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Science Discussion Forum / Re: Transportation Planning

« on: November 14, 2011, 01:36:15 PM »

Nowadays, Transportation problem is one of the major problem in our daily life. As transportation planners and metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) evaluate current system conditions and alternate future scenarios to make informed decisions on allocating resources, they must balance funding realities with mobility needs; public expectations; and community, legislative, and environmental considerations. Transportation asset management (TAM) provides a valuable tool to maximize system performance, improve customer satisfaction, and minimize life-cycle costs.

What Is Transportation Asset Management?

From increased vehicle miles traveled, growing population, and greater congestion to aging infrastructure and escalating operating costs, today's challenging circumstances put demands greater than ever on transportation networks. The goal of a TAM program is to minimize the life-cycle costs for managing and maintaining transportation assets, including roads, bridges, tunnels, rails, and roadside features. As defined by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials' Subcommittee on Asset Management, "TAM is a strategic and systematic process of operating, maintaining, upgrading, and expanding physical assets effectively through their life cycle. It focuses on business and engineering practices for resource allocation and utilization, with the objective of better decisionmaking based upon quality information and well defined objectives." Through the use of management systems, engineering and economic analysis, and other tools, MPOs and transportation agencies can more comprehensively view the big picture and evaluate collected data before making decisions as to how specific resources should be deployed. TAM principles and techniques should be applied throughout the planning process, from initial goal setting and long-range planning to development of a Transportation Improvement Program and Statewide Transportation Improvement Program and then through to operations, preservation, and maintenance.

What Is the Role of an MPO in Asset Management?

MPOs should ensure that the transportation network is managed to meet both current and future demands and that expenditures are optimal. TAM principles and techniques are valuable tools that can be applied by an MPO and result in more effective decisionmaking. The MPO role in a successful TAM program includes defining performance measures for assets through public involvement, serving as a repository for asset data, and promoting standard data collection and technology applications. MPOs can also educate the public and decisionmakers and work cooperatively with stakeholders across transportation modes.

we will discuss later how can we apply the plan

Good Thinking

2

Liberation of Bangladesh / Re: LIBERATION WAR MUSEUM OF BANGLADESH

« on: November 14, 2011, 01:33:10 PM »

Phases of the War in Bangladesh

The war is considered to have 4 phases:

Phase 1: March 25 to June

Operation Searchlight was launched by Pakistani forces on the 25th of March. There was Spontaneous and disorganized resistance from the Bengali soldiers and volunteers. Surprise and superior firepower helped the Pakistani forces overwhelm the disorganized Bengali resistance in conventional warfare by June. Pakistan airlifted 2 infantry divisions and reorganized their forces. Bangladesh Government in Exile was formed in April 17 at Mujib Nagar, the country was divided into 4 sectors to conducted the war.

Phase 2: June-September

Bangladsh forces command setup in July, with MAG Osmani as commander in chief. Bangladesh was devided into 11 sectors with 11 sector commanders to conduct Guerrilla operations. 3 brigades were raised for conventional warfare, a large guerrilla force was trained. Guerrilla operations, which slacked during the training phase, picked up. targets in Dhaka was attacked. The major success story was Operation Jackpot, in which naval commandos mined and blew up berthed ships in Chittagong on August 16, 1971. Pakistani repraisals claimed lives of thousands on civilians. Indian army took over supplying the Mukti Bahini from the BSF. They organised 6 sector for supplying the Bangladesh forces.

Phase 3: October - December

Bangaldesh conventional forces attacked border outposts. Kamalpur, Belonia and Battle of Boyra are a few examples. Guerrilla attacks intensified, as did Pakistani and Razakar repraisals on civilian populations. Pakistani forces were reinforced by 8 battalions from West Pakistan. The rebels even managed to temporarily capture airstrips at Lalmonirhat and Shalutikar.[12] Both of these were used for flying in supplies and arms from India.

Phase 4: December 3-December 16

Pakistani armies were gradually being disorganised due to the sudden and quick guerrilla attack by the bengali freedom fighters in most of the areas. The former East Pakistan, being covered by a condensation of trees crisscrossed by many streams and rivers,was quite uncomfortable for the Pakistani Army. The Pakistani Army was in a dreadful condition and gradually losing the will to fight because most of their major fortresses had fallen to the allied Bengali-Indian forces. It was a matter of shame for the Pakistani High Command that a well-trained army was losing the war to the common Bengali civilians, who were barely trained and had outdated weapons. To conceal this shameful matter they launched an air attack near the Indian border on December 3 so that the real facts would remain unknown to the common people and people would say that Pakistani Army did not lose to the Mukti Bahini but to more powerful Indian armies. This led India to announce war against Pakistan officially and they started attacking near the Pakistan-India border from the 6th of December. All-out war between Bangladesh-India and Pakistan began. The agility and strategy of the Mukti Bahini, aided by Indian forces, overwhelmed the Pakistani forces and within 10 days of Indias joiníng the war, the Pakistani Army was compelled to an unconditional surrender on December 16, 1971.


Please visit the following link:


http://www.liberationwarmuseum.org/

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