The concept of free flight employs the use of new technological applications like TCAS and GPS in managing air traffic, thus eliminating the need for Air Traffic Control (ATC). In this concept, pilots do not confine aircraft to fly in corridors, which are about to 5% of the airspace (Endsley, 2013). Besides, free flight comes with a lot of dynamism in the flight path, speed, and altitude, as pilots will be able to set their routes freely. Free flight eliminates the idea of flying along fixed routes as having been in the past, with the management of control towers. Pilots can initiate direct flights independently when they use these computer-aided systems, thus increasing the overall efficiency. Therefore, the normal centralized control system puts overreliance on human factors at the expense of rising technology (Endsley, 2013).
In the concept of free flight, there is also a shift in the locus of control given the dynamism in decision-making at the flight path; it originates from the ground to the flight deck. The automation process provides the pilot with adequate information to help them in making vibrant decisions, which place their aircraft to safe propinquity with other airplanes. The concept transfers the roles of the controller of controlling the paths and actions of an airplane the pilots. In airborne approach, the pilots have the exclusive responsibilities of identifying and deciphering problems or challenges while in flight. Since the concept uses complex computerized systems, in case of an error, the aircraft can fly blindly.
Most aircrafts incidents and accidents have been due to human errors than mechanical failure. This has necessitated the need for analyzing various human factors that can affect the movement of aircraft by air traffic management and maintenance practices to improve safety.
According to The Boeing Company (n.d.), human factors entail acquiring information about human capabilities, weaknesses and other parameters, and inculcating them in the crew resource management (CRM) to enhance aircrafts’ safety. In the aviation industry, the entire process involves applying the human factors in machines, environment, and systems to make aircraft services effective, safe, and comfortable for all users. Markedly, human factors tend to comprehend in details how the aviation industry can integrate human actions with technology in efficient and safe ways (The Boeing Company, n.d.). After vivid conceptions, the whole concept translates into procedures, designs, and policies to improve humans’ performances within the crucial aviation industry.
Even though the technology is making inroads at high rates in the present world, human factors still play significant roles in enhancing the overall safety and progress in this lucrative industry. Humans must maintain their knowledge base, dedication, flexibility, and efficiency while making just decisions. With unpredictable rates of technological evolution, this industry keeps investing in training human personnel to make relevant decisions as per the current state. Human performance implication assessment requires a sound scientific basis that can have an overview of the design, training, and procedures.
As a way of decreasing the rates of aviation incidents and fatalities, the industry designs human-aircraft interfaces and builds up measures for maintaining technocrats and flight crews (Human Factors and Safety, n.d.). This move results in an improvement in human performances, thus advancing reliability, usability, comfort-ability, and maintainability.
Human factor specialists at the Boeing Company designs aircraft that take into concern the needs of the pilots, customers, and control operators. In essence, human factors play key roles in the aviation industry, even though technology tries to perform other human functions. As a result, specialists have to work closely with technicians, crews, engineers to include human factors when designing all planes. Some of the areas that require the inclusion of human factors include error management, flight deck design, design for in-service support, and passenger cabin design (The Boeing Company, n.d.). On flight design, safety and reliability have been the center of focus as recent developments have helped to reduce accident rates and increase efficiency.
Notably, changes in flight design in areas like engines, structures, and systems have prevented and mitigated human error. In new flight designs, Boeing ensures that recent technological applications meet the needs of customers, crew, and appropriate degree of automation requirements. For instance, the design of Boeing 777 took into concern operators’ requirements, mechanics, crews, and customers’ inputs.
Currently, human factors specialists coordinate with cognitive engineers, air traffic controllers, and flight crews in route planning and communication through data link messages (The Boeing Company, n.d.). Recent technological changes have enhanced user understanding, minimized the cost of training facilities, and reduced error rates. Under maintainability and in-service support, unrelenting attention on human factors has enhanced safety and operational efficiency. In maintenance, Boeing considers the participation of mechanics, customer support processes, and computer-aided maintainability design tools. In this functionality, human factors specialists work together with production and airline engineers in implementing airline maintenance features. In free flight, the process of transferring command authority unambiguously and dynamically between ground and air remains a major human factor (Human Factors Issues in Free Flight, n.d.). Human factors try to mitigate risks and inefficiency, thus improving the performance or success of aircraft.
Free flight enables pilots to choose path-lines and speeds of aircraft in real time. In this aspect, the development of a supervisory control strategy imposes less workload on the operator as he/she only controls the end effectors, instead of controlling the motions of the whole manipulator systems (Fallows, 2001). With free flight, the total work time that the sector controller experience reduces since some tasks are under the direct control of the pilot. Moreover, automation will improve sector productivity by reducing task time parameters. As opposed to controlled flights, free flights, routine traffic management tasks like arrangement for flight strips and hands-off acceptance continue to reduce the time related to these mandatory tasks. In times of conflict resolution, there are limited restrictions that can avert the correction of the identified problem as free flight removes numerous restrictions.
The concept also emphasizes the need for collective planning using the improved technological applications. Collaboration in service delivery reduces both the controller and the pilot’s workloads. In free flight, the pilot can use different tools that are integrated into the flight framework to validate the information from controlling authorities (Gawron, 2008). It also helps in converting large amounts of data to the required context so that the pilot can know the best possible time. The process improves the management of large amounts of information hence reducing error and improving decision-making. The automated decision-making aids support the controllers and pilots in making responsible decisions as opposed to controlled flight situation where responsibilities not shared among aircraft controllers, operators, and pilots.
Future Air Traffic Management (ATM) presents reduced roles for controllers in operating aircraft unless a variable falls below or exceeds a pre-determined value (Salas & Maurino, 2010). For Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) and pilots, the concept of free flight presents a great reduction in workloads and adjustment in situational awareness.
Safety enhancement remains a key aspect of the aviation industry. Since controllers are not actively involved in aircraft control, there are instances where a potential conflict can lead to an actual conflict where two airplanes can lose separation. Under this scenario, controllers ought to indicate the time for potential conflict detection and identify the call sign of the aircraft undergoing the problem (Fallows, 2001). Besides, controllers should also communicate to pilots in before allowing them into the sector and directs them to an adjacent sector.
Even though the concept of free flight reduces workloads, it does not eliminate humans from the system. There is also a need to increase sector productivity and make sectors smaller to prevent the challenges that accompany the sectorized system from blocking the growth of traffic. Also, there are possibilities of aircraft flying blindly if the flight zone has foreign objects. In this situation, the controller should also assist pilots in entering the protected zone to avoid a collision with other aircraft in the vicinity. Attempts to fix these challenges will remove delays, increase efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance crews’ safety. Another negative aspect is the unavailability of up-to-date information from National Aviation Services (NAS), which results in a lack of exact universal situational awareness (Gawron, 2008). Constant evaluation and institutionalization of new procedures can improve flight routing by increasing situational awareness on occurrences like congestions, bad weather, and temperature differences.
Pilot fatigue can be discussed as the important issue which influences negatively the development of the aviation industry and different aviation operations because pilots experience difficulties with controlling their activities during the long shifts or without having enough rest. As a result, pilot fatigue because of the weaknesses in schedules can lead to the unintentional micro-sleeps and dramatic aviation accidents caused by the pilots’ errors.
From this point, it is necessary to resolve the problem and provide effective rules to control the pilots’ schedules and avoid fatigue. It is the task of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work out and state the appropriate rules and norms to regulate the problematic situation and decrease the number of aviation accidents associated with the pilots’ errors and their fatigue. Thus, the FAA regularly develop appropriate regulations to respond to the issue, and it is important to focus on the Final Rule proposed by the FAA in 2011 to diminish the factors which can cause pilot fatigue (FAA issues pilot fatigue final rule, 2011). To discuss the problem in detail, it is necessary to focus on the definition of pilot fatigue and its causes, on the other associated issues experienced by pilots within the aviation industry, on the statistical data to discuss the issue, and on the effectiveness of the regulations provided by the FAA in order to control the situation.
The Importance of the Pilot Fatigue Issue
The role of the human factor in causing aviation accidents is significant; that is why pilot fatigue is a serious problem which requires an effective solution. The main causes for provoking pilot fatigue are long duty days and the increased work hours, the disruptions associated with circadian rhythm and sleep, and the absence of the adequate rest provided for pilots before and after the working shifts. Furthermore, pilot fatigue is the main cause for accidents during the night hours after the prolonged shifts when the crew cannot rely on enough time to rest (“FAA issues a final rule on pilot fatigue,” 2012). That is why effective strategies and rules should be developed to reduce the risks of pilot fatigue.
In spite of the fact that many aviation accidents are caused by different types of technical faults, the issue of pilot fatigue is important to be discussed separately because it is the key factor to affect the pilots’ errors during the flight. This idea is supported with references to the investigations conducted by researchers to examine the changes in the work of pilots’ brains during the prolonged shifts and after the long periods without any rest. The researchers focused on the electroencephalographic activity of the crew members to support their hypotheses and determine the connections between the physiological or biological processes and the periods without any adequate rest about the effect on the professional activities and provoking fatigue (Caldwell, 2005). From this perspective, the aspect of pilot fatigue cannot be ignored because the impact of physiology on the effectiveness of the performed operations is significant, and the ignorance of the human factor can become a serious problem faced by the aviation industry if the successful strategies are not proposed.
The Issues Experienced by Pilots in the Aviation Industry
Pilot fatigue can be discussed as the negative result of the issues experienced by pilots within the aviation industry. Thus, the conditions associated with the pilots’ activities make them feel tired and even exhausted after the typical working shift because of a lot of challenges which can be experienced during the flight. Stress and tension associated with the working conditions also contribute to the development of pilot fatigue because of the organisms’ impossibility to cope with tension effectively during the time fixed for resting.
Moreover, the additional stress is caused by the necessity to work during the night shifts after the prolonged duty days. Pilots are often expected to work for 14 hours without adequate rest. Such challenges as the technical problems, negative weather conditions, and problems with identifying the visual cues during the night flights can contribute to the development of pilot stress and fatigue (Notification and reporting of aircraft accidents, 2010). As a result, pilots experience physical and mental tensions and make errors which are discussed as caused because of the human factor.
The Statistical Data on the Problem of Pilot Fatigue
According to the different sources of the statistical data on the problem of pilot fatigue as the cause for aviation accidents, fatigue can be discussed as the direct cause for pilots’ lack of control and errors in 4-7% cases examined with references to the statistics of the civil aviation and safety centers (Caldwell, 2005). It is also stated with references to the national surveys that more than 25% of the aviation accidents are the results of the fatigue caused by the necessity to operate during night shifts. This data is relevant for the period of the 1990s (Caldwell, 2005). During the period of the 2000s, the percentage of the aviation accidents affected by the human factor in general and by the fact of pilot fatigue, in particular, remains to be rather high in spite of the fact that the numbers are decreased till 18% (Notification and reporting of aircraft accidents, 2010).
Focusing on the data connected with the pilots’ vision of the problem, it is important to note that pilots discuss fatigue as a serious problem which can affect their errors during the flights. Moreover, more than 70% of pilots state that they regularly experience fatigue while working because of the inconvenient schedule and impossibility to rest to satisfy the organisms’ needs in sleep (Caldwell, 2005). To reduce fatigue, pilots see the solution in changing the schedule to provide them with the possibility to correlate the periods of the activities and rest appropriately to the plan and the organisms’ needs. Thus, the statistical data on the problem support the idea to work out and implement the effective rules to reduce the level of fatigue experienced by pilots.
The Rules of the Federal Aviation Administration on the Rest Requirements
During 2011, the FAA proposed the most appropriate variant of the regulation rules to reduce the percentage of pilot fatigue experienced during the flights and caused a lot of aviation accidents. The variant of 2011 is proposed and announced as the final rule to regulate the schedule requirements and provide pilots with the possibilities to avoid fatigue caused by the inadequate schedules and long hours of the working shifts (Pilot fatigue rule, 2011).
Thus, the FAA focused on providing more flexible and various requirements to the pilots’ schedules in relation to the moment when their working days begin in order to correlate the start of the working day or shift with the periods fixed for having a rest and with the periods determined to start the new shift (FAA issues pilot fatigue final rule, 2011). The next important rule is associated with determining the allowable time of the duty period fixed according to the schedule to cope with the issue of fatigue.
The next important aspect is the fixed flight time limits, which are correlated with the start of the crew’s working shift or day. One of the most important rules is the requirement for the rest period for pilots to reduce the levels of fatigue. Thus, the number of hours for the rest is increased to ten hours, which are discussed as the required minimum (“Rule proposed to fight pilot fatigue,” 2010). One more important rule depends on the development of the effective fatigue risk management system, which is worked out to manage and control the fatigue issues among pilots with contributing to overcoming these issues.
Conclusion
Pilot fatigue is a controversial issue typical for the aviation industry, which can be discussed as the cause of many accidents as a result of the pilots’ errors. Pilots have difficulties with overcoming challenges during the flights, and they make errors when they feel fatigued affected by the inappropriate schedule and the accentuated imbalance between the periods of activity and rest. That is why the FAA focused on the development of the effective rules to control the problem and reduce the percentage of accidents associated with the issue. The main points of the new plan and requirements include the increased time for the rest and the more balanced rules related to the schedule.
References
Caldwell, J. (2005). Fatigue in aviation. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 3(2), 85-96. Web.
FAA issues final rule on pilot fatigue. (2012). Professional Safety, 57(2), 19-20. Web.
FAA issues pilot fatigue final rule. (2011). Web.
Notification and reporting of aircraft accidents or incidents and overdue aircraft, and preservation of aircraft wreckage, mail, cargo, and records. (2010). USA: Federal Information & News Dispatch, Inc. Web.
Pilot fatigue rule: A major step forward for aviation safety. (2011). USA: Congressional Documents and Publications. Web.
Rule proposed to fight pilot fatigue. (2010). Professional Safety, 55(11), 23-24. Web.
The weather is an important factor in relation to planes and their situation in the skies. Often, the pilots have very little choice, as the weather conditions become severe in a matter of minutes. One such case took place in New South Wales in 2012. It is clear that the pilots are very much limited in the number of things they can do to decide on the best course of action and often, the choices are absent altogether.
Sometimes, there are weather conditions that leave pilots with no options. There was an accident that took place on June 4th, 2012. A pilot flew a Cessna 182Q from Walgett to Mudgee (Fatal aircraft accident highlights ongoing risks of flying in poor weather, 2013). The pilot was the only person on board and was “flying under the Visual Flight Rules (VFR)” (Fatal aircraft accident highlights ongoing risks of flying in poor weather, 2013). These are regulations that outline the instructions on how to fly in weather that is appropriate for the airplanes. The takeoff took place in good weather and an elevation of 5,500 feet was reached.
Once the pilot was in the air, the atmospheric conditions worsened and a cloud base started to form. This was the beginning of the changing weather and the pilot had to make a decision, as to continuing the flight on the set height or changing it. There are not many choices, as the person can either climb higher and fly over the weather system or lower the airplane and find coverage under the severe weather conditions. The visibility was influencing the choices of the pilot and so, the instruments on the panel board became crucial to the pilot. The decision to lower the plane to 1000 feet was taken. The takedown of the plane happened gradually but the results were devastating. The pilot has crashed into the mountains near Tooraweenah, NSW (Fatal aircraft accident highlights ongoing risks of flying in poor weather, 2013). Unfortunately, the pilot did not survive and the plane was destroyed in the process.
It is obvious that pilots have dangerous employment where only a number of steps can be taken to prevent an accident. There is a great dependence on the abilities of the plane and weather, and a person has to make quick decisions in directing the plane. A plane crash is one of the worst events, as passenger planes have a great number of people on board. The above case shows that catastrophic situations are not limited to planes that transport a large number of people. Private planes are also affected by the weather and have little chance if the conditions are severe. Even though the pilot has to go through extensive training and tests, there are still times when a situation cannot be predicted, and a person has to go by their feelings and thoughts that are present in the moment. All the crashes of airplanes that happen cannot directly affect the other planes, as the changing conditions of the weather are specific to an area and time of day.
There are numerous documented cases that relate to planes crashing or having problems due to weather conditions, and the ending is not always positive. It is a fact that people cannot change the atmospheric events, so they can only be avoided.
Reference
Fatal aircraft accident highlights ongoing risks of flying in poor weather. (2013). Web.
A good driver is a skilled and concentrated person who is responsible for one’s life, as well as the life of passengers and pedestrians. However, today drivers have many dangerous habits that can cause tragic situations and accidents. When a person becomes a witness to the accident and the pain of victims and their relatives, he often thinks about the role of a driver in this tragedy. The problem is in the fact that, in most cases, the real cause of such accidents is the irresponsible actions of a driver. Although it is possible to identify different habits and risky behaviors that are typical of many drivers, the most dangerous habits are the use of mobile phones, speeding, and alcohol abuse.
Multitasking became the main feature of modern life because many people, including drivers, try to save their time performing several activities simultaneously. The use of mobile phones while driving often leads to undesirable tragic consequences. For instance, a driver is a very busy person who uses gadgets to speak with partners without holding a mobile phone in his hand. The small device allows a driver to hold the steering wheel and focus on the road.
The problem is only in decreased concentration. However, there is also another example. A driver prefers texting or checking e-mail while standing in the traffic jam and even while driving. The concentration is decreased significantly, and this person will not notice a small boy crossing the road. While referring to these examples, it is almost impossible to overestimate the meaning of using mobile phones while driving, as well as the price of the individual’s life, and it is significant to limit the use of devices for drivers.
If the use of mobile phones is typical of modern days, speeding is the dangerous habit of drivers that is observed during decades. It seems that many young drivers are inclined to organize contests on the roads to assert themselves with the help of speeding. An important example is when a young driver having a good car intends to demonstrate all its powers on the city’s roads without remembering about other people in the streets. Such contests often result in accidents because drivers lose control over the car. However, the problem is in the fact that speeding can be characteristic of drivers of all ages and statuses because the causes of speeding include rush, affairs, or excitement. This habit is important to be addressed with the help of policies and adding the speed limiting signs on the roads.
The alcohol abuse is one of the most dramatic habits typical of drivers. It is important to state that drinking alcohol before driving is usually forbidden. However, the examples of accidents caused by drunk drivers are numerous. A person thinks that he drank only a glass of wine, and he is rather sober now. He chooses to drive home at night. His mood is high, but his concentration is limited, and he cannot assess the situation on the road.
The result of such a habit can be a car accident on the night highway. While taking alcohol, a person loses a possibility to concentrate, to assess the distances between cars, to evaluate one’s capacities realistically, and to control the car as the complex mechanism. As a result, alcohol abuse while driving remains to be one of the most significant and tragic causes of accidents.
The provided list of examples of risky behaviors characteristic of drivers can be discussed as incomplete. Nevertheless, it is important to state that the use of mobile phones and other devices for texting, speeding, and ignoring the signs, as well as taking alcohol drinks before driving, can be discussed as the most dangerous habit. The reason is that they make roads become full of threats to passengers and pedestrians.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an intensively developed country where all the industries play an important role in contributing to the Emirates’ economic growth. From this point, the transport industry can be discussed as the key driver to stimulate the UAE’s economic development during the recent five years. Transport services influence all aspects of people’s social and economic life. As a result, the improvement of public transportation in the UAE is one of the priorities related to the progress of industries and the social sector’s development. The transport industry began to develop actively in the 1970s when the first bus services were opened in Abu Dhabi in order to respond to the increased public’s needs related to transportation services (Elsheshtawy 128). During the period of 1970-2013, the transport industry was developing; and today, the UAE transport industry includes such sectors the air transport, rail transport, metro system, bus services, taxi, and water transport services (Worku 109). Much attention is paid to constructing new roads and transport channels.
As a result, today, the UAE’s transport industry develops actively to address the increasing public demands. The main authorities’ focus is not only on developing the system of public buses and taxis but also on the support of metro and marine transit. The development of air and rail transport is strategic for supporting the UAE’s economic and social channels (Terterov 124-128). That is why new rail and road networks are constructed as a result of significant investment.
Billions of dollars are invested in developing the transport industry annually because of its extreme significance for the UAE’s economy (Government of Dubai). The developed transportation system is the key to improving the connection between the Emirates’ industries, companies, and resources. The transport industry is important for the UAE’s economy because all the economic activities depend on effective transportation solutions. The development of the transport industry in the UAE contributes to driving the country’s economic growth and increasing investment in the sector.
The purpose of this industry report is to provide an overview and analysis of the transport industry in the UAE with a focus on its development at different levels. Thus, the report provides information on the progress of the transport industry at the local level while focusing on Dubai, at the national level, at the regional level, and at the global level. The report also aims to provide the analysis of the transport industry in relation to the past five years to concentrate on obvious changes, to describe the aspects of the transport industry’s progress regarding its strengths, and to state how the industry supports the economy of the UAE in detail.
Methods
The analysis of the transport industry in the UAE with the focus on Dubai is based on the methods typical for qualitative and quantitative researches. To conduct the investigation on the stated topic, it is necessary to pay attention to analyzing the qualitative information on the role of the transport industry for the economy of the UAE and to the quantitative information presented in the form of the numerical data, including the economical rates and statistical data (“World-Statistics.org”). That is why the used investigation method can be discussed as the document analysis (Elsheshtawy 23). The research procedure includes such stages as the planning of the research, the collection of the data related to the transport industry in the UAE, the analysis and interpretation of the data, the discussion of the results, and the formulation of conclusions.
While referring to the research instruments and data sources used to conduct the investigation within the industry, it is necessary to note that the main focus was on collecting, examining, comparing and contrasting the data, developing the diagrams for summarizing the information, and making conclusions on the role of the industry at the local, national, regional, and global levels. To respond to the research questions and purposes, much attention was paid to analyzing the official numerical data on the transport industry’s development in the UAE. Thus, the data sources include the government agencies’ reports, industry reports, and market analysis reports retrieved from the government and agencies’ websites.
These resources are the most important to conclude about the tendencies in the industry’s progress in the Emirates. The researchers’ articles published in academic journals on the aspects of the UAE transportation are important to be examined to analyze the data in relation to the role of the industry for Dubai and other Emirates’ economic development (Lee 312; Worku 108). The researchers’ works on the aspects of the UAE, and Dubai’s transportation system were also consulted to find the necessary information on the topic.
The process of data collection is usually associated with such challenges as the inability to receive factual or statistical data on the concrete topic, which can be discussed as updated and credible. Referring to the industry reports, it is necessary to focus on the time periods during which the investigations were completed (Government of Dubai; “Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”). To overcome the challenges connected with collecting the updated information on the industry’s development, it is useful to focus on collecting annual reports in the field; to pay attention to the experts’ predictions; to compare and contrast the annual data; and to focus on the actual numbers supported with the industry surveys which are sponsored by the government and independent researchers to receive the full information.
Results and Discussion
Transport Industry at the Global Level
Global Differences in Using Transportation Modes: Overview of the Recent Tendencies
At the global level, the progress of the transport industry in the world is closely associated with the development of public transport systems. The first transport systems were the networks of roads to connect towns and cities and water channels to connect the distant lands. The focus on developing rails in Europe during the 19th century reformed the public’s traditional vision of transport systems. The next step in developing the world transportation system was the progress of aviation in the 20th century (Terterov 14-16). While focusing on the development of the global transport industry during the recent five years and on the data of 2011, it is necessary to note that the air transport (51%) and road transport (41%) remain to be the most actively used travel transport channels in the world (Figure 1; “UNWTO”; “World-Statistics.org”). In the European countries, the use of buses increases every year, and today it is more than 70% (“World-Statistics.org”).
Figure 1. Percentage of Passengers Using Transportation Modes in 2011 (“UNWTO”).
The Number of Air Transport Passengers Globally
Referring to Porter’s model and to the concept of world competition, it is necessary to note that the air transport is discussed in the world as one of the most popular public transportation modes for traveling and for connecting the country’s cities and territories abroad. Furthermore, air transport is one of the most profitable industries in the countries’ economies worldwide. While comparing the number of passengers carried by air transport globally, it is necessary to note that the United States provided the air transport services for more than 746 million people in 2012, and more than 59 million people used the air transport in the UAE (Figure 2; “World-Statistics.org”).
Figure 2. Air Transport Passengers in 2012 (“World-Statistics.org”).
The difference in numbers depends on the size of the territories and city location, among the other factors. Air transport attracts the number of passengers because of the speed and safety, and the percentage of passengers carried by air transport is expected to increase (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; “World-Statistics.org”). During the period of 2010-2013, the popularity of air transport among the passengers increased by 14% (“World-Statistics.org”). While discussing the situation in the Middle East, it is important to note that buses, air transport, and rail are the traditional modes of transportation in the region, but today more attention is paid to the development of the public water transport and taxi, as it is in the UAE (“RTA”).
Transport Industry at the Regional Level: GCC
GCC Transport during the Past 5 Years
The Gulf Cooperation Council is the union of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf region, which is based on the economic and political interests. The UAE is a member of the GCC, which was founded in Abu Dhabi in 1981. The transport industry is actively developed in the region for two decades (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”; Terterov 56-58). The GCC members pay much attention to combining their efforts in order to construct effective channels between the GCC states. Air transport and cars are the most popular among the GCC states’ population. However, the transport industry in the GCC is developed intensively to address the needs of the public.
Thus, buyers become the main driving force to develop the industry in the region while referring to Porter’s model. That is why the GCC launched the Gulf Rail Project to respond to the buyers’ needs and to develop the countries’ economic potential. The total expected length of the railways to connect the GCC countries is about 2116 km. The project is planned to be completed in 2017 in order to increase the number of GCC rail passengers by more than 35% during the first decade of exploitation (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”).
The Forecasted Use of Different Means of Transportation in relation to the GCC in 2016-2028
Referring to the GCC data on the transport industry in 2000-2013 and forecasting the completion of the Gulf Rail Project, the experts predict the extreme increase in the number of passengers using the rail and metro transport in the industry (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”). According to Figure 3, the start of the operation of the Gulf railway network will lead to the situation that 6% of passengers will choose comfortable rail transport. The use of cars will decrease by 3%, and the use of air transport will decrease in 9%, when the total use of transport in the region will increase in 1.5% (Figure 3; “Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”). The numbers support the idea that the focus on constructing rail networks can provide the industry with the opportunity to gain more profits while satisfying the public’s needs.
Figure 3. GCC Comparison between the Use of Different Means of Transportation in 2016-2028 (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”).
Different transport modes are used in the GCC region, but the development of the rail network is the main step to addressing the transport needs of the Arab countries’ population because the economy of the region develops, and it is necessary to focus on new effective methods to respond to the problem of transportation.
Transport Industry at the National Level: The United Arab Emirates
The UAE Transport Industry Profits
To understand the changes in the UAE transport industry profits during the recent five years, it is necessary to refer to the profits received by the Emirates General Transport and Services Corporation as the main provider of the transport services in the country. Emirates Transport was founded in 1981, and today it is regulated by the UAE government (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; Terterov 112-117).
Referring to Figure 4, in 2001, Emirates Transport’s profits were about Dh180 million, and these profits can be discussed as the main revenues in the industry during the set period. In 2012, the profits of Emirates Transport along with the other industry actors’ profits was about Dh315 million, and this fact allows discussing the significant level of the market capitalization in relation to the transport industry in the UAE (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; Terterov 112). Thus, the profitability of the industry increased in more than 40% while affecting the UAE’s economy significantly.
Figure 4. UAE Transport Industry Profits 2001-2012 (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; Terterov 112).
UAE Transportation Services
The development of the UAE transport industry depends on the spread of services in the country. While comparing the transportation services with the data typical for the 1970s-1990s, it is important to note that the country’s transportation services changed significantly. In the 1970s-1990s, the main focus was on using camels and cars. The next stage was the development of the air and rail transport (Terterov 156-167). Buses and metro were proposed as the public transport for all the UAE citizens in the 1990s-2000s (“The World Bank: Gulf Countries”). While focusing on the public transport, Dubai Metro is one of the most actively used transportation modes in the UAE. It is network’s length is 75 km, and it is used by more than 350 million passengers annually, while referring to the 1998-2013 data (“RTA”; “The World Bank: Gulf Countries”).
Passengers choose metro because of its suitability and speed. That is why, Abu Dhabi Metro is actively developed project which construction is the priority goal for the authorities of Abu Dhabi, and the project costs more than Dh7 billion. While focusing on Figure 5 which demonstrates the length of the expected Abu Dhabi Metro Project lines, it is important to state that today the underground heavy rail metro line in 18 km can be discussed as completed and operated to connect the districts of the Emirate (Lee 314; “The World Bank: Gulf Countries”).
Figure 5. Abu Dhabi Metro Lines Project (“The World Bank: Gulf Countries”).
The next popular transportation mode used in the UAE is the rail transport. The UAE government is focused on developing the project the main goal of which is to connect the metro and rail networks to construct the most technologically developed rail system in the GCC region. The developing Etihad Rail project is also one of the priorities of the UAE transport industry because the planned 1,200 km rail system is expected to satisfy the transportation service needs of millions of passengers and business annually (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”).
Transport Industry at the Local Level: Dubai
The Number of Passengers Carried in Dubai Annually
The transport and roads industry in Dubai is presented by the developed bus system, taxi system, rail network, metro system, air and water transport. The transport industry in Dubai is the actively developed sector because the number of passengers carried by different transportation modes increases in more than 20 million people annually. Thus, analyzing the data presented in Figure 6, it is important to note that about one million people are carried by buses, taxies, metro, and abras in Dubai every day (“Government of Dubai”; “RTA”).
Figure 6. Passengers Carried in Dubai, 2010-2012, million (“Government of Dubai”; “RTA”).
Dubai Bus System
The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai regulates the development of the bus system in the Emirate. The whole system is consists of more than 190 routes (“RTA”). The number of routes is influenced by the public demand for services. The necessity to transport thousands of passengers weekly makes the authorities to launch new routes regularly. The used buses are equipped with the modern technologies, and the regulation to the services provision is the main task of the RTA. While analyzing the data presented in Figure 7, it is important to focus on the correlation between the number of passengers carried and the number of buses proposed during the period of 2010-2012 (Figure 7; “Public Transport Buses: Emirate of Dubai”).
In 2010, 756 buses were proposed for Dubai urban population and as intercity vehicles. In 2012, the number of used buses is 887 which means that more than 130 buses were added to the Dubai routes. The number of buses for urban routes increased in 103 buses, and the number of intercity routes increased in 22 buses (Figure 7; “Public Transport Buses: Emirate of Dubai”).
Figure 7. Public Transport Buses Used by Passengers, Emirate of Dubai (“Public Transport Buses: Emirate of Dubai”).
The stated changes support the fact that the percentage of the population who demands effective bus services in urban territories is higher than the percentage of passengers who choose bus for intercity travelling.
Dubai Taxi System
The taxi services attract passengers because of such factors as comfort and speed in spite of the fact that the level of taxi accidents is higher in comparison with the other transport services. Taxi companies are categorized in operated by the government and privately owned (“RTA”). While referring to the aspect of competition, taxi companies provide more than 7300 cars to address the passengers’ needs in Dubai in comparison with 600 buses (Oxford Business Group). The availability of taxies influences their popularity among the passengers in Dubai. However, there is the problem related to the traffic in Dubai because more than 48,000 people usually use taxies and buses during the three hours period in morning (“UNWTO”). As a result, Dubai authorities are inclined to address the problem with the help of developing the alternative transportation modes.
Dubai Rail Network and Metro System
The Dubai Rail Network and Metro System project is discussed as the response of the Emirate’s authorities to the need of developing the effective public transport systems in Dubai because passengers note the lack of the resources to satisfy their daily needs regarding the issue. In spite of the fact that the Dubai Metro system is one of the most automatically developed in the GCC and round the world, it is only partially constructed (Worku 110-111). Dubai Metro consists of two completed lines which are Red and Green lines, and Blue, Gold, and Purple lines are planned to be fully added to the metro system during the next three years (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”).
The metro develops intensively because the number of passengers who use it daily increased in 32% while comparing the data of 2011 and 2012 years (Elsheshtawy 84). The rail and metro system in Dubai is continually developed because of the necessity to address the needs of the actively increased population. The number of immigrants in the region increased in 3 times during the period of 2011-2013 in comparison with the previous years (Worku 110-111). Furthermore, the number of the Emirate’s population also grew to 2 million people, as it is stated in Figure 8 (Figure 8; “World-Statistics.org”).
Figure 8. Dubai Population Increase (“World-Statistics.org”).
Moreover, the economic and social environments in Dubai also changed with the focus on developing more businesses and households. That is why, the authorities plan to increase the number of Metro stations from 40 stations today to more than 100 stations in the future (Government of Dubai).
Dubai Air and Water Transport
Air transport in Dubai develops in relation to the progress of the Emirate’s business life. To address the necessity to support a lot of business contacts in the UAE, GCC region, and globally, the authorities of Dubai pay much attention to developing the effective and comfortable air transport. The center of aviation in Dubai is Dubai International Airport which provides services for millions of passengers annually. Dubai International Airport was opened in 2008, and the airport plays the important role in supporting the economic and business activities in Dubai today (“The World Bank: Gulf Countries”). The next stage in enhancing the air transport in Dubai is the construction of the modern and technologically developed Al Maktoum International Airport (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”). These two airports are expected to respond to the passengers’ needs in the Emirate.
The water transport is the alternative transportation mode used in Dubai. In spite of the fact that the water transport became to be in focus only during the period of the 2000s, Dubai ports play the traditionally important role in supporting the Emirate’s trade. Water transport is also used in Dubai as the public transport while focusing on the use of abras or water buses. This system works since 2007, and today the number of passengers using abras increased in 16% (“RTA”).
Analysis of the Transport Industry in the UAE and Globally according to Porter’s Model of Competition during the Past Five Years
While focusing on Porter’s model of competition, it is possible to analyze the development of the transport industry in Dubai during the past five years. The main competitors within the industry are the transportation services controlled by the government and privately owned companies specialized in providing transportation services for the population of the UAE. The UAE authorities control the air transport, rail transport, metro system, buses, and water transport (large ships), when the taxies, certain bus routes, and abras are often privately owned (“RTA”; “Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; Worku 114).
While comparing the passengers’ preferences in using the transportation modes typical for the period of 2009-2012, it is possible to note that the popularity of privately owned transportation modes such as taxi increased significantly in 2012 in comparison with the data on 2009 (Figure 9; “RTA”; Worku 114). Five years ago the percentage of passengers using taxies in Dubai was about 8-9% (“RTA”). Today, taxi is among the most popular transportation modes in the Emirates. This situation is a direct result of growth in the number of the population in the UAE during the discussed period.
Referring to the criterion of the threat of new entrants in the industry, it is necessary to state that the increased popularity of abras as the public water transport attracts the attention of experts while discussing the changes in the industry during the past five years (Government of Dubai).
According to the idea of the buyers’ power, the transport industry significantly depends on the annual changes in the number of passengers using different transportation modes in the UAE. To respond to the needs of millions of passengers and various businesses, the UAE authorities are focused on developing the Etihad Rail project to build about 1,200 km of the railways in the country (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”).
While focusing on the competition strategy followed by the UAE in relation to the industry and on Porter’s model to analyze the changes in the industry during the past five years, it is necessary to note that the UAE government is focused on combing the competitors’ efforts to construct one effective transportation network for all the Emirates, contributing to the competitive advantage of the industry in the region instead of stimulating the further inner competition.
From this point, the main changes observed in the transport industry in the UAE during the past five years are correlated with the changes at the global and regional levels. Thus, the extreme focus on the use of taxies and abras as the public transport and on the rail transport to travel globally is typical not only for Dubai, but also for the UAE (“Public Transport Buses: Emirate of Dubai”; “The World Bank: Gulf Countries”). Regionally, the authorities’ focus was on rail and metro systems in 2013 (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”). Globally, the shift to the use of air transport is observed during the past five years as the prolonged tendency in the transport industry (“World-Statistics.org”).
Role of the Transport Industry for the UAE’s Economy
The transport industry is discussed as extremely important for the UAE’s economy because the progress of this industry is closely connected with the development of business, trade, and market in the UAE. While referring to the correlation of the sectors share in relation to Dubai GDP, it is important to note that Transportation share in 2013 was 14%, as it is stated according to the data presented in Figure 10 (“Dubai GDP”; Figure 10).
Figure 10. Sectors Share Related to Dubai GDP (“Dubai GDP”).
The situation in Dubai reflects the situation which is typical for the other large Emirates’ economy. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are focused on developing the transport industry because the effectively developed transportation services guarantee the response to the Emirates’ business and public’s personal needs (Elsheshtawy 57). The number of the population in the UAE increases rapidly, as a result there is a need to satisfy the needs of more people and to provide the opportunities for the effective economic and social development of the Emirates (Government of Dubai; “World-Statistics.org”).
In spite of the fact that the transport industry develops according to the UAE’s general projects to address the progress of infrastructure in the region, the role of the transport industry in the economy of the country is more significant in comparison with the situation in the other countries of the GCC region because the UAE are oriented to support the status of the most powerful and economically developed country in the region (“Gulf Cooperation Council Railway Project”; “World-Statistics.org”).
There are no loose connections between the business world, country’s economy, and infrastructure in the form of transportation because the transport industry is discussed as one of the fundaments for the UAE’s active economic and social growth (Lee 314-315). The UAE are at the stage of their intensive growth influenced by the progress of the oil industry and tourism (“UNWTO”). These industries directly depend on the development of the transportation networks in the Emirates (“Sectorial Overview: Transportation and Logistics”; “World-Statistics.org”). That is why, the development of many projects within the transport industry in the UAE can guarantee the support for the whole economy of the country.
Conclusions
Having analyzed the development of the transport industry at the global, regional, national, and local levels, it is possible to determine five important aspects which can characterize the details and features of the industry’s progress in the world and in the UAE most effectively. These five main points are
the focus of the world transport industry on the air transport opportunities;
the increase in the public’s interest to the taxies at the regional, national, and local levels;
the focus of the regional and national authorities on using the advantages of the rail and metro transport in the GCC region;
the interdependence between the population growth and the transport industry’s progress at the national and local level; and
the distribution of control over the transport industry between the government agencies and local companies in Dubai.
The focus of the world transport industry on the air transport opportunities is reflected in the increased numbers of passengers carried by air transport globally every year. Air transport is attractive for passengers which focusing on the issue at the global level because the air transport allows flying at different distances within comfortable environments. That is why, air transport is the main choice for business.
During a long period of time, buses were the most popular transportation mode in the countries of the GCC because of the price of services and their convenience. However, during the recent five years, there is the obvious change in the population’s preferences regarding their choice of public transport modes. As a result, the increase in the public’s interest to the taxies at the regional, national, and local levels is the comparably contemporary phenomenon which is based on the progress of the privately owned sector of the transport industry in the UAE and Dubai. Furthermore, the increase in the public’s interest is closely connected with the fact that today taxies are comfortable and speedy. In addition, the important factor to influence the passengers’ choice is the availability of the taxies in the UAE and Dubai.
The focus of the regional and national authorities on using the advantages of the rail and metro transport in the GCC region can be explained with references to the fact that rail and metro transport is usually discussed as the most comfortable and speedy to be operated at the urban territories and at wide lands of the GCC region. Only the rail transport with the focus on the innovative technologies in the field can provide the citizens of the GCC countries with the high-quality transportation services. To connect the distant territories of the GCC states and close districts of the Emirates, it is effective to use the opportunities associated with the rail transport.
There is the obvious interdependence between the population growth and the transport industry’s progress at the national and local level because the increased number of population means that more people need the appropriate transport services. Furthermore, the changes in the number of buses, taxies, and other transport vehicles provided for the population can result in the public dissatisfaction. The amount of the transport modes available for the population should be strictly correlated with the amount of persons served within the concrete region or district.
The distribution of control over the transport industry between the government agencies and local companies in Dubai led to the active development of the local transport industry because many companies providing the transportation services open annually, and this factor influences the economy of Dubai positively, while making the transport industry one of the most profitable industries in the region. Privately owned companies and the transport corporations controlled by the government work to respond to the large number of passengers and their needs in order to create the effective infrastructure background for the other industries’ progress.
The UAE’s transport industry develops to support the UAE’s economy because of the close connections between the transportation industry and other economic, industrial, and business sectors. The transport industry can be discussed as important for the UAE’s economy because the main economic activities in the region and locally depend on the effective transportation solutions provided by the transport agencies in the UAE. From this point, the development of the transport industry in the UAE can contribute significantly to driving the economic progress of the Emirates while providing the effective and high-quality services in the region. As a result, the transport industry can be considered as the effective fundament for the UAE’s intensive economic progress. The focus on developing many projects in the transport industry is one of the important steps to improve the economic rates in the UAE.
Worku, Genanew Bekele. “Demand for Improved Public Transport Services in the UAE: A Contingent Valuation Study in Dubai”. International Journal of Business and Management 8.10 (2013): 108-125. Print.
Maintenance is one of the consequential elements of the overall usage of a specific vehicle; however, because of the necessity to conform to a range of norms and standards, the process of maintaining vehicles in proper shape and quality requires the introduction of a range of tools. Particularly, the importance of safety, sustainability, cost and lubrication deserve to be listed.
The paper in question examines the existing tools for enhancing the process of vehicle maintenance, as well as the duration of the vehicle’s operating condition. Particularly, the researcher elaborates on the significance of specific elements and their compatibility in the process of vehicle maintenance.
The key objective of the paper is to evaluate the importance of every element mentioned above, as well as to locate the avenues for promoting sustainability in vehicle maintenance. Specifically, the sustainable use of resources and the adoption of environment friendly policies deserve to be listed. In addition, the importance of maintenance safety needs be reconsidered and made more explicit.
Herein the significance of the study lies. While the outcomes of the research cannot be viewed as groundbreaking, they will clearly provide some food for thoughts in terms of rearranging the current maintenance management process. Consequently, the Maintenance Department will be linked directly to the theme of the review.
The method used for conducting the research can be identified as the general research, i. e, a qualitative study. In other words, an overall analysis of the existing resources is carried out and corresponding conclusions are made on the basis of the discussion of the data acquired. The specified approach allows for embracing the vastest amount of options for defining the proper maintenance strategy.
Critical Reflection and Discussion
Focusing on the Quality Assurance Department of the organisation in question, one must admit that the issue of maintenance is of critical importance to the provision of quality when providing transportation services in general and offering vehicles in particular. The provision of the corresponding changes within the organisation setting can be carried out with the help of an ERP strategy, which allows for enhancing the quality of the product and at the same time keep the rest of the organisational elements in balance.
A special emphasis must be put on the environmental issues in general and the sustainability in particular. Apart from implementing the principle of sustainability in maintenance as a means of reducing the effect of the production process on the environment, one must consider introducing the principle of sustainability in the system of the company’s operations.
As far as the sustainability issue is concerned, though, the approach identified above can be viewed as rather dubious. On the one hand, the creation of the sustainability principle based on environmental awareness will trigger an inevitable and rather rapid improvement in the resources allocation. To be more exact, the strategy under analysis will allow for creating new opportunities for the organisation in terms of the search for new transportation options.
By identifying new methods for carrying out the basic elements of the daily routine, one will be able to improve the effects that the transportation system has on the environment, as well as reduce the commercial energy consumption rates significantly: “Transport consumes about 40 per cent of commercial energy in the developed countries mainly responsible for the world’s total energy use in transport” (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2001, p. 1).
On the other hand, the specified strategy can be interpreted as a major step backwards in the process of budgeting. Specifically, the organisation will not be able to adopt a cost efficient approach towards the use of resources and choose less costly options once the sustainability principle is introduced. Indeed, because of the need to transfer to the use of renewable energy sources, the organisation is likely to incur losses in either the speed of services delivery or the quality thereof and, therefore, the revenue from the customer services, or the cost for the transportation method used.
Finally, the issue of costs should be addressed. As it has been stressed above, the adoption of the sustainability principle is most likely to trigger significant changes in the financial strategy of the company. Consequently, a new and enhanced approach towards the cost management process needs to be applied. A closer look at the specifics of the company’s operations will reveal that the department in question is likely to require a combination of two key strategies, i.e., outsourcing and efficient time management.
Researches show that inability to use the time that companies provides their staff with affects the performance of the latter drastically. Particularly, the significance of the Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) should be considered. According to “ERP systems provide a cross-functional view of the entire organisation and can provide a mechanism to understand and reinvent business processes to better support sustainable practices” (Bradford, Earp & Williams, 2012, p. 30), which defines their usefulness in the overall sustainability framework of the quality assurance department for vehicle maintenance.
Often viewed as a part and parcel of a successful organisation’s financial strategy, the given approach creates the premises for allocating the existing resources in a manner as efficient as possible and avoiding major costs in the process. Being an element of the strategy known as capitalisation on technology, the approach under analysis will factor in the production process of the company quite naturally, since a sustainable use of resources is used as the basis of the introduction of a new costs strategy.
In the light of the fact that the sustainability framework is going to be applied to the operations carried out by the organisation, one must also put a stronger emphasis on the preventive maintenance procedures as the key to facilitating a sustainable environment. By creating the setting, in which the possibility for every observable accident to occur is taken into account and the measures for addressing the accident in question are provided to be undertaken, one will be capable to drive the chances for the emergency to take place.
It is desirable that a combination of proactive and reactive maintenance procedures should be viewed as an opportunity; thus, the maintenance of the vehicles will be carried out in a manner that will help eliminate the slightest chance for the vehicle to fail in the process of its exploitation. According to the existing definition, the basic difference between the proactive and the reactive maintenance types concerns the schedule; while the former is performed on schedule, the latter is not.
In other words, the two are related closely to each other: “Unscheduled breakdown maintenance is most often due to lack of preventive maintenance” (Bartole, 2006, par. 10). Though planned maintenance is essential for facilitating quality, it is the unplanned one that allows one to assess the vehicle’s ability to withstand the outside factors that its owners are most likely to experience in case of an emergency.
Finally, the issue of lubrication should be considered separately. Seeing that the use of heavy duty vehicles traditionally presupposes a rather fast tear and wear of the vehicle parts, lubrication is essential for preventing the above-mentioned problem and contributing to a fast decrease of costs for replacing certain parts of the vehicle ().
Choosing between aluminium soap, calcium soap grease, sodium base grease and lithium soap grease, one must give preference to lithium-soap grease, as the specified solution displays rather impressive tolerance for high temperatures. Creating the environment, in which friction is reduced significantly even at rather high temperatures, the grease under analysis can be viewed as the ultimate solution to the problem mentioned above.
As far as the environmental impact of the tool in question is concerned, its effects on nature and the pollution rates can be viewed as rather tolerable: “The volatile organic content is 0.0% by WHMIS and European standards” (Lithium grease hydrophobic, corrosion inhibiting lubricant 8461 technical data sheet, 2012, p. 3). Additionally, the fact that lithium-soap grease prevents corrosion and is, in fact, hydrophobic and corrosion inhibiting can be considered a major advantage and a very solid argument in its favour as the key to heavy-duty vehicle maintenance.
It is expected that the measures listed above will provide the environment, in which heavy-duty vehicles maintenance will become a possibility. By stressing the significance of quality and managing costs efficiently, the organisation will be able to satisfy all the stakeholders involved.
Summary
Vehicle maintenance is one of the most challenging tasks in the industry. Traditionally, several elements are incorporated into the process. Lubrication is one of the key issues to take into account when carrying out maintenance of heavy duty vehicle fleets. Because of comparatively high friction rates, the elements of the vehicles are under a consistent threat of being worn out; as a result, the necessity for choosing the proper lubrication.
Another essential component of vehicle maintenance, sustainability needs to be mentioned. The convergence of environmentalism approaches and the adoption of the latest technological advances can be identified as the defining characteristics of the 21st century industries. Particularly, BioPreferred, CPG and SNAP deserve to be mentioned.
Apart from the specified issues, maintenance safety deserves to be listed among the key concerns. Keeping the key equipment updated and in good working condition is crucial to not only the quality of the services, but also the safety of the staff. Herein the need to carry out regular maintenance processes and exercise quality control lies. Preventive maintenance, in its turn, will eradicate the possibility for accidents to occur.
Finally, the issue of cost should be give proper attention. Depending on a variety of factors, the cost for maintenance usually takes approximately 30% of the total cost of a vehicle.
Because of the recent tendency to incorporate environmentalism into the maintenance process, the need to reassess the impact of the key maintenance procedures on nature, as well as the consumption of natural resources, emerges. Consequently, the maintenance processes that incorporate the standards such as BioPreferred, CPG and SNAP, as well as an elaborate sustainable approach towards resources use, are required.
Reference List
Bartole, P. (2006). How to implement a fleet preventive maintenance program. Government Fleet.
Bradford, M., Earp, J. B. & Williams, P. (2012). Sustainability: An analysis of organisational reporting and implications for ERP systems. Atlanta, GA: Proceedings of the Southern Association for Information Systems Conference.
Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2001). The role of urban transport in sustainable human settlements development. New York, NY: Commission on Sustainable Development Ninth Session.
The problem of stowaways has been around for years. In some states, it has been ignored, some address it rather roughly by fines and other penalties. The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) decided to approach the problem by identifying the possible stowaways. In their article, the NY Times Editorial Board members evaluate the losses that the research failure has triggered.
Background information
The number of passengers avoiding paying for the ride has increased in the U.S. recently. In order to avoid further losses, the TSA has launched a research project. It was suggested that a behavioral study of the passengers could help solve the problem of stowaways.
Thesis statement
Despite lacking in details about the research that was carried out, the paper still offers a very strong and reasonable judgement about the research results.
Summary
Main point
The authors of the article argue that the approach towards preventing people taking free public transport rides is completely nonsensical, and that there was no way for it to end successfully. According to the editorial, the “multiyear experiment in behavior detection” (Behavior detection isn’t paying off, 2014, April 6, para. 1) has only confirmed the TSA’s “reputation for wastefulness” (Behavior detection isn’t paying off, 2014, April 6, para. 1).
Support for the “takeaway”
The article provides rather scanty, yet very convincing evidence of the state authorities’ failure to conduct the experiment successfully: according to the article, about $1 billion was spent on the research, with no evident results (Behavior detection isn’t paying off, 2014, April 6, para. 1).
Interpretation
Logic and organization
The organization and coherence of the article is quite acceptable. The information in editorial flows quite naturally and is arranged properly. The authors start with a “clinger” by claiming that the TSA has proved its “wastefulness,” explain the issue and provide their commentaries on the problem.
Fallacies
The article layout is very clear and the author gets their point across in a very convincing manner. It does not have any tangible logical fallacy, either. Perhaps, the fact that a research on 200 cases was used to prove a universal point can be considered a fallacy: “One survey of more than 200 studies” (Behavior detection isn’t paying off, 2014, April 6, para. 3). Therefore, the editorial may have an argument of personal incredulity (Bennett, 2013, p. 93).
Accuracy
The article is accurate enough. It provides exact numbers and verified data. Thus, it can be assumed that the authors of the editorial are doing a rather good job of representing the dilemmas that the people employed in the U.S. transportation system services have to deal with on a regular basis.
Topic treatment
The discussion in the editorial is restricted to the topic. However, at some point, the authors switch to discussing the efficacy of the GAO (Government Accountability Office). Nevertheless, for the most part, the discussion revolves around the TSA.
Audience appeal
The article is not designed for any particular type of audience. The article can appear engaging to both a middle class citizen and a tycoon. Herein the secret to the article’s appeal lies.
Clarity of language
The language is rather clear; the author obviously avoids any misinterpretations of their point of view. The article features neither complicated words, nor overly long sentences. Thus, the clarity of the author’s viewpoint is obvious.
Hidden assumptions
As it has been stressed above, the author of the article criticises the state policy openly. The satirical tone of the article can be spotted instantly. Because of the critical tone, the article does not need any hidden assumptions.
Conclusion
Though the article has some flaws, it provides an honest overview of the problem. The authors define the key issues and explain why the provided solutions have failed. The editorial is a peculiar commentary on the practical application of behaviour related theories.
Dubai is one of the leading economic hubs in the Asian continent, attracting traders from various parts of the world. According to Tumlin (48), the infrastructural development in the City of Dubai over the past two decades has seen it become a major economic hub in this region. Transport within this city has become a major issue of concern as it finds itself hosting an increasing number of people who come for business transactions or to tour the country. Transport system is one of the most important infrastructures that the government of Dubai has spent a lot on to ensure that there is ease of flow of people from one geographic area to another.
The field of transport in Dubai has attracted attention of many scholars who have conducted researches on the same. In this section of the research, the focus will be to analyze some of their works in order to have a better understanding about the modes of transport within this city. The research will analyze secondary sources of information, especially books, journal articles and reliable internet sources. According to Dawidowicz (19), a piece of research is important in developing the existing knowledge in a given field of study. Literature review will play a major role in the development of this research. It will form the basis upon which the hypothesis will be developed for analysis purposes in chapter four.
The review of the literature will also help in answering research questions that were developed in the research proposal. Finally, the literature will help give the research a sound background upon which reliable conclusions and recommendations can be made about the transport system in the City of Dubai. The researcher will be keen to provide the comprehensive literatures about modes of transport in this city, including literatures of contradicting opinions. It is a fact that not all the existing literatures have unanimous opinions over various issues about transport in Dubai. Bringing together these contradicting opinions helps develop a holistic understanding of this field of research. It will also help the researcher analyze whether some of the previous researches had valid reasons to make the conclusions that they made. The interest will be, to find the research gaps that will be addressed by collecting and analyzing the primary data.
Research questions
A research process basically involves a rigorous process that seeks to find answers to specific questions (Dawidowicz 57). In order to conduct the research, there must be a specific issue in the environment that such a research seeks to address. In this research paper, there are a set of questions that the researcher seeks to find out as it was defined in the research proposal. The following are the specific questions that this research seeks to respond to in this section using secondary sources of information.
What are the most important modes of transport in the City of Dubai?
How well do these modes of transport meet the demands of the people in this city?
How often do people living in Dubai use specific modes of transport and why?
Who are the major players in the public transport sector in the City of Dubai?
The researcher seeks to find answers to the above questions by reviewing literatures from the sources defined above. It will help in developing research hypothesis that will later be used at advanced stages in this research.
Type of literature review
It is important to define the type of literature that is conducted to enable consumers of the material to understand the focus of the research (Dawidowicz 73). In this study, the focus was to determine the modes of transport in Dubai, and how appropriate they are in meeting the demands of the residents of the city. Therefore, the literature review was looking at issues of policy. The focus will be to analyze the current policy in the transport sector, identify some of its strengths and weaknesses, and determine how the strengths can be used to overcome the weaknesses. This will help the policy makers to know the areas that should be address in the transport sector. It will also help them determine the most appropriate approach to use in addressing these problems based on the identified strengths.
The scope of the literature review
Literature review may take different scopes depending on the amount of time that the researcher has, the available material resources, and the nature of research. This is an important research that involves issues of policy in the transport sector. As Hvidt (401) notes, the transport sector is one of the most important sectors that define the development of an economy. For this reason, there is a need to conduct extensive and intensive research using various types of publications. Books and scholarly journals formed the basis of the secondary sources of data. The research made use of the books that were available in the school library. The internet was also very helpful in getting some of the recently published books on this topic. The journals were largely drawn from various online sources such as JSTOR where there are a series of scholarly articles. Other sources such as government documents, popular media, and certain websites also formed minor sources of information that helped guide the researcher in collecting data.
Appropriateness of the information seeking approach
It is important to ensure that the information seeking approach is good enough to collect and analyze secondary data in order to draw a meaning from them. The researcher has ensured that the search for these secondary sources of data is large enough to ensure that all the relevant materials are collected. These materials were narrowly focused in order to eliminate materials that were considered irrelevant to the research. The research used more than ten sources which were a good number to help collect the much needed data. The review involved a critical analysis of these sources in order to identify their relevance in passing the information, identify any form of bias, or misjudgments when presenting the information. This will involve analyzing their authority in this field, and the nature of research they conducted to come up with their findings. As mentioned previously, the research has followed a set of concepts and questions to help compare different items and to come up with findings based on a holistic research. It is also important to note that the research has also cited the studies that were contrary to the perspective of the researcher. This was important to help bring together different views to the topic under investigation. For this reason, readers will find the literature review very relevant, appropriate, and useful in addressing issues about transport in the City of Dubai.
Modes of Transport in Dubai
In Dubai, transport involves the use of both traditional and modern means of transport. According to the research by Christensen (67), although the city has some of the most advanced means of transport, some people are still stuck to traditional means of transport as a way of keeping their tradition. This scholar says that it is common to see camels along the city streets ferrying goods from one location to another. Some of these camels carry people within the mainland. This mode of transport has remained popular despite the advancements. Camels were very valuable among the Emirati society before the introduction of the more advanced transport systems.
This society, therefore, considers a camel as part of their cultural heritage. It has remained popular, not because of its efficiency in transporting various products, but because of its social status. The book by Christensen is a reliable source in this field because of his experience in this sector. He has formulated the issue of transport in Dubai in an efficient manner and defined the research problem in his study. The significance of the study is clearly established, and the researcher believes that the approach taken in the research was the best perspective in presenting the issue. The author’s theoretical framework was developmental in nature, trying to find how the present impacted on the past means of transport.
The research has closely tied theoretical framework with research perspectives. In his research, the researcher evaluated the literatures relevant to the problems, and was keen to include literatures that were both in agreement and opposition of his views. The study design used in this research was appropriate enough to deliver the much needed outcome, and the measurements were fairly accurate. The analysis of data was relevant to the research questions, and the conclusions were valid based on the primary and secondary data. The material was written for policy makers and academic purposes, and it appeals a lot to emotions.
It uses rhetorically charged language, with an objective basis of reasoning. The author structures the arguments based on facts from both the opposing sides. This makes it easy to deconstruct the argument flow to determine where it breaks logically. This book makes it easy to understand the relevance of traditional modes of transport used in Dubai. Although the book brings a clear picture of the current status of traditional modes of transport in Dubai, it fails to bring a clear analogy of how the traditional forms of transport interact with the modern means of transport. However, it is important to note that the book closely responds to part of my questions which seek to find common modes of transport in this city.
Abras (small boats) is commonly used to ferry people or goods across waters, such as Deira to Dubai. According to Hvidt (410), water transport has remained one of the most valued means of transport in Dubai. Because of the increasing relevance of Dubai as a major business hub in this region, the need for people to move from other emirates to Dubai has been on the rise. Although the government has bought ferries to help in movement of large cargo, the small boats are still very popular. They are considered convenient, and people also like them because of their speed. It does not need to wait for a long time for many people to board, as is always the case with ferries. For this reason, it has been one of the means of transport between the emirates used by people who have emergency.
This mode of transports supplements other mainstream modes of transport that are used in the mainland Dubai. The validity of this research was evident in the manner in which it reviewed literatures on this topic. The researcher’s work has also attracted popular readings across the country, especially those who have interest in understanding the changing pattern of water transport within this country. The book gives the historical account of the changes in water transport that has taken place over the years in all the seven emirates. For this reason, I considered this piece of literature an important piece of information that could help inform this research.
The research by Barrett (71) gives the image that Dubai is a city of modern transport system where traditional modes of transport play minimal role in the movement of people and goods from one location to another. This is in sharp contradiction with the arguments of some scholars who argued that traditional forms of transport still plays a pivotal role in movement of people and goods in Dubai. This scholar holds that Dubai is one of the most active cities among the Gulf Coast Corporation countries. Its modern transport system closely compares with the advanced transport systems in major cities such as New York, London, and Paris. Although this research was keen to analyze the transport system within the City of Dubai, it failed to capture remote parts of the emirate.
The validity of this research remained high because of the strong primary and secondary data that backs this argument. It is clear that the main reason why this research considered traditional modes of transport such as the use of camel inconsequential was because of the nature of the research conducted. The research was focused on major transport systems that majority of the population used on a daily basis. It is not easy to see people use camels to rush to their offices in the morning, or back home in the evening. The level of reliance on such modes of transport falls below 5% according to this study. The study also involved analysis of traditional forms of transport before concluding that they were inconsequential. This makes it easy to believe that the research was reliable enough.
Road transport is one of the most advanced and very popular transport systems in Dubai. According to Barrett (67), the government of Dubai has invested a lot in the road transport sector. This scholar says that the government, through Roads and Transport Authority, has been keen to ensure that transport system in Dubai penetrates the entire emirate. Although this has not been fully achieved, the current road network has been sufficient in facilitating movement of people and goods from one place to another. The research also reveals that there are government plans to further expand road networks to avoid congestion at the central business district (Barrett 51).
This book was considered appropriate for use in this study because of its major focus on the plans of the government to develop the road infrastructure in the country. The validity of this source was considered beyond reproach because of the rich academic background of the author in this field, and his experience in this industry. This book has also been quoted by several other authors, a sign that its findings are considered valid by a wide number of scholars. Although there are cases where the book appears to be subjective other than being objective, the researcher is very articulate when comparing the past infrastructural developments in the road sector. The book has attracted a wide reading, especially among researchers interested in understanding the historical development of road transport in this country.
Transport by bus is so far the most common means of road transport that people in Dubai use when going to work in the morning or coming from work in the evening. The research work by Edensor and Jayne (72) sought to advance the works of previous scholars about the development and current nature of road transport. This research reveals that about 110 million people use road transport every year. The Public Bus Transport System in the country is managed by the Road and Transport Authority (Edensor and Jayne 78). This is a governmental body that seeks to ensure that public bus transport is efficient enough to meet the needs of the residents of Dubai. According to this scholar, there are currently over 190 routes plied by buses of this company, which transports over 30 million people every week. Most of the buses are 51-seaters, with over 1600 bus stops. According to this scholar, Roads and Transport authority has been keen to ensure that there are enough buses on the Dubai roads.
The records indicated that the authority had about 2100 buses in active service across the city (Edensor and Jayne 124). I consider this book valid because of the nature of research conducted. The scholar was very specific in his research, and his main concern was on the efforts that RTA has put in place to ensure that transport by bus is effective enough in the country. The research is objective in nature, and incorporated other works of previous scholars in the analysis. This is an indication that the scholar was conscious of the thought of other scholars about this topic.
Taxis have become very popular means of transport in the city of Dubai. According to Quintero (89), the taxi system is the most frequently used means of transport within the City of Dubai. The cabs are widely used by the visitors and locals in equal measure. There are those cabs that are operated by the government, and those that are under private ownership. This scholar notes that, on average, the taxis make over 200000 trips in a day, lifting over 400000 people. Most of the taxis help in connecting passengers from one metro station to another. One reason why the taxi system is popular is that they can travel in areas that are not covered with the other conventional means of transport such as the buses and trains. Once a passenger boards the taxi, he or she can dictate the destination without having to follow the rigid routes followed by the buses. The research work by Sehlinger (121) also agrees with the work of Quintero that taxis have been very useful, especially to the tourists. Taxis have been very popular among the tourists who visit the City of Dubai.
Some of the operators would volunteer to take their customers around, showing them some of the beauties of the city at friendly costs. Most of these taxis can be booked online, making them even more popular with the tourists. They have a close coordination with major hotels, making the tourism industry in the country efficient. The report of the two scholars meets the threshold of a scholarly work that can be used as a basis of this research. The work by Quintero incorporated a large sample population that was able to give a comprehensive data on the research topic. The research was objective in nature, and was able to address the topic without discriminating contradictory views. The research by Sehlinger was considered valid enough for this study because of the in-depth analysis of primary and secondary data that was conducted. This scholar is also a known scholar who has conducted research on other related studies not only in the United Arab Emirates, but also in the entire Middle East.
He is an authority in this field of research, and most of his work has always been focused on how to improve transport system in this region. His articulate nature in addressing specific issues about transport system in the country makes his work very valuable in this study.
According to Al-Kodmany and Ali (56), the rail transport is currently one of the most modern means of transport in Dubai. The Dubai Metro project was a mega project that cost the government about $ 3.89 billion. Although the project is yet to be completed, the scholar says that it has had massive impact on the transport system in the country. The project was designed in various phases. The Red Line which runs through the heart of the city is already operational. It was officially launched on September 2011. The Green Line which runs from the Al Rashdya to the main city center is about to be completed according to this report.
The Metro will be expected to be complete with a construction of two other lanes. There are plans underway to construct the Blue and Purple Lines to supplement the Green and Red Lines. The Green and Blue Lines will be expected to cover about 70 kilometers of track, with about 43 stations (Al-Kodmany and Ali 78). The project is expected to replace the old railway systems that were common in this country in the past. The author of this book took great care in collecting data about the construction of the Dubai Metro. The findings of this research were based on primary sources of data. It is important to note that this scholar almost ignored secondary sources of information when writing the book. This would be understandable because the Dubai Metro was something unique in this country, and not many scholars had given it much attention before.
This was one of the pioneer scholarly works that were being conducted in this field. Although some critics have accused this scholar of being subjective in his presentations, a keen analysis of his work reveals that he was focused on bringing the true image about the development of the metro, its impact on the city, and how the Dubai society received it.
The Dubai Water Bus System is another mode of transport that is developing popularity in the City of Dubai. The research by Fridell (67) notes that the Water Bus System was a deliberate effort to fuse traditional modes of transport with some of the modern means of transport. The water buses were designed to resemble the traditional boats, but it has modern features that make it superior to the traditional boats. Unlike the traditional boats, it is powered by engines that have enhanced the speed. It is built like a bus to ensure that passengers are not affected by direct sunlight, or rainfall, just in case there is a downpour. Like the Metro Buses, the water buses have specific routes that they take to transport people from Dubai to other emirates, and back to Dubai. Most of the modern water buses are air conditioned in order to improve the experience of the passengers during the trip from one location to another (Fridell 112).
The scholar’s work used small number sample size, but it is clear that there was an effort to bring an understanding of how the traditional boats have slowly been transformed into modern water buses. The author has also formulated the problem of the research clearly, making it easy to understand the area of focus. The scope of the research is also clearly defined, making it easy to understand the choice of data collected.
The research by Sayid (67) shows that air transport is one of the leading means of transport that connects Dubai to the outside world. The researcher observes that a few ultra-rich families in Dubai occasionally use air transport within Dubai. They use helicopters to move from one location to another. However, the number of those who use these choppers is very limited. Dubai International Airport is one of the busiest hubs in this region, receiving international visitors from all over the world. It hosts some of the leading airline companies such as the Emirates and Fly Dubai. Al Maktoum International Airport is also poised to be another leading airport that would increase the capacity of this city to receive international travels directly from major cities in the world such as New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, and Melbourne. This is expected to increase the flow of people into the city. This argument is supported by Ramos (39) who conducted research on the impact of transport infrastructure on tourism development.
The scholar notes that the expansion of international airports in Dubai has opened the entire region to the international community. The validity of the works of the two scholars was considered to be reasonable enough to support our research. Both used a considerably large sample size in collecting primary data. They also used secondary sources of information to back their findings in this report.
Summary
The transport infrastructure in Dubai has experienced a consistent expansion over the years as the government struggle to ensure that there is ease of movement of people from one location to another. Scholars have conducted massive researches on the transport sector within Dubai, and their findings reveal that there are various means of transport that are currently in use. The road and rail transport are the popularly used means of travel, especially the use of buses, taxis, and the metro train. The use of water boats and other traditional boats is still common in this city, especially when travelling from one emirate to another. Air transport has commonly been used for both local and international travels. All these modes of transport supplement each other to ease movement within Dubai and to make the City of Dubai accessible to the outside world
Works Cited
Al-Kodmany, Kheir, and Mir M. Ali. The Future of the City: Tall Buildings and Urban Design. Southampton: WIT Press, 2013. Print.
Barrett, Raymond. Dubai Dreams: Inside the Kingdom of Bling. London: Nicholas Brealey, 2010. Print.
Christensen, Shane. Frommer’s Dubai. Chichester: John Wiley, 2010. Print.
Dawidowicz, Paula. Literature Reviews Made Easy: A Quick Guide to Success. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub, 2010. Print.
Edensor, Tim, Mark Jayne. Urban Theory Beyond the West: A World of Cities. New York: Cengage, 2010. Print.
Fridell, Ron. Seven Wonders of Transportation. Minneapolis: Twenty-First Century Books, 2010. Print.
Hvidt, Martin. “The Dubai Model: An Outline of Key Development-Process Elements in Dubai.” International Journal of Middle East Studies 41.3 (2009): 397-418. Print.
Quintero, Josephine. Pocket Dubai: Top Sights, Local Life, Made Easy. Footscray, Vic: Lonely Planet, 2012. Print.
Ramos, Stephen. Dubai Amplified: The Engineering of a Port Geography. Farnham, Surrey, England: Ashgate Pub, 2010. Print.
Sayid, Ahmed. Travel Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Illustrated Guide, Phrasebook and Maps. Boston: MobileReference.com, 2010. Print.
Sehlinger, Bob. The Unofficial Guide to Dubai. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2011. Print.
Tumlin, Jeffrey. Sustainable Transportation Planning: Tools for Creating Vibrant, Healthy, and Resilient Communities. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2012. Print.
Shipbreaking refers to a method of disposing ships that involves the demolition of vessels into small pieces that are thereafter recycled (Galley 2014). Ships usually last for several decades before they wear out. Demolition is more economical than repair in cases where the vessels are highly damaged or worn out. Shipbreaking facilitates the recycling of steel and other components used to manufacture the vessels. Currently, South Asia is the centre for Shipbreaking and recycling. Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India are famous for these activities. The three countries account for approximately 80% of the world’s shipbreaking activities (Galley 2014).
Shipbreaking has been criticised because of its many adverse health and environmental effects. It results in massive pollution, abuse of labour rights, and accidents that result in injuries and other fatalities. Shipbreaking is widespread in South Asia because many maritime companies avoid the costs associated with proper ship disposal. By selling their ships to breaking yards, maritime companies save money and other valuable resources. In addition, the surge in shipbreaking has resulted from legislation that supports such activities. For instance, taxation on ship demolition was lowered from 15% to 10% (Galley 2014).
Shipbreaking in South Asia
The claims by Patrizia Heidegger, the executive director of NGO Shipbreaking Platform that Shipbreaking causes pollution and accidents are true. South Asia is the largest Shipbreaking destination in the world that is responsible for approximately 80% of all related activities. India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the main shipbreaking centres in the region. Breaking yards use parts from the recycled ships to manufacture steel that is used in several industries for construction purposes. The main reason for the surge in shipbreaking activities in South Asia is the availability of cheap labour due to the high population in the region and lax laws (Galley 2014).
Many countries especially in Europe transport their ships to South Asia or recycling. In addition, the region has low compliance costs due to lax laws that encourage such activities. In the past few years, the industry has been subjected to criticism because of the environmental destruction and health hazards associated with it. Environmental experts describe the industry as a haven for pollution, which affects both ecosystems and human lives in various ways. In particular, workers suffer the most mainly due to injuries that they sustain. Enforcement of law is ineffective because laws to regulate the industry are weak. The main consequences of the industry include accidents, violation f human rights, injuries, and environmental pollution.
India
The largest shipbreaking yard in India is located at Alang in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat (Galley 2014). The yard is famous because of its geographical and climatic characteristics. It was established in 1983 and has grown over the years to become a major shipbreaking location in South Asia. The yard releases large amounts of dangerous pollutants that include used oil, poly-chlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals, and chemical waste (Galley 2014).
The pollutants are released into water bodies thus causing pollution. Before a ship is demolished, any unused oil is removed. The oil that remains is then cleared using sand that is afterwards thrown into the sea. These activities result in the build-up of oil and grease in the coastal waters. The pollutants choke marine life and destroy ecosystems (Galley 2014). Environmental experts are urging the Indian government to enact legislation that will require ship companies to decontaminate their vessels before hauling to breaking yards for demolition. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, more than 45 tonnes of solid waste are dumped on the shores of the sea. Workers live within the precincts of the yard and release organic loads into the sea. Their living conditions are poor because they lack access to proper sanitation, which contributes to high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (Galley 2014).
Accidents are also a common occurrence at the yard. According to a report released by the Gujarat Maritime Board, more than 230 deaths have been reported between the years 2001 and 2011 (Galley 2014). These deaths were caused by fires and explosions. In June 28 2014, five workers were killed at Alang after a gas explosion. A report released by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in 2013 revealed that workers at Alang are subjected to poor living conditions, poor safety standards, and unfavourable working conditions (Galley 2014). There is poor enforcement of safety regulations, which promotes the occurrence of accidents.
Moreover, the yard has inadequate health facilities to taken care of the workers’ welfare. For instance, the location has only two health facilities that lack emergency services. Injured workers rely on government ambulances for assistance. Between 1983 and 2013, the yard reported 470 deaths from various causes such as fires (Galley 2014).
141 deadly accidents were reported between 2001 and 2013 (Galley 2014). Finally, reports have been released detailing the death of cattle after consuming toxic waste from the yard. In addition, cases of people who have suffered respiratory and skin problems due to fumes from the combustion of toxic waste have been reported. Water in the surrounding villages is usually saline and unfit for human consumption (Galley 2014). Toxic wastes from the yard have led to the abandonment of wells in nearby villages due to extensive pollution.
Pakistan
Pakistan is home to the third largest shipbreaking yard in the world. The Gadani shipbreaking yard has more than a hundred demolition plots and employs approximately 6,000 workers. In the 1980s, it was the largest yard but was later overtaken by Alang and Chittagong yards. The yard experienced a surge in activity after tax reductions in 2001. The government lowered shipbreaking duties from 15% to 10% thus increasing activity in ship demolition yards. In addition, it offered other incentives that contributed towards the growth of the industry in the past decade. Accidents are usually caused by toxic gas explosions and heavy metals (Tanoli 2012).
The non-skilled workers who work at the yard are usually illiterate and therefore unaware of safety standards and the health effects of toxic chemicals (Tanoli 2012). In addition, many work without prior training on proper handling of metals and toxic chemicals. Abuse of human rights has been reported in numerous cases. Employers hire workers without formal employment contracts and as a result, workers are treated unfairly and subjected to unfavourable working conditions (Tanoli 2012).
In addition, the employers hire children and underpay them. It is unethical and illegal to subject children to dangerous working conditions. The workers are denied their rights and are frequently threatened by their supervisors whenever they ask for better working conditions. Workers perform their duties without protective equipment such as helmets and gloves (Tanoli 2012).
The workers are exploited because they make a lot of money for the employer but work under poor conditions. For instance, they are not provided with clean drinking water. The government is lenient on enforcing regulatory laws because the shipbreaking industry employs thousands of people and brings in millions in revenue. Accidents are not as common as in Alang. 5 deaths and 13 injuries were reported in the year 2012 due to lack of protective equipment and health facilities (Tanoli 2012). In 2012, several deaths and injuries were reported.
Bangladesh
Chittagong Ship breaking Yard is the largest ship demolition yard in Bangladesh that employs more than 200,000 people (Galley 2014). At one time in its history, the yard was visited as a tourist attraction. However, this ceased after numerous cases of accidents were reported at the location. In addition, its reputation for poor safety led to its termination as a tourist attraction. Poor safety standards are the result of numerous accidents and deaths that have been reported at the yard over the years (Galley 2014).
For instance, workers do not wear protective equipment. In October 16 2012, 4 workers died after inhaling toxic gases. The vessels that are brought in for demolition usually contain asbestos or dangerous gases that have adverse health effects on workers. Shipbreaking yards facilitate the deaths of workers because they accept old ships that contain toxic gases that predispose their workers to health hazards. Report released y the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) revealed that since 2006, the yard has reported more than 80 deaths and numerous injuries (Galley 2014). The deaths were caused mainly by explosions. In 2012, a worker died after falling from a ship and another died after being crushed by a ship’s hydraulic door. These deaths were facilitated by lack of protective equipment and lack of proper medical facilities within the shipbreaking yard (Puthucherril 2010).
Current law of ship recycling
The regulatory framework for shipbreaking in the European Union (EU) is based on few laws that have so far been ineffective in regulating the industry. The latest regulation to be enacted by the EU will become operation between the years 2016 and 2019. This regulation will create new rules that member states will be required to follow. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is the major legislation that regulates the shipbreaking industry (Puthucherril 2010).
Its key principle is the minimisation of the transportation of hazardous materials between countries. The regulation applied to old ships because they contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, lead, and other heavy metals. In that regard, the ship companies that transport their old ships to South Asia breach the convention. In 1995, EU member states amended the Convention to include a clause that illegalized the transport of wastes for recycling and recovery purposes to developing countries (Puthucherril 2010).
The new amendment was included in the Waste Shipment Regulation. The Basel Convention describes the unlawful transport of hazardous waste to other countries as criminal. Therefore, it is the most effective legislation that can be used to protect workers and the environment against the accidents and deaths encountered in the shipbreaking industry. However, ship companies use several ways to circumvent the legislation. For instance, they usually designate their ships for recycle after docking in the demolition yard or while navigating international waters in order to avoid the restrictions of the Convention (Engels 2013).
A new legislation known as the International Convention for Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships was created in 2005 (Puthucherril 2010). The aim of the legislation is to lower the risks to human health and the environment that the shipbreaking industry poses. According to the Convention, ships should have updated records of the hazardous materials they carry. The law is weak because it does not provide a framework that identifies the most effective ship-recycling method. In addition, it does not lay down a strategy to punish those who breach it. The ineffectiveness of the two conventions led to the creation of the European Ship Recycling Regulation in 2013. The legislation contains several requirements that all marine vessels with EU Member State flags should adhere to. In addition, vessels docking at EU ports are required to follow the rules. The vessels that abide by this legislation are exempt from the influence of the Waste Shipment Regulation (EC) 1013/2006.
This implies that ship companies have a legal loophole to breach international obligations. The European Union aims to streamline the process of recycling ships in order to regulate the demolition of ships and thus reduce environmental pollution and accidents. Its regulations usually target developing countries that are the target of developed countries with regard to dumping old ship that contain hazardous materials. According to the convention, all European ships must have records of the hazardous materials they carry and should also possess certificates that indicate their fulfilment of recycling requirements (Engels 2013).
The ships are supposed to be recycled in yards that are approved by the EU. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform and the European Environmental Bureau were opposed to the convention because it lacked financial incentives that are important for the streamlining of the ship recycling regulation (Engels 2013). The legislation has another weakness in that it does not address re-flagging issues. Many companies register their vessels to non-EU flags during their last journeys in order to circumvent certain regulations (Richardson 2003). Present legislation does not address the issue of using flags of convenience to circumvent certain regulations. This creates legal loopholes that ship companies use to transport their old ships to developing countries for recycling (Richardson 2003). Many ship owners transport their ships to South Asia because the region is famous for high steel prices and low labour costs. Other ship owners register their vessels in countries that have lax regulations (Richardson 2003).
The Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) implements several laws that regulate the ship recycling industry. For instance, it executes the Basel Ban Amendment and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which describe the transportation of hazardous materials as illegal (Engels 2013). Despite the existence of these laws, ship owners still transport their ships to South Asia. They circumvent the regulation by declining to inform their states that they wish to recycle their ships. They sell the ships to demolition yards once they dock in their ports. Current legislation lacks proper enforcement mechanisms that could address the problem sufficiently. The aforementioned legislation contains numerous legal loopholes that enable ship owners to transport their ships to South Asia and therefore avoid recycling costs (Engels 2013). Ship owners capitalize on loopholes to sell their old vessels to recycling yards in developing countries.
The validity of Patrizia Heidegger’s statement
The foregoing discussion has validated Heidegger’s statement that shipbreaking in South Asia results in pollution, abuse of labour rights, and accidents among workers. Several accidents and deaths have been reported in the major shipbreaking yards in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The fatalities result from explosions, inhalation of toxic gases, accidents, and lack of proper medical facilities. There is widespread abuse of labour rights because workers are hired without employment contracts and insurance policies. An insurance policy is an important aspect of employment because it insures the employee in case they get an accident. Employers reduce costs and maximize revenues by avoiding contracts and insurance. Employees work in uncertainty because they can be fired at any moment due to lack of employment contacts.
Moreover, they work under unfavourable working conditions without protective equipment such as helmets and gloves. The waste materials from shipbreaking yards are released into the sea where they cause destruction of marine life and ecosystems. In addition, cattle in surrounding villages die after consuming toxic waste from the yards. Many wells have been abandoned due to extensive pollution. Existing laws to regulate the shipbreaking industry are ineffective and weak. Ship owners take advantage of legal loopholes to sell their ships to yards in South Asia in order to avoid recycling costs. The various conventions that have been created have proven ineffective and limited in their scope.
Ship owners either register their vessels with non-EU flags or decline to report to their state ports that their vessels are ready for recycling. There are several methods that ship owners use to circumvent the various regulations that exist to stop the transportation of hazardous materials to developing countries. Heidegger’s statement is valid and reflects the severe situation of the shipbreaking yards in the beaches of South Asia. Concerned governments need to act fast in order to address the issue appropriately.
Conclusion
In the past ten years, the shipbreaking industry has grown significantly especially in developing countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The beaches of south Asia are famous for shipbreaking yards that employ thousands of workers. The yards have been severally accused of polluting the environment, promoting abuses of labour rights, and causing accident and fatalities among workers. Many yards lack proper safety measures that are required by law. Many governments are lenient on the shipbreaking industry players because of the critical role the industry plays in economic development through revenues and creation of employment.
The EU has several laws that aim to address the problem of pollution and worker fatalities caused by shipbreaking. However, the laws are ineffective because of their limited scope. They contain numerous legal loopholes that ship owners use to see their ships to yards in South Asia. For instance, they lack financial incentives to dares the high costs of recycling ships. High costs of recycling are the main reasons why ship owners transport old ships containing hazardous materials to developing counties. Developing countries have low labour costs and lax execution of recycling laws. Shipbreaking yards on the beaches of South Asia are havens for environmental pollution, accidents, and abuse of labour rights. The EU needs to create more stringent laws that eradicate the legal loopholes that are present in current regulations.
References
Engels, U. D 2013, European Ship Recycling Regulation: Entry-into-Force Implications of the Hong Kong Convention, Springer Science & Business Media, New York. Web.
Galley, M 2014, Shipbreaking: Hazards and Liabilities, Springer, New York. Web.
Puthucherril, T. G 2010, From Shipbreaking to Sustainable Ship recycling: Evolution of a Legal Regime, Brill, London. Web.
Richardson, M 2003, Crimes Under Flags of Convenience: In a Depressed Shipping Market, Poor Nations Sell Flags for Criminal Venture. Web.
Tanoli, Q 2012, Fatal Accidents on the Rise at Gadani Ship-Breaking Yard. Web.
Transport within the city of Dallas is mostly by road. The preferred mode of public transport is the public bus system. The network is managed by the Dallas Area Rapid Transport. The report examined the effects of heavy capacity buses on the roads in the residential areas of the city. It was determined that such vehicles are to blame for the rise in the number of potholes in Dallas. Recommendations were made in efforts to resolve the problem. The report recommended for the improvement of the communication system between the citizens and the city authorities. In addition, suggestions were made to reduce the number of bus trips and to upgrade the roads within the area. The recommendations were made in a bid to improve the transport system in the city of Dallas.
Main Body
Over the years, the city of Dallas has experienced significant social and economic growth. Increased economic activities have led to numerous instances of discomfort on the part of the citizens. For example, there is an emerging problem with regards to the city’s infrastructure, such as roads. The current report will highlight the potholes problems in the city’s residential areas. The Dallas Area Rapid Transport (DART) system is flawed. It has heavy duty buses, which operate within residential areas. The presence of these machines, according to Fairbank (2012), is the major cause of the potholes.
The purpose of this report is to petition the city officials who are in charge of transport about the deteriorating situation in Dallas. The continued use of the said route is making matters worse in the city. Numerous complaints have been lodged by citizens. However, nothing concrete has been done towards alleviating the situation, which is hurting the city’s infrastructure. The report is addressed to the office of the mayor in a bid to arrive at an amicable solution.
A detailed account of the problem is provided by elaborating on the actual roads affected by DART’s heavy duty buses. An analysis of some of the solutions to similar problems is provided. The same forms the basis of the recommendations made to the city of Dallas. A schedule for the implementation of the proposal is also provided. The report concludes by acknowledging the importance of urban transport that takes into consideration local infrastructure. It is expected that the report will help improve the work of policy makers in the city. The information contained in this proposal was sourced from the local library, documents from the mayor’s office, and records from DART offices.
The Problem: Increased Potholes in Residential Areas
Residential Areas in Dallas
The city is home to many people from different walks of life. It is divided into residential, commercial, and industrial zones. According to Cramphorn and Davies (2004), such areas require a working road infrastructure. The infrastructure is expected to be sufficient to address the needs of the occupants living there.
The city of Dallas consists of 8 different locations, which make up the total population in the neighborhood. DART is forced to come up with enough buses to cover all these places. However, there are certain instances where a bus passes through residential areas. Apart from downtown Dallas, most of the other parts of the city are used as living quarters. When a bus has to access such areas, its capacity should correspond with the existing infrastructure.
Bus Schedules
DART is a public transport system that is fully funded by the city of Dallas. Most residents expect to be provided by a bus schedule to indicate how the network serves the entire city. The same is essential in ensuring that people are able to move from one point to another with ease. The existing bus schedules are structured to respond to prevailing traffic situations. Most of the routes are designed to move people from residential areas to the city. There are very few routes connecting residential neighborhoods.
DART operates different types of buses depending on the routes and distance between downtown Dallas and a given destination. There are instances where buses go all the way to Hamptons. They operate throughout the week. There are local, suburban, cross-town, express, and D-link buses. Each of these vehicles has a designated route that it is expected to operate within. The movement of these buses is determined by the volume of the passengers in the morning and late at night.
Potholes
Hull (2008) is of the opinion that city planning should factor in the disparities in the quality of roads between highways and access streets in residential areas. In such areas, roads are built for low capacity vehicles. Unfortunately, in Dallas, there is a surge in the number of high capacity buses passing through residential areas. An example is route 42. The most affected areas include the street joining Rugged Drive and Edgefield Avenue.
The road has buckled under the pressure of the heavy capacity buses using this route. Cracks and potholes start to develop. Most motorists complain about endless swerving to avoid hitting the said potholes. The situation is compounded by the frequency with which the buses use the streets. The public service vehicles make approximately 30 trips daily along these streets. Whenever high capacity vehicles use roads in residential areas, damages like potholes are inevitable (Hull, 2008)
Effects
The potholes resulting from the high capacity buses have ruined many roads in the area. The cracks and potholes, as already cited, are some of the physical effects of this unregulated use of roads. Information from the mayor’s office reveals that the pothole problem has a ripple effect on the larger community. For example, motorists spend many hours on the highways due to accidents and traffic jams. The dust emanating from these potholes may lead to an outbreak of respiratory diseases in the area. Many residents have made such complaints to the city’s transport office. Unfortunately, no solution has been provided so far.
Solutions
Regardless of the magnitude of a problem afflicting a society or an organization, there is always a solution. The situation in the city of Dallas is not unique. There are potential solutions to address the issues. Considering the numerous complaints made by the residents, it is important for the city authorities to come up with ideas to address the situation. The only way to come up with a solution is to develop an all-inclusive program for the city. Dialogue is one way of bringing together all stakeholders (Banister, 2008).
According to Hull (2008), the city officials should call for a stakeholders meeting. In this case, the interested parties include leaders (like the mayor), professionals, and the general public. The officials at the mayor’s office may argue that it is not possible to bring all the stakeholders together given their diverse interests. However, this can be resolved by engaging all of them directly.
Cramphorn and Davies (2004) argue that the stakeholders in the industry can agree on suitable routes. As such, officials can come up with a route that respects the size of the roads in residential areas. The same would require the city authorities to develop less frequent traffic schedules, especially for areas where the streets are narrow. Caution, however, is necessary with regards to the temptation to halt the operations of high capacity buses. Such a knee-jerk reaction can be costly owing to the value of the fleet of buses. Phasing out buses should be a gradual process.
The management at DART should consider making contributions to the road levy. The funding for roads is currently sourced from taxes imposed on the pump stations. However, since the money is mostly used to construct new roads, the city should consider deducting a given amount from DART’s income to repair the roads (Banister, 2008). DART may object this move, citing that the roads are under the care of the city’s authorities. However, the agency should be reminded that it is responsible for most of the damages witnessed. Such a recommendation is made against the backdrop of inclusivity. The same implies that fares should be adjusted to meet this intended comfort.
Hull (2008) is of the opinion that urban areas should have a wide array of transport options. Thus, the city of Dallas should consider other modes of mass transport like trains. Such an endeavor would reduce the number of passengers who rely on buses. In addition, the move will reduce traffic on the road. Opponents may argue that this is an expensive venture. However, in such situations, it is important to enlighten members of the public on the long term benefits of the plan (Cramphorn & Davies, 2004).
Recommendations
Infrastructure is a vital aspect of any given society. As such, mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that roads and other infrastructures are maintained to serve the citizens well. The report appreciates the efforts made by DART to enhance transport in the city. The agency ensures that people are able to move from one part of Dallas to the other. However, the authorities should not ignore the road network in carrying out their mandate. The recommendations made here are meant to provide the mayor and the city’s transport department with ideas on how to minimize road damage in residential areas.
Improving Communication
The picture illustrated by the neglected residential roads and the pothole problem is enough proof of poor communication. Banister (2008) points out that an effective transport policy is one that brings together the citizens and the city authorities. As such, dialogue and effective communication is one way of improving the transport sector. Consequently, this report suggests that the city authorities should come up with an efficient communication network.
Most of the suburban roads are aged. What this means is that complaints made by the citizens with regards to road maintenance are not heeded by the council. The streets are easily damaged by high capacity vehicles. Improved communication between the authorities and the citizens will ensure that issues to do with maintenance are resolved quickly. The same would reduce instances where roads are left for long without repairs. The mayor’s office may complain that it is expensive to set up a communication network. However, the expense cannot be compared to a situation where roads get damaged beyond repair.
Reduced Bus Trips
The high capacity buses make frequent trips in any given day. In some cases, they can make 30 trips in a span of 24 hours. Considering the poor state of the roads, the risks of damage are high. As such, DART should consider reviewing the number of journeys made to residential areas. Consequently, this report recommends that the number of trips be reduced from 30 to 15. Reduction in the frequency of high capacity vehicles on the road is a sure way of minimizing damage like potholes and cracks (Edvardsson, 2009). To achieve this, the bus company should concentrate on ferrying people during the rush hours.
Upgrading the Roads
The high percentage of cracks and potholes on the said roads is partly due to their age. Most roads in Dallas are old. The damage is worsened when high capacity buses use them. Such a situation calls for upgrades on the road network. To this effect, this report recommends that the city of Dallas should carry out a major upgrade of all the roads in the residential areas. The city officials should consider the construction of roads. According to Edvardsson (2004), such roads can easily withstand damage.
Other Forms of Mass Transport
Considering the expansion of the population living in Dallas, the city should adopt other forms of transport. Vehicles have a wear and tear effect on the road. However, if high capacity machines like buses are gradually phased out, this wear and tear would reduce. One way of achieving this is through the use of alternative means of public transport. It is recommended that the city should consider the introduction of trains and other forms of transport. Mass transport systems like trains are characterized by few trips with high numbers of passengers (Banister, 2008). Consequently, pressure on the roads would be eased by the infrequent use by high capacity buses.
Schedule
Road Upgrade: 5 years
It is not possible to carry out the suggested upgrade in one phase. As a result of this, this report proposes a schedule for the implementation of this recommendation. The authorities should take one year to create public awareness about the plan. After this, the city should be subdivided into four regions within which upgrades will be carried out at intervals of one year. Such a move would make sure that within five years, all the roads in Dallas meet the required standards.
New Rail System: 5 years
The recommendation of setting up an alternative means of transport is made with the assumption that the new system will complement the bus transport network. It is an expensive undertaking. As such, it is advisable to introduce the trains in phases. The current report proposes that the city should come up with a working plan and start seeking out investors. That process should take one year. Once a deal is struck, feasibility studies should be carried out within 1 year to settle on the right route. The construction should take a maximum of 3 years
Conclusion
The city of Dallas is home to many people who directly rely on its infrastructure. Roads are the preferred means of transport. However, the increased inflow of high capacity buses to residential areas has resulted in severe damage to the roads. The existing potholes are an indication that the road policy in the city needs to be addressed. The recommendations made in this report acknowledge the need for reforms in the city’s infrastructure. The potholes continue to affect motorists. They also impact negatively on the economy at large. If the recommendations made in this report are implemented, the city of Dallas will be the largest beneficiary.
References
Banister, D. (2008). The sustainable mobility program. Transport Policy, 15(2), 73-80. Web.
Cramphorn, B., & Davies, R. (2004). The social impact of roads. Australian Planner, 41(3), 46-47. Web.
Edvardsson, K. (2009). Gravel roads and dust suppression. Road Materials and Pavement Design, 10(3), 439-469. Web.
Fairbank, K. (2012). Heavy DART bus worsens pothole problems on aging residential street. Web.
Hull, A. (2008). Policy integration: What it will take to achieve more sustainable transport solutions in cities. Transport Policy, 15(2), 94-103. Web.