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Because of the effects of climate change, a sustainable transportation system based on renewable energy resources needs to be developed to improve the quality of life. In this study, three sustainable transportation designs and an on-grid power plant design using photovoltaic (PV) panels were analyzed for their feasibility as an alternative to diesel-powered tourist boats. Various financial and technical aspects were considered, such as the local irradiation, energy yield, and system energy loss. As a case study, a solaraided boat was considered, where an off-grid rooftop PV system with 9.8 kWh batteries was installed to meet the energy requirements for internal services and reduce diesel usage. The solar-aided boat was demonstrated to be an economical solution, where the PV system reduced the diesel consumption of the boat by 15% and produced an annual energy output of 5540 kWh. For fully electric solar boats, simulation results showed that a 60 kWh battery system covers the initial investment within 9 years, while a solar boat with 120 kWh a battery system covers it in 13 years. A 300 kW on-grid PV plant was analyzed for its ability to meet the energy demands of an entire tourist boat fleet, and the plant was estimated to reduce CO 2 emissions by 330 tons each year. These findings show that various off-grid rooftop PV systems can be adapted for sustainable transportation while reducing the operating costs of the boat. This study also promotes the transition of boats to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

The European bu d ng stock s mature, and expand ng c t es need nc us ve and nnovat ve renovat on so ut ons for a c t zens wh e ntens fy ng c ty dens f cat on. The European project EU-GUGLE a ms to reduce pr mary energy consumpt on by 40% to 80% and ncrease renewab e energy use by 25% through near y zero energy bu d ng renovat on mode s for n t at ng arge-sca e, Europe-w de rep cat on n c t es and commun t es. About 200,000 m² of res dent a and pub c bu d ngs are be ng refurb shed by mp ement ng a ba anced m x of techn ca , soc o-econom c and f nanc a so ut ons adapted to oca needs. S x EU partner c t es are part c pat ng, each rev ta z ng an urban d str ct: Aachen, Brat s ava, M an, Sestao, Tampere, and V enna. The comprehens ve ntegrated approach used n EU-GUGLE s n ne w th the European Smart C ty n t at ve, and each part c pat ng c ty has created near y zero-energy Smart C ty master p ans based upon owest energy therma renovat ons coup ed w th nnovat ve renewab e energy serv ces ncorporat ng every aspect of smart d str ct fe. A stages of the p ann ng, construct on and post-occupancy phases of the arge-sca e d str ct renewa s are be ng documented, mon tored and eva uated to create susta nab e d str ct renovat on methodo og es for "smart renovat ons for smart c t es" to meet the object ves of the European Comm ss on s Smart C t es and Commun t es In t at ve for reduc ng 40% of greenhouse gas em ss ons w th n the European Un on by 2020. The paper out nes the approach each c ty has taken and h gh ghts case stud es of the nd v dua so ut ons created n three of the s x c t es.

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Recent large earthquakes and devastating tsunamis around the Pacific Rim have underscored the need for the disaster resilience of essential port structures such as piers, wharves, seawalls, and operations and security facilities. These port facilities and structures are part of an interdependent transportation network providing critical functions in seaport commerce, maritime security, and marine transportation in coastal regions.The mountain-and water-based geography of many coastal regions limits land-based transportation route redundancy and places greater importance on marine transportation routes and infrastructure. Maritime-based communities such as the Puget Sound Region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Hawaiian Islands rely on marine transportation networks and infrastructure for commerce, transportation, and economic vitality. These are lifeline systems. In the aftermath of an earthquake or tsunami, the continued function of these essential facilities is critical to the response and recovery of the affected region, and in some cases, other parts of the United States as well. 1425 Ports 2013 © ASCE 2013 Ports 2013 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON on 12/07/14. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.2 This paper provides overview and comparison case studies of the seismic and tsunami design considerations and features of three essential United States Coast Guard (USCG) Sector Command and Maritime Security Fast Response facilities located in the Puget Sound Region, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the Hawaiian Islands. Design considerations and features compared include design for earthquake, liquefaction, and tsunami for near shore buildings and foundations. Special emphasis is placed on the application of seismic design standards on buildings and port and marine infrastructure. The importance of port facilities and infrastructure to the disaster resilience of these coastal regions and supporting research needs are also discussed.