Members’ Publication

In this paper, the baseline performance level of Al Ain Public Bus Service is evaluated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) based on some selected input (travel time per round trip, total number of stops, total number of operators, total number of buses) and output (daily ridership and vehicle-kilometer) variables. Two types of scenarios were developed and tested. The first set of scenarios aimed at investigating the possibility of reducing the operating cost while maintaining the same performance levels (efficiency and effectiveness) for the routes. The second set of scenarios was used to demonstrate how the baseline performance levels can be improved by slightly altering the route alignment (and subsequently input and output variables). Sensitivity analysis was then conducted to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of each route. Conclusions on how the transit authority can reduce daily operating hours while maintaining the existing performance level are made. Also, suggestions are presented on how to improve the overall performance level of the bus service by changing some route characteristics.

Metropolitan area is characterized by the complex activity system. Compactness is an alternative urban form of urban sprawl focusing on sustainable development. This study is inspired from the necessity of urban form quantification to achieve sustainable urban form and support planner and policy maker to look in depth of city problem from the need and demand point of view rather than supply point of view (traditional master plan and land use plan). This paper is intended to look into the spatial structure of a very large and a comparatively small metropolitan area in Bangladesh based on some selected static indicators of urban sprawl and compactness. The indicators considered include population density, land-use distribution pattern, clustering, nuclearity and mixed uses. Besides quantification of the urban form, a comparison is made between the two case cities to understand the relationship of the indicators and the degree of differences in their form. Unlike the ‘number of employment’ and ‘residential unit’ that have traditionally been used to measure urban form, the use of ‘employment space’ and ‘residential space’ in the quantification of urban form made this study very unique. From Moran and Gini value it was found that both of these land uses are highly clustered in a few locations in both study areas. Residential space and employment space in large metropolitan with low density is found to be unequally distributed than smaller metropolitan with high density.

ABSTRACT The diverse nature of planning provides a wide range of interesting and challenging roles. A large proportion of planners who are employed in local government are the key decision makers regarding planning for the community. Other planners are employed in the private sector as planning consultants. The State Government and related agencies also employ qualified planners. While there is a diverse career structure, many planners have multi-skilled disciplines which enable them to work in different areas of planning throughout their careers. However some planners choose to specialize and may be involved with social planning, planning law, or environmental planning among other specializations. This research would initiate the planners role in different sectors of Bangladesh, purpose and program for increasing the scope and state the analysis of people’s opinion about the functions and also shown the representative’s opinion about the obstacles which they are facing. According to the findings of the study, some recommendations have been suggested to develop an easy and effective mechanism for enhance the applicability and future opportunity generation. If the well built cooperation of the government is enhanced and effective efforts are applied properly it will be possible to do the planners rolling or functions properly.

This book has described the Salvage activities in Bangladesh. Salvage activities play important role in national and local economy. But the unplanned Salvage activities make serious problems. Here clearly described the process salvage business, its forward and backward linkage and importance. Total Salvage shop in Shekh Para is 182. Nine types of shops like Battery, Bottle/Glass, Electric wire, Iron pipe, Iron Rods & goods, Iron sheet, Iron wire, Tin broken & plastic and Wood shops contains this number. It’s a profitable business and also sustainable resource management procedure. But socio-economic conditions of Salvors have been affected by the mismanagement procedure, not only the study area but the city’s overall condition is same. If the true and appropriate steps are not applied just now it would turn to a hazard for the society in our country, because Salvage activities are now progressive business.

Coastal communities in Chile are at risk to tsunamis like other coastal communities around the world. The Dichato community is one of the most affected communities by the 27 February, 2010 earthquake and following tsunami. More than sevent y percent of infrastructure was washed away. The livelihood of the local people is severely dama ged. The disaster recove ry process was slower than expected. The concept of resilience is normally understood as the opposite of vulnerability. This means that where vulnerability is high, the leve l of resilience tends to be low, and vice versa. As vulnerability is the opposite of resilience, it is very much important to build a resilient community to reduce the disaster risk. This pape r focuses on how a disaster can be an opportunity to enhance community resilience to disasters. Qu alitative data are collected through key informant interview. Key informants are community leaders, high officials at local and regional office and also from non-government organizations. After this devastating tsunami, Dichato community gets special attention from the government and other agen cies. As a result, disaster brings opportunity for the community in the form of new vision, new relation and new id ea, which may enhance community resilience in the future. Findings of th is paper will open a new horizon that can help to find the strength and weakness of disaster prepare dness at community level. It will also help to learn about new approach to build community capacities against disaster.

First of all, I am very grateful to Almighty Allah Subhan Watallah for helping me to complete this thesis. I extend my earnest gratitude to my advisor Dr. Thirayoot Limanond, for his constant guidance, valuable advice and suggestions; that helped me a lot during the study period. His thoughtful contribution will remain supportive throughout my career. I also wish to express my sincere thanks to my examination committee members; Dr. Kunnawee Kanitpong and Dr. Vilas Nitivattananon for their generous academic and moral support. Their helpful suggestions and advice also helped me a lot in completing this report. A hearty thank-you goes to all the academic and professional experts namely Dr. A.S.M Quium, Director, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP, Bangkok; Dr. Mohammad Rahmatullah, former Director, Transport Division, UN-ESCAP, Bangkok; Dr. Hasib Mohammed Ahsan, Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET); Khondker Niaz Rahman, Transport Planner & Project Manager, UNDP, Bangladesh; Dr. Muhammad A Habib, Assistant Professor, School of Planning, Dalhousie University, Canada; Mr. Suman Kumar Mitra, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning, Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET); Md. Aminul Islam, Transport Consultant, Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) Project, Dhaka Transport Coordination Board (DTCB); and Mr. Manoj Barua, Traffic Engineer, City of Wanneroo, Perth, Western Australia - for the contribution of their valuable time and effort to evaluate and rating the Expert Opinion survey queries. All of their devoted support to complete the study analysis will remain helpful forever.