Nanotechnology is the science concerned with the design, construction and utilisation of functional structures with at least one characteristic dimension measured in nanometres. Compared to typical transportation engineering structures (roads, bridges, etc), the two fields thus operate on hugely divergent dimensional scales. Traditionally, nanotechnology has been concerned with developments in the fields of microelectronics, medicine and materials sciences. However, the potential for application of many of the developments in the nanotechnology field in the area of transportation engineering is growing. Current research in this area focus on the development of improved materials for construction of transportation facilities, characterisation of traditional materials used in transportation facilities and the application of techniques and knowledge developed in the broader transportation engineering field to understand and characterise processes in nanotechnology. In this paper a broad overview of the potential application of various nanotechnology developments in the transportation engineering field is discussed, and the potential for further basic research that may lead to improved transportation systems is evaluated. The focus is on the potential effects that the technology may have on aspects such as safety, durability, economics and sustainability of the transportation infrastructure. The most important challenge in this endeavour is that of scaling nanotechnology to ensure that the benefits that are gained through working in the nano-sphere (research level) are also realistic in the macro-sphere (application level) dominated by transportation engineering
Reference:
Steyn WJVDM. 2008. Research and application of nanotechnology in transportation. Partnership for research and progress in Transportation. 27th Southern African Transport Conference (SATC), Pretoria, South Africa, July 7-11, 2008, pp
Steyn, W. (2008). Research and application of nanotechnology in transportation. Southern African Transport Conference (SATC). http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2405
Steyn, WJvdM. "Research and application of nanotechnology in transportation." (2008): http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2405
Steyn W, Research and application of nanotechnology in transportation; Southern African Transport Conference (SATC); 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10204/2405 .
Paper presented at the 27th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 7 - 11 July 2008 "Partnership for research and progress in transportation", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa
Author:Venter, C; Mokonyama, Mathetha TDate:Jul 2009The paper describes the development of a prototype transport model to be used for high-level evaluation of a potentially large number of alternative land use-transport scenarios. It uses advanced logit modelling to capture travel behaviour ...Read more
Author:Letebele, MO; Maseloma, RC; Mokonyama, Mathetha TDate:Jul 2009Fuel costs are a significant component of a public transport fare. It is therefore of critical importance for measures aimed at containing household public transport expenditure to explore alternative ways of reducing fuel consumption or fuel ...Read more
Author:Mashiri, M; Dube, S; Maponya, GDate:Jul 2009The aim of this paper is to explore and document, through the use of qualitative data, children and young people’s experiences and perceptions of mobility and transport constraints in accessing social services such as health, education and ...Read more