transport-economics

According to Mr. Padilla, this book "is a compilation of some of the concepts and tools used by performance engineers in the analysis of airline-related performance problems." Basic concepts are presented about "carrying as much weight as possible, as far as possible, as fast as possible, at the greatest profit."

This 'technical operations manual' provides an excellent illustration into areas drawing from all pertinent disciplines: aerodynamics, propulsion, mechanics and restrictions.

There are many mathematical equations but it is presented in a very concise format. I agree with the author that this book "would fit well at the second-year level of a standard engineering curriculum." As long as the reader understands algebra, trigonometry, and some elementary calculus, the material should be a 'touch and go.'

However, I was never a whiz at mathematics, so it took me a little longer to figure it out without a dozen professors nearby. If you are like me, don't be timid. The presentation is clear enough to gain a foothold and establish a critical bridge into the more sophisticated concepts, terminologies and technologies.

As a professor of aeronautical science in a large aviation oriented college program, I had been searching for a text which covered the economic aspects of airplane performance. The author does a wonderful job covering subjects such as the "cost index" and how it relates to economic climb and economic cruise conditions. The mathematics is very basic and should be understood by persons having taken algebra and perhaps introductory physics. This is the only text that I found that goes beyond the standard performance type topics in the direction of cost impact upon operations. The book would be excellent reading for aviation professionals or students of aviation. Great book!

I definently enjoyed reading it...some of the stories are amazing. I want a job in transit, and this book showes what ill face when i get it. Cant wait. This book clearly explains and shows the lives of workers which work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to please the public! This book is amazing...Get it, you will enjoy it!

It's about time someone did a book on what the guys who are up all day/night to get us where we want to go. This is a great book and it's nice to see these guys get some credit.

This book is a great choice to read for anyone, even more so for those interested in commercial aviation. It has elements of drama, and also limits the techno-babble to keep it interesting.

Thoroughly enjoyable for anyone with an interest in aviation or human endevour on a large scale. Not too technical so don't be put off

"Now that the 'information age' is upon us, our focus of attention is shifting from technology to applications. Peter Eibl's book represents a valuable contribution to this transition, concentrating as he does on the benefits of using information systems and the associated management issues of assessment and implementation." -- Professor James Cooper, Director of the Cranfield Centre for Logistics and Transportation, Cranfield University, UK

"It is a well researched and thoughtful book which fills a gap in transportation and information technology literature. While most of the previous research was preoccupied with computational aspects of computerised vehicle routing and scheduling, this book provides an excellent and original analysis of the technology's adoption, practical benefits and implementation. It is well grounded in existing literature, but special strengths derive from the author's meticulous methodology including both qualitative (case study) and quantitative research (survey) instruments. With just the right balance between theory and empirical data, this book will be of interest not only to academics, but also to companies as well as to professional associations and institutes. Students will find this book to be a valuable source for management issues of information technology in general." -- Professor Derek H. Smith, Reader and Deputy Head of Department of Mathematics and Computing, University of Glamorgan, UK

"An invaluable read for any manager whose influence extends to distribution. From conscientiously and strenuously pursued research, Peter has distilled the factors that successful implementation depends upon. His research confirms the broad and substantial benefits of Computerised Vehicle Scheduling, suggests that it will increasingly be used by companys' competitors and shows that individual companies will not be able to use it successfully unless they ensure that they get a few essentials right." -- Dr. David Holmes, Managing Director, Paragon Software Systems plc.

". . . a very comprehensive and detailed review of the basic principles, of the technology available, of its applicability to various parts of the industry, and how it should be introduced. . . . a first-class guide to the logistician seeking a way through the maze of assorted information available from a wide variety of sources on the current technology." -- Proceedings (Chartered Institute of Transport) ". . .an excellent study, based on a very detailed survey, and should be required reading on the part of anyone with an interest in this absorbing subject." -- Aslib Book Guide

". . . a helpful contribution to understanding CVRS in road transport and the issues which affect its successful adoption and use." -- Environment and Planning B: Planning and design

Book Description: This book is aimed at both academics and practitioners interested in the user or management aspects of computerised vehicle routing and scheduling (CVRS) in road transport. The software is investigated with respect to its use in an operational, tactical and strategic role. The empirical findings highlight the fact that CVRS technology is used only by a relatively small number of organizations despite being an effective means to improve the efficiency of transport operations and to provide substantial intangible benefits such as improved control and enhanced customer service. What are the reasons for this apparent "user-gap" between the available CVRS technology and the organizations that most need it? How can the technology be successfully implemented? The research tools employed to find the answers to these questions are both quantitative and qualitative. Their combined use, known as the "triangulation of measurement" approach, is of interest to social science students generally. Contents: Introduction; Basics of VRS; Success of CVRS; Adoption of CVRS; CVRS models in the organizational context; Factors associated with the adoption of CVRS; Factors associated with the success of CVRS; Critical evaluation of the CVRS models and opportunities for their further development. -- Dr. Peter Eibl, University of Glamorgan, UK.

Provides a clear view of trade barriers and regulations

Ravi Ramamurti once again demostrates his uncanny ability to describe complex economic situations with ease. An must-read for anyone interested in the subject

This is one of the most insightful and provocative books I have ever read on the subject of Transport de-regulation, its place, its politics, and the effects of market forces in today's industrialised societies. An invaluable insight for every modern academic, and interested lay-reader. A must as we enter the new millenium !

Kept at an executive level, this book delves just deep enough for you to grasp the various concepts of transport planning, where costs occur and how to maximise benefits in both the public and the private transport sector. You will enjoy this book even more if you have some macro-economical background, nevertheless it never goes into complex formulas or calculations.

Excellent and well written. You get the sense that the author must have interviewed 1000 people--union officials, politicians, transit managers, contractors, ex-contractors, wanna-be contractors, and a few Hatian immigrants in Miami who just want to run their jitneys in peace. He adds some good points to the old debate about "cream skimming" and whether there really is a need for a monopolistic transit agency to provide a monolithic brand of transit service. This book is fun reading, and very useful reading for anyone (like myself) who deals with public employee labor issues, transit or otherwise.

This book is great reading for all public policy makers trying to bring real service delivery to the public. At first impression it appears to be about buses. Reading the case studies, it becomes apparent that this is really a book about issues management and the political and practical factors that enter into any private/public infrastructure conflict. The examples in the case studies could just as easily be applied to ferry services, prisons or any contestable infrastructure interaction. This is a must read for anyone involved or interested in public policy.

I am not a specialist, but the subject of urban and transportation studies has always fascinated me, and I have read Richmond's passionate account of the struggle over public transport in various American cities with great pleasure. I want to add to the other reviewers' discussion of the academic merits of the book that I was personally moved by the book's ending, where the author shifts gears and calls upon all sides of the conflict to think about common good, and to be decent rather than ruthless towards one another. Richmond has done a scientist's job: He has examined various strategies adopted by the labor, the management, the overseeing agencies, the elected politicians, the working class communities dependent upon public transport, and many other parties of this conflict. He compares, analyzes, and draws conclusions. But at the end of the day, the more you look into such matters the more you see a lot of plain human meanness and a lot of short-sightedness. The old-testament call at the end of this book captures, to my mind in a profound way, both the hope and a certain hopelessness of an intellectual who studies social conflicts.

A striking look at how women's lack of access to mobility can be often discriminating in Asia and Africa. The book is a gathering of papers by various authors that shows common threads across vast underdeveloped populations, giving insight into an often overlooked viewpoint.

Separate and unequal. A phrase often associated with racial discrimination in the US. But one that springs to mind in the descriptions here, as applied to women and men having access to transport, which here refers to bicycles, buses, rickshaws and boats. Only rarely to cars.

A paper on Bangladesh describes how in an overwhelmingly rural Muslim area, societal mores often restrict women to the confines of their households. With concomitant deleterious effects on their abilities to earn cash incomes. Or even to get educated or see doctors. Which is not to say that such things do not happen, but that female participation rates are usually significantly lower than males'. Not all the blame can be laid at the door of Islam. Several articles outline similar occurrences in rural Hindu India and Christian Kenya.