THE REVIEW OF THE MONOGRAPH “TRANSPORT: TECHNOLOGIES, ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH”

<jats:p>From the first sight the improvement of transport technologies seems to be simple replacement of old transport means/vehicles by new ones. However, even if the most advanced transport means are purchased, they may be used absolutely inefficiently. Therefore, besides transport means it is necessary to improve the entire technological process of transportation. For this purpose many kinds of research have to be carried out, such as: the identification of freight and passenger flows, their constant monitoring and forecasting, the optimisation of the road network and transport flows in it, the optimisation of freight origin and distribution places, etc. Abroad there are many publications concerning the optimisation of long distance transport network and transportation of goods weighing 20–40 tons. However, actually there is no research of such cases when the weight of freight is 50–1500 kg and the transport network is in a small scale region, let us say in a town, under the conditions of congestion of the road network and ecological restrictions. It was attempted to propose certain solutions in this field: 1) the methodology of statistical analysis of freight flows and forecasting was proposed; 2) the problem of information storage is usually encountered in using statistical information on freight flows, for this purpose relevant algorithms for the solution of this problem are proposed.</jats:p>

section_content: From the first sight the improvement of transport technologies seems to be simple replacement of old transport means/vehicles by new ones. However, even if the most advanced transport means are purchased, they may be used absolutely inefficiently. Therefore, besides transport means it is necessary to improve the entire technological process of transportation. For this purpose many kinds of research have to be carried out, such as: the identification of freight and passenger flows, their constant monitoring and forecasting, the optimisation of the road network and transport flows in it, the optimisation of freight origin and distribution places, etc. Abroad there are many publications concerning the optimisation of long distance transport network and transportation of goods weighing 20-40 tons. However, actually there is no research of such cases when the weight of freight is 50--1500 kg and the transport network is in a small scale region, let us say in a town, under the conditions of congestion of the road network and ecological restrictions. It was attempted to propose certain solutions in this field: 1) the methodology of statistical analysis of freight flows and forecasting was proposed; 2) the problem of information storage is usually encountered in using statistical information on freight flows, for this purpose relevant algorithms for the solution of this problem are proposed. 

The topological structure synthesis of a load transport regional (urban) system has been carried out and the optimisation-simulation procedure of topological structure has been proposed. The scientific work deals with the concept and theoretical principles of the creation of information system for transport of dangerous goods. The main aspects of safe transport of dangerous goods are presented there. Foreign expe-rience in the creation of information systems is presented here. There is also the analysis of conditions, preconditions and the necessity of the creation of information system in Lithuania. 

The model of the identification of the safest routes for the transportation of dangerous goods using the mathematical modelling of the transport process is presented. The methodology is further improved by the identification of probability of road accidents, by the search of optimal parameters for all and every element of the transportation process, the routes of transportation of dangerous goods. For the practical implementation of the methods of the identification of road accident probability the parameters impacting the probability of road accident have been defined and classified. 

The principles and methods of restructuring and modelling of the ADR and RID regulations serving as the data bank for the transport of dangerous goods have been presented. A draft project of information system for the transport of dangerous goods is presented. 

Transit transport has a great influence on Lithuanian economy. The revenues would enable the modernisation of a transport system thus making it more efficient and competitive in the international market. Employment in the transport sector could be increased. 

In the light of the perspectives of Lithuanian transport sector the approach of multimodality is applied, i. e. the priority should be given to the complex development of transport infrastructure, technologies and transport services in all transport branches and especially in the international transit transport corridors. There is no legal basis in Lithuania, which could allow efficient and unhampered control of transit transport of goods through the Republic of Lithuania. Therefore it is necessary to improve the laws regulating transit procedures, to speed up the formalities of documentation, the simplification of guaranty systems, the liberalisation of transit business, the simplification of inspection of goods, the storage and transportation formalities in the territory of the whole country. 

Transport infrastructure is one of the most important elements of transport activities and it covers roads, railways, port quays, channels, airports, landing paths, pipelines, etc. 

Sustainability of transport infrastructure is an essential element of the development of the infrastructure. In the development of transport infrastructure certain principal restrictions, such as the railway gauge, the height of bridges and viaducts, the maximum allowable road pavement loading have to be observed. In this aspect the maritime transport is the least limited and the infrastructure of ports is developed on the basis of transport means, i. e. differently than in the rail- After the analysis of the amounts of fuel and energy required for consuming by all branches of Lithuanian economy it was defined that more than 27 % of all the en- ergy is used in transport. The largest share of energy consumed by a transpor1 sector falls to the road transport (about 88-90 %). 

The purpose of this scientific work is to give the efficiency evaluation of energy consumption in Lithuanian transport and to foresee measures increasing the efficiency of energy consumption in transport. 

One criterion from the criteria selected for the evaluation of fuel consumption in transport consists of comparative fuel input per unit of work of transport. According to multiannual data accumulated in Lithuania on transport carriage and fuel consumption, as well as basing on research, the average comparative fuel input amounts for the transportation of passengers and goods were defined. 

Also factors influencing the efficiency of fuel consumption were defined. Whereas Lithuania imports almost all the oil, therefore it is important for our country to use renewable energy resources. The bio-fuel obtained from the biomass is one of the most adequate options of alternative fuel for the natural and economic conditions of our country. Therefore a thorough research has been performed into the assessment of possibilities of bio-fuel use in internalcombustion in energetic, ecological and economic aspects. 

In this scientific work three topics related to passenger transport are presented. Technologies of transportation by all transport modes road, rail, air, maritime and inland water have been analysed, and the proposals for the modernisation of passenger transport technologies and for the implementation of new technologies have been prepared. The analysis of passenger transport has been carried out and the forecast of volumes of this transport has been presented. The research of railway network use efficiency has been accomplished. The model of costs and gains of passenger railway transport has been created. Measures ensuring equal competition conditions between the road and railway transport were designed. Measures for the development of the interaction between the road and railway transport were prepared. Perspective road and railway markets have been defined. Proposals for the renewal of transport means/vehicles have been suggested. 

The principles of the formation of cohesive urban transport system have been analysed and special attention has been paid to environmental harmonisation. On the basis of inhabitants' traffic exploration the urban transport selection I c possibilities were identified for new localisation of citizens and working places in urban territories after passing to market economy. Much attention is paid to non-motor traffic actors, such as passengers, cyclists and their needs. On the basis of geographic information systems digital data banks of the following towns have been formed: Vilnius, Kaunas, Uiauliai and Alytus. 

At present in the biggest Lithuanian towns a particular attention has to be focused on the solution of the car parking problem by applying modern technologies. The formation principles of the car parking data bank llave been created. The research methods have been founded on the basis of the selective natural investigation technical regulation recommendations for shortand long-time car parl<ing at various places of attraction have been prepared. 

Following the results of the research, it is necessary to improve the Vilnius public urban transport system in three directions: 1) the improvement of the quality of the functioning route traffic transport system; 2) ticketing system modernisation and tariff improvement; 3) the improvement of integration of suburban service public transport into the internal system of urban transport. These are priority programme tasks related to the socio-economic needs of passengers with the aim of realisation of common objectives of the improvement of urban public transport system. The chapter of the scientific work titled "Environmental evaluation of the transport system" is devoted to the complex research of transport environmental pollution in different ecosystems, as well as to the analysis. In the work a systemic analysis of environment pollution impact factors and the analysis of transport sector environmental pollution have been carried out. Transport system consists of the following sectors: road transport, railway transport, water transport and air transport. Whereas in Lithuania the road transport and railway transport sectors are mostly developed, a deeper analysis of these two transport sectors was carried out. The physical pollution has been analysed: the level of noise emitted from the transport system, the atmospheric pollution by monoxides and by aerosol particles, soil pollution by heavy metals and oil products and water pollution by oil products. A thorough processing of statistical data llas been accomplished. In the scientific work a detailed analysis of environmental pollution digital modelling programmes is presented and it is furnished with the modelling examples of concretely investigated locations. Legal, organisational and technical measures of environment safety are also presented on the basis of which the trends and strategy of transport development will be corrected. The con-clusions are presented and concrete measures for reducing the pollution are proposed. They may be valuable for the solution of environmental problems. 

Chapter 14 is devoted to the investigation of transport workers' health. In 2001-2002, in four public urban transport enterprises of Kaunas, employing 2200 people, the exami- nation of hygiene and ergonomic conditions, of the life style of the working people, of psycho-social factors and health was carried out.

section_content: In the examined enterprises 85,4 %of employed people were men and 14,6% were women. Absolute quantity-86. 0 % of staff were people of young and middle age. The working experience of 54,0 % workers was 1 0-29 years. 

The examination of the life style of the workers demonstrated that 46,0 % of people proved to be smokers, 83,8 % drink alcohol, 52,8 % !ack physical activity, 82,5 % have inadequate nourishment regime, 27,0 % every day undergo stress at work. Harmful working conditions and ergonomic factors are as follows: low atmospheric temperature, d;•aughts, noise, vibration, contacts with diesel and refrigeration liquids, long worl<ing hours, great attention intensity and tension of skeleton and muscles. Diseases of respiratory system, traumatism, illnesses of peripherial nerve system, cardio-vascular diseases, skeleton and muscular system ailments prevail among the illnesses causing the issuing of sick-leaves. The mathematical statistical analysis of the data demonstrated that the health of transpo;i workers and their morbidity with certain diseases is closely related to lhe age of workers, their profession, the peculiarities of their life style and unduly conditions of work hygiene and ergonomics. 

In general, the ;•eviewed monograph presents complete original investigation. The main objective of the monograph is the research of freight and passenger transport technologies, proposal of new ones able to guarantee the rational fre~ght and passenger transportation as well as to reduce the negative environmental impact. 

The research of transport problems is continually changing, with the structure and trends of investigation not being definitely outlined. In tllis ;•espect the effort of the authors to present thei;• original view of the problems is of g;•eat interest. The book may be recommended for researchers involved in system analysis of transport and for decision -makers, determinining the strategies and policies of transport development. 

The monograph may also be usefui for undergraduates and doctoral students of transport specialities in universities and institutes of the above profile.
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