-efficient mode. For cargo carriage, vessels is required to move one ton of cargo none mile, with energy efficiency which is the inverse of energy intensiveness Propulsion energy including refinery losses. -Combines operating energy with maintenance energy, vehicle manufacturing energy, and construction energy..
Table 2.3- Energy modal comparison - Source: [38]
Table 3 – Modal energy comparison
Mode
Operating energy
LNE – haule Energy
Modal Energy
Rail
412.5
706.3
1075
Truck
1312.5
1312.5
2137.5
Barge
262.5
262.5
618.8
Numerous studies of fuel efficiency have been done shows that shallow-draft water transportation is the most fuel efficient mode of transportation for moving bulkraw materials, is the least energy intensive method of freight transportation when moving equivalent amounts of cargo, and consumes less energy than alternative modes. [14].
6.2 Safety - Since the consequence of not being safe is environmental catastrophic, modal comparison of transportation system has revealed that water transport has the fewest numbers of incidents, fatalities, and injuries compare to other surface mode. The inland water transportation environment, with its slow transit speeds, is relatively mild, and shock and vibration levels, which are dampened out by the cushioning effect of the waterway itself, are not normally considered a problem. Land based including road and rail cars are susceptible to accidents, often times resulting in a loss of cargo, especially rail transportation are more vulnerable because shipments typically involving a large number of massive units traveling at high speed in a single line. River barges with navigation aid infrastructure ensure right-of-way mostly with pleasure craft that operate primarily both in warmer weather and during daylight hours an intermodal comparison work recently conducted by waterway foundation
6.3 Congestion - Pressure relating to technological; change needs and population has led to high demand for road transportation vehicle that has led to un convenient congestion problems and cones, traffic growth in most city of the world is currently outstripped any increase in increase of green house gas release increase, currently hurting our planet. There is currently fringing in infrastructure capacity, where traffic demand exceeds supply leading to delays and safety problems.
6.4 Air, noise and vibration pollution - Rise in traffic volumes due to urban population, increase mobility has been identified by recent studies to be main contributors to Noise levels rise and contamination of air quality. Comparative studies has revealed that road transportation is the major offender Road transportation is the major offender more than other mode of transportation. Currently there is limited data exists on noise levels of barge operations, mainly because they are not considered problem. Figure 4 show environmental force driving next generation technology.
Table 4 – Emission comparison
Nox
PM
FC
COx
Sox
%
%
%
%
%
After treatment
SCR (Selected catalytic reduction)
-81
-35
-7.5
-7.5
-7.5
PMF (Particulate matter filter)
None
-85
2
2
2
Drive management systems
ATM (Advising tempomaat)
-10
-10
-10
-10
-10
Diesel fuel quality / substitutes
(BD) Bio - Diesel
-10
-30
15
65
~-100
BDB (Biodiesel blend , 20%BD)
2
-6
3
-13
~-20
LSF (Low sulfur fuel)
None
-1.7
none
none
~-100
New engine technology
NGE(Natural Gas Engine)
-98.5
-97.5
4.5
-10
-100
6.5 Social impacts - Trucks and trains operate much closer to populated areas and release large amount of pollution and noise to the residence, barges quietly make their way along isolated waterways for most of their trip. By contrast, river barges have little impact on densely-populated areas. Barge transits are relatively infrequent because of the large tonnage moved at one time. River operations take place in channels away from the shore, and the engines of a towboat are usually below the water line, which muffles the sound. Surface traffic, both road and rail, near residential neighborhoods contributes to visual, physical, and psychological barriers that can lead to the fragmentation of those neighborhoods. Reduced social interaction, reduced access to other neighborhoods, and increased traffic congestion Traffic congestion can lead to serious disruptions of police, fire, and medical services, as well as periodic isolation of parts of communities
6.6 Cargo capacity - In terms of capacity a study done by COB came up with the following conclusion, which gives inland water a good advantage over other mode of transportation.
6.7 Economic of IWTS - The political and economic changes of nation is a big factor that maneuvered and created dynamic emerging economy in and generated needs and perspectives for more trade and transport along the river in Europe and the United States. Such economy analysis and environmental analysis which is being dealt with in this research cold bring assurance to drive the Transport policies that promote modal shift. The making of inland transportation requires economic analyses that identify trade growth consequential rapid rise in the amount of traffic. Commercial transport in Malaysia corridor has soared growing more than 100% in the last decade, with by far the largest increase registered in road transit. It is expected that Malaysia will continue this dynamic economic development in the coming years (with minimum average GDP/capita growth rates of 3-4% per year until 2015) and traffic flows could grow correspondingly [15].Compare to other mode of transportation, Inland water Transportation is in comparison to air and road transport, seen as more environmentally friendly and energy efficient, and can therefore contribute to sustainable socio-economic development of the region. Multimodal use of available transport possibilities (road, rail and IWT) has to be ensured.
6.8 Regulation requirement - Due to international implication of maritime industry, the required to be implemented are finalized by UN agencies following tacit proceedure, while the state decide on formulating local legislation towards implementation through marine administration and port state contol. Under above described legal framework for guide to drafting legislation, in the context of maritime transportation, 3 main purposes of legislation under legal framework are:
i. To provide legal framework for maritime transportation – effective legal framework is expected to cover all parties involved in maritime transportation
ii.
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