BRITISH AND AMERICAN TACV SYSTEM DEVELOPMENTS: TECHNICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Research programs instituted by Track Hovercraft Ltd. and the Office of High Speed Ground Transportation for the development of a tracked air cushion vehicle (TACV) are reviewed with respect to economic, engineering, and environmental considerations. System design characteristics, research in propulsion and aerodynamics, coordination and cooperation with related projects, basic performance requirements, and system engineering and design studies are examined. Economic considerations are reviewed with attention to transportation systems planning, choice of areas for maximum use, alternatives, initial plant investment, annual operating costs, and other economic variables such as accident costs and control of noise and air pollution. Based on comparative data on emission of pollutants, the electrically powered high speed ground modes generally created less pollution per million passenger miles than the air modes and considerably less than the highway modes. Electric power collected from the track removed the problem of pollution caused by fuel burning engines. The possibility of locating the electric power generating plants in remote areas further improved the favorable pollution characteristics of the high speed ground modes.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Joint Transportation Engineering Conference in Chicago, Illinois on Oct. 11-14, 1970.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Mechanical Engineers

  Two Park Avenue
  New York, NY  United States  10016-5990
• Authors:
  • Swanson, C G
  • Easton, G J
  • Lampros, A F
• Publication Date: 1970

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 23 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Air pollution sources; Economic analysis; Environmental impacts; Exhaust gases; High speed ground transportation; Pollutants; Tracked air cushion vehicles
• Old TRIS Terms: Tacv noise
• Subject Areas: Economics; Environment; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00041755
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Air Pollution Technical Information Center
• Report/Paper Numbers: 70-TRAN-50 Preprint
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 6 1973 12:00AM