Benefits of STU
The STU System is an engineering breakthrough in transportation systems.
Compared to other existing and upcoming transportation systems, not only is the STU system far cheaper to construct, far cheaper to operate and much quicker to construct, it also can be constructed with considerable less impact on the environment and ecology.
Applications for the STU system include passenger transportation (from inner-city to fast, long-haul) and freight transportation. In fact, some of our systems can accommodate both passenger and freight transport.
Safety
It is an undisputed fact that motor transport is inherently one of the most dangerous modes of transport. In fact, millions of people die or become disabled in motor vehicle accidents each year.
The STU system is inherently safer than most other modes of transport because it is elevated above people, animals and other potential causes of accidents in conventional transport modes.
The high-stability of the STU modules coupled with the anti-derailment system, independent suspension and super-stable track add to the safety aspects of the STU system.
Financial Benefits
When many transport system suppliers describe “low-cost” construction, they mean that it costs 10-20% less than the cost of other existing systems. By comparison, STU systems can be constructed for 50% of the cost of conventional railway, or 20% of the cost of a motorway or high-speed railway or magnetic-suspension train.
The financial savings continue with operating / maintenance costs. STU systems can be operated and maintained for 50% of the cost of conventional railway, 33% of the cost of a high-speed railway, or 20% of the cost of motor transport.
Per-kilometer energy consumption to transport a passenger or tonne of freight is lower than any other current transport mode.
Lastly, the STU system can potentially open up transport routes that would not otherwise be economically feasible due to the high cost of constructing railways over rugged terrain. For example, it may not currently be feasible to develop a proposed mine because the transport of the coal / ore to the destination may involve constructing a rail line over / through mountains, which may be cost-prohibitive. An STU system capable of handling such terrain with high load-capacity can be constructed for a fraction of this cost. This would thereby allow profitable mining of resources that would otherwise be rendered uneconomical to mine.
Transport Speed
STU vehicles can travel at up to 500 kph due to some unique aspects:
- STU has a unique wheel / track interface that prevents derailment.
- The track has a polished surface
- The aerodynamics of the vehicle allow for high speed travel with minimal power requirements
- The control system knows the exact location of each and every vehicle at any time
Imagine traveling from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane in just 2 hours, without having to drive to an airport and go through all the hassles of checking in, etc.
Environmental / Ecological Benefits
Constructing motorways or high-speed railways involves an incredible disturbance of the land. Apart from the physical area needed for the motorway / railway, construction of these alternatives usually involves significant excavation of land, and disturbance of rivers, water channels, etc.
On the other hand, STU systems have a minimal impact on the land as the system is constructed above the land / waterways.
Each year, billions of animals are killed under wheels of trains and vehicles. This will not happen with STU systems because of its elevation above ground.
In addition, the STU vehicles are extremely efficient due to their low coefficient of friction (f) and because the elevation above the ground reduces other losses associated with other transport modes
Lastly, a steel wheel on a steel track has the highest known efficiency for current and future solutions.
Combining all of the above benefits, the STU system yields one of the very lowest impacts on the environment per passenger or tonne of freight transported per kilometer.
Multifunction Use
Although a STU system can be installed to transport coal, ore or other freight, there is nothing to prevent the same system from being used to also transport passengers.
An example of this would be where a STU system was installed to transport coal from the mine to the port. The same system could be used to transport mine workers to / from the mine site. This would eliminate the need for costly fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) arrangements. The same system could also be used to transport supplies to the mine.
NEXT: Technical Description of STU
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