Transport & Infrastructure News and Discussions

[weatheriscool]

Futuristic floating home uses its sea legs to rise above the waves
By Adam Williams
October 28, 2024

Back in 2019, we reported on the incredible US$5.5 million Arkup floating home, which features a hydraulic system that raises it above the waves. The firm has now revealed the Arkup 50, which is similar, but comes with some notable changes and starts at a much lower price.

The Arkup 50 is part of the firm's Livable Yacht series and is conceived to allow full-time off-the-grid living. It measures 50 ft (roughly 15-m) long and has a maximum floorspace of 2,218 sq ft (206 sq m), depending on options. Its exterior features large wraparound windows and it has optional folding decks that offer additional outdoor space.

Like the previous Arkup model, this floating home stands out from the crowd with its (again optional) anchoring and stabilizing tech. However, this version isn't hydraulic and instead consists of four motorized retractable pilings that raise the boat above the waterline. The idea behind it is that it provides stability for those who get seasick, but it won't work in the middle of the ocean, of course, and requires relatively shallow water since the length of the supports is 22 ft (6.7 m).

https://newatlas.com/marine/arkup-50-floating-home/

[weatheriscool]

First area of Saudi's Neom giga-project opens for business
By Adam Williams
October 29, 2024
https://newatlas.com/architecture/neom- ... lah-opens/

We've seen a lot of crazy renders and heard big promises but now Saudi Arabia has finally delivered on the first part of its incredible Neom giga-project. Named Sindalah, it provides an ultra-exclusive luxury island getaway for a select number of well-heeled guests.

While certainly not as ambitious as other Neom projects like the Line, Treyam, or Epicon, Sindalah still represents a significant step in Saudi Arabia's plan to transform its oil-dependent economy into a tourism-based one. The exclusive island paradise is located 5 km (3.1 miles) from the mainland Saudi coast and measures 83 hectares (207 acres).

Designed by Luca Dini Design & Architecture, the island is focused on an 86-berth marina and yacht club, with additional offshore facilities for massive super yachts which require deeper waters. There are also restaurants, retail outlets, and a beach club which offers poolside lounging by day and music experiences by night. Elsewhere is an 18-hole golf course and club. As far as accommodation goes, it's not clear if all the rooms are finished yet, but we know there will eventually be 440 hotel rooms and 88 villas, as well as 218 serviced apartments.

[firestar464]

Electrifying ships could be cost effective by 2035, study says

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-ele ... ctive.html

[Time_Traveller]

Japan plans ‘conveyor belt’ road to tackle shortage of truck drivers as deliveries soar

Saturday 02 November 2024 17:59 GMT



Japan is planning to build an automated cargo transport corridor between Tokyo and Osaka, dubbed a “conveyor belt road” by the government, to make up for a shortage of truck drivers.

The amount of funding for the project is not yet set. But it's seen as one key way to help the country cope with soaring numbers of deliveries.

A computer graphics video made by the government shows big, wheeled boxes moving along a three-lane corridor, also called an “auto flow road”, in the middle of a big highway. A trial system is due to start test runs in 2027 or early 2028, aiming for full operations by the mid-2030s.

“We need to be innovative with the way we approach roads,” said Yuri Endo, a senior deputy director overseeing the effort at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Apart from making up for a shrinking labour force and the need to reduce workloads for drivers, the system also will help cut carbon emissions, she said.

https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/japa ... 40081.html

[weatheriscool]

[caltrek]

'Using Fox as a Staffing Agency,' Trump Taps Sean Duffy for Transportation
by Jessica Corbett
November 18, 2024

Introduction:

(Common Dreams) U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday announced Sean Duffy as his nominee to lead the Department of Transportation—the second Fox News host he has named as a presumptive Cabinet secretary, after picking Pete Hegseth as the future Pentagon chief.

Like the ex-president, Duffy is a former reality television star who shifted into politics. He was initially known for MTV's "The Real World: Boston" and "Road Rules: All Stars," then spent eight years as district attorney of Ashland County, Wisconsin.

Duffy was then elected to represent Wisconsin as a Republican congressman. After resigning from the U.S. House of Representatives in 2019, Duffy joined Fox the following year. His wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, is also part of the network.

Trump said in a lengthy statement that "during his time in Congress, Sean was a respected voice and communicator in the Republican Conference, advocating for Fiscal Responsibility, Economic Growth, and Rural Development. Admired across the aisle, Sean worked with Democrats to clear extensive Legislative hurdles to build the largest road and bridge project in Minnesota History."

"As a member of the House Financial Services Committee, Sean played a key role in shaping and strengthening Economic policies, and ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Government programs," he continued. "Sean's leadership extended to championing the needs of families, farmers, and small businesses, especially in rural communities."

Read more here: https://www.commondreams.org/news/trum ... secretary

caltrek’s comment: I think this nominee will work hard for bi-partisan infrastructure projects. If the last Trump term of office is any indication, he will then present the nearly completed agreement to Trump who will then tank it on account of the lack of the kissing of his arse on the part of Democrats.

[weatheriscool]

Mercedes reinvents the brakes for electric vehicles
By Joe Salas
November 25, 2024

In the simplest terms, nearly every modern car on the planet uses disk brakes: a rotor attached to a hub with a caliper with brake pads fixed to the control arm at each wheel. The driver presses the brake pedal and hydraulic fluid is pushed down the brake lines into the caliper, expanding the pistons and pushing the brake pads against the rotor, slowing down the rotation of the rotor connected to the hub, thus slowing down the wheel.

There are other systems, like drum brakes, air brakes, band brakes, the Flintstones method, et cetera, that have also been around since the dawn of the automotive industry. The concept almost always remains the same: using friction to slow down. And so it doesn't go unsaid, yes, there are compression brake systems as well, but that's entirely different.

Mercedes-Benz has put a new spin on an age-old concept with what it calls "in-drive brakes" for electric vehicles. The system being developed at the company's research and development department in Sindelfingen, Germany, integrates the brakes right into the drivetrain, in an arrangement that works very much like a transmission brake. It resembles clutch plates – but with a unique twist.
The in-drive brake pads resemble friction pads inside a clutch

https://newatlas.com/automotive/mercede ... -in-drive/

[weatheriscool]

Saudi Arabia opens world's longest driverless transit system
By Adam Williams
December 02, 2024
https://newatlas.com/architecture/saudi ... adh-metro/

Since Saudi Arabia is aiming to transform its country into a futuristic tourist paradise with projects like the Line and Mukaab, it's going to need to seriously upgrade its transportation network. As part of this endeavor, authorities have inaugurated a huge new driverless metro system which is hailed as the longest in the world.

The Riyadh Metro began operation on December 1, with the opening of three of its lines (another line is opening in January with two more to follow soon after). It has a total length of 176 km (109 miles) and connects key districts, business centers, and cultural landmarks throughout Saudi Arabia's capital city.

With an eventual capacity of 3.6 million daily passengers once fully complete, the train network is expected to reduce road traffic significantly throughout Riyadh and correspondingly reduce CO2 by some 12.5 million tons (roughly 10.8 million tonnes), annually.

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

Dubai transforms into walkable city with air-conditioned paths
By Adam Williams
December 18, 2024
https://newatlas.com/architecture/dubai ... ster-plan/

If you were to compile a list of walkable cities, the scorching desert metropolis of Dubai would probably rank pretty low. However, this will soon change with an extensive network of walkways, including raised and air-conditioned footpaths.

The project is named Dubai Walk and is still in the early stages, but looks very ambitious. It will consist of 6,500 km (roughly 4,000 miles) of walkways in total throughout Dubai. However, of this, 2,300 km (1,430 miles) will be made up of rehabilitated existing pathways.

It also involves developing 110 pedestrian bridges and underpasses to enhance connectivity, all as part of a larger effort to increase pedestrian mobility from 13% to 25% by 2040.
There will be scenic walkways, waterfront paths, rural and mountain trails, and city walkways. They will link major landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and the Museum of the Future, with an eye-catching elevated walkway near the latter named the Future Loop that will include air-conditioning to keep people walking all year

[wjfox]

China is building the world’s largest artificial island airport

December 19, 2024

China is adding yet another superlative to its aviation roster: the world’s largest airport on a man-made island.

Currently under construction off the country’s northeast coast, the Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport will eventually cover a 20-square-kilometer (7.7-square-mile) island with four runways and a 900,000-square-meter (969,000 sq ft) passenger terminal, according to an airport statement.

Its operators aim to handle 80 million passengers per year across 540,000 flights, with the first phase due to open in 2035.

“The country’s largest offshore airport is rising slowly from the sea level like the sunrise in the east,” reads a post by Dalian Jinzhou Bay International on Chinese social media platform WeChat.

Once completed, it will become the world’s largest airport on an artificial island, surpassing both Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Japan’s Kansai Airport (KIX).

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/dalian-j ... index.html



Dalian International Airport

[weatheriscool]

Monaco unveils its groundbreaking €2 billion floating eco-district
By Bridget Borgobello
December 20, 2024

In the heart of Monaco’s coastline, a new vision of urban development has come to life. Dubbed the Mareterra project, this floating eco-district was officially completed this month, setting an unprecedented global benchmark. Built entirely on "land" reclaimed from the sea to create new territory for development, this urban expansion adds six hectares (about 15 acres or 3% of Monaco’s total land area), seamlessly blending environmental stewardship with architectural sophistication.

"I wanted this new area to embody the excellence and conviviality which distinguish the Principality of Monaco so well," says HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. "Mareterra will integrate perfectly with our shoreline, and in a few years will be seen as a natural extension of our territory."

The project was developed via a collaboration between Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPBW), Valode et Pistre Architectes, and landscape architect Michel Desvigne. The district – which includes the Le Renzo residential complex, public parks, a marina, and commercial spaces – prioritizes public access, with half of the area dedicated to parks and leisure spaces.

https://newatlas.com/architecture/maret ... -district/

[weatheriscool]

World-record underwater shield tunnel completed in China
By Joe Salas
December 20, 2024

Jinan, a city of 9.4 million people and the capital of Shandong Province in East China, has made world headlines. Crews working there have completed the monumental task of building the world's largest-diameter underwater shield tunnel.

Using the largest available tunnel boring machine (TBM) on Earth, the China Railway 14th Bureau Group Co., Ltd. is still excavating the main section of the 3.6-mile (5,755 m) tunnel. The 2-mile (3,290-m) section of underwater shield segments, however, is complete.

This section is a colossal 55.8 ft (17 m) in diameter and consists of 500 pipe rings of underwater shielding, making it the largest-diameter tunnel of its kind anywhere in the world.

https://newatlas.com/transport/world-re ... ng-tunnel/

[weatheriscool]

World's first carbon fiber subway train takes to the tracks
By Joe Salas
January 14, 2025
https://newatlas.com/transport/worlds-f ... way-train/

On January 10th, the world's first carbon fiber subway train – called the Cetrovo 1.0 Carbon Star Rapid Rail – took to the tracks for the very first time in Qingdao, China. It is promised to be stronger, safer, and produce less harmful emissions than traditional trains.

Carbon fiber (CF) is a lightweight, high-strength material made of carbon filaments that are tightly bonded together using resin. When layered correctly (taking into account directional load forces), CF is exceptionally durable, rigid, and resistant to corrosion. However, if layered incorrectly, it can be brittle and prone to cracking or shattering.

A collaboration between Qingdao Metro Group and CRRC Sifang Co., Ltd. took the idea of making a train out of CF composites, and turned it into a reality.

The resulting passenger subway train is stronger and lighter than its conventional counterparts, plus its CF components are more impact-resistant and have longer structural lifespans than steel. What's more, carbon fiber excels in vibration damping and noise reduction compared to steel, enhancing ride quality and comfort for passengers.

[caltrek]

Sean Duffy, Confirmed by Senate as Transportation Secretary, Vows to Improve Travel Safety
by Bart Jansen
January 28, 2025

Introduction:

(USA Today) WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate confirmed Sean Duffy on Tuesday as secretary of Transportation, clearing the way for another of President Donald Trump's Cabinet officials to start working on plans to improve traffic safety, cut regulations on construction projects and restore public confidence in Boeing.

In nominating Duffy to his post, Trump said the former Wisconsin Republican lawmaker would use his experience and relationships from eight years in Congress to rebuild the country’s infrastructure and improve travel safety.

At his confirmation hearing on Jan. 15, Duffy said he would prioritize road safety to reduce fatalities on American roadways, noting there are more than 40,000 deaths in traffic accidents each year.

Duffy, 53, said another priority is to focus on large construction projects and reduce the red tape that he said “slows critical infrastructure projects.”

Duffy said that the country needs more air traffic controllers to improve aviation. He promised to work with the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates Boeing, and Congress to restore international confidence in the plane manufacturer after fatal crashes overseas.

Read more here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/ ... ba&ei=41

[weatheriscool]

A foldable tiny home you can install in just 60 minutes without tools
By Joe Salas
February 02, 2025
https://newatlas.com/tiny-houses/boxabl ... tiny-home/

Boxabl's latest tiny home creation, the Baby Box, is an ultra-compact, foldable tiny home. It's designed to be so easy and simple to construct that one person, without any help or tools, can set it up and start living the tiny life. And did we mention it's cheap?

According to Boxabl's website, for a US$19,999 introductory price (which will go up another 10 grand later), you can buy this 120-sq-ft (11.15-sq-m) turnkey home, with the option to have it delivered or pick it up yourself from Boxabl's Las Vegas, Nevada warehouse. It has everything included that you'd need to put a roof over your head right away.
The tiny home comes packed on a trailer, weighs 2,900 lb (1,315 kg) and has a 1,000-lb (454-kg) hitch weight, meaning most SUVs or trucks should be able to pull it with ease, very much like a traditional bumper-pull RV. When in tow, it's only 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) wide and 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m) long, making it smaller than a typical 7x14-ft cargo trailer.

[weatheriscool]

Massive 5,000-hp hybrid airship aims to interconnect remote earth
By C.C. Weiss
February 06, 2025
https://newatlas.com/aircraft/flying-wh ... p-airship/

Imagine a massive high-tech helium balloon that stretches well over an NFL football field in length, has more cargo capacity than an Airbus Beluga XL, and produces multi megawatts of power for nearly three dozen propellers. That's definitely a flying whale. And it's actually years in the making, as French startup Flying Whales has been fleshing out the concept for over a decade. Hopes are that this mind-blowing vessel will someday transform cargo transport by connecting population centers with remote, virtually inaccessible parts of the world, moving important goods and materials without touching the ground.
Having grown up quite accustomed to seeing the Goodyear Blimp hovering over football and baseball games, I never realized just how rare airships actually are in the 21st century. In fact, Goodyear's small fleet is among a mere 10 operational blimps in the world, according to a 2022 article by Fox Weather. A more commonly cited figure puts the worldwide number at 25, with only about half of them still operating.

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

The Boring Company inks deal to tunnel "wormhole" under Dubai
By Adam Williams
February 22, 2025

Since Dubai aims to transform itself into a walkable city, cutting down on traffic congestion is a key goal. With this in mind, Dubai authorities have inked a deal with The Boring Company to create a network of tunnels likened by founder Elon Musk to a "wormhole" that will allow users to move at speed under Dubai's streets and avoid traffic.

The Dubai Loop is being created by The Boring Company in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and follows similar a project in Las Vegas.

Its initial phase will measure 17 km (10.5 miles) and include 11 stations, hosting over 20,000 passengers per hour. All being well, the goal is to eventually expand the Dubai Loop throughout the Emirate. The idea is that it will allow people to avoid traffic in Dubai's most congested areas (there will still be normal roads in use too, of course), presumably using human-driven Teslas like in Las Vegas, rather than automated vehicles or anything else, though that aspect hasn't been expanded upon yet.

https://newatlas.com/urban-transport/bo ... any-dubai/

[firestar464]

Can't wait to see Adam Something absolutely roast this