Applying life cycle assessment to analyze the environmental sustainability of public transit modes for the City of Toronto

One challenge related to transit planning is selecting the appropriate mode: bus, light rail transit (LRT), regional express rail (RER), or subway. This project uses data from life cycle assessment to develop a tool to measure energy requirements for different modes of transit, on a per passenger-kilometer basis. For each of the four transit modes listed, a range of energy requirements associated with different vehicle models and manufacturers was developed. The tool demonstrated that there are distinct ranges where specific transit modes are the best choice. Diesel buses are the clear best choice from 7-51 passengers, LRTs make the most sense from 201-427 passengers, and subways are the best choice above 918 passengers. There are a number of other passenger loading ranges where more than one transit mode makes sense; in particular, LRT and RER represent very energy-efficient options for ridership ranging from 200 to 900 passengers. The tool developed in the thesis was used to analyze the Bloor-Danforth subway line in Toronto using estimated ridership for weekday morning peak hours. It was found that ridership across the line is for the most part actually insufficient to justify subways over LRTs or RER. This suggests that extensions to the existing Bloor-Danforth line should consider LRT options, which could service the passenger loads at the ends of the line with far greater energy efficiency. It was also clear that additional destinations along the entire transit line are necessary to increase the per passenger-kilometer energy efficiency, as the current pattern of commuting to downtown leaves much of the system underutilized. It is hoped that the tool developed in this thesis can be used as an additional resource in the transit mode decision-making process for many developing transportation systems, including the transit systems across the GTHA.

Floristic And Ethnobotanical Studies Of Medicinal Plants Of The City Of El -Jadida (MOROCCO)

Abstract: BRIGUICHE. H, ZIDANE. L. Floristic And Ethnobotanical Studies Of Medicinal Plants Of The City Of El -Jadida (MOROCCO). In the framework of the ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants undertaken by the Laboratory of Biodiversity and Natural Resources of the Faculty of Sciences of Kenitra (Morocco), we are interested in the area of El Jadida which presents a rather important floristic richness thanks to changes in its ecological conditions By using 204 questionnaire, the ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in the field during the years 2012-2013. The location of the different sampling sites was determined by the stratified sampling method. The analysis of the results obtained from the questionnaires and forms using statistical processing allowed us to identify 70 plant species distributed in 69 genera and 37 families. These results also show that most of these species are mainly used in the care of the digestive system and respiratory system. The seed is the most used part in local traditional medicines and the decoction is the most frequent mode with a rate of 31%. The species Origanum compactum is the most used by the population of the city of El Jadida 47 quotes.  

Fashioning a city of culture: ‘life and place changing’ or ’12 month party’?

The current trend in public policy is to valorise culture as a tool for social, economic and political transformation. This paper offers a direct contribution to debates that seek to unpack and problematise cities of culture. We adopt a more circumspect approach towards some aspects of the anticipated transformative powers of culture, and in particular the tendency to fetishize the economics of culture. Our empiricism is grounded in a detailed study of Derry~Londonderry as the inaugural UK City of Culture in 2013. We question whether City of Culture was ‘life and place changing’ or a ’12 month party’, and reveal different interpretations of success. In our view there is more potential in viewing culture as a peace resource for overcoming divisions in a socially and culturally segregated city, rather than its ability to tackle entrenched economic problems. Moving beyond the specifics of the case study we also provide lessons for future cities of culture and more generalizable insights for the academic and policy literatures.

Report on a special investigation of the City of Corning Volunteer Fire Department for the period July 1, 2013 through April 30, 2015

Report on a special investigation of the City of Corning Volunteer Fire Department for the period July 1, 2013 through April 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Palo, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Palo, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of West Branch, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of West Branch, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Woden, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Woden, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Blue Grass, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Blue Grass, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Riverside, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Riverside, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Yetter, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Audit report on the City of Yetter, Iowa for the year ended June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Griswold, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Griswold, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Gilmore City, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015

Agreed-upon procedures report on the City of Gilmore City, Iowa for the period July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015