1.
Drop Stop
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Drop Stop is a patented device designed to prevent items from falling down in between a cars front seats and center console. It was invented by Marc Newburger and Jeffrey Simon of Los Angeles, Drop Stop is constructed out of black Neoprene filled with polyester fiberfill and is about 17 inches long. It has a slot sewn into it where the seat belt latch can fit through and this anchors the device, allowing the car seat to slide back-and-forth freely. According to Newburger and Simon, the space between the console and the front seats is always in dark shadow and thus the black color of Drop Stop matches any cars interior. Provided that the gap between a center console and seat is less than 3.5 inches, Drop Stop should fit. However, some cars, for example the BMW M3 and Volkswagen Jetta, the idea was born after Newburger dropped a mobile phone down the gap while driving and almost caused a serious accident trying to retrieve it. Drop Stop was featured on a segment of The Marilyn Denis Show entitled The Best As Seen on TV Products, Drop Stop was also featured on ABCs The View on a special Shark Tank episode where the product was introduced by Lori Greiner alongside the inventors. First airing on March 29,2013, Newburger and Simon appeared on Shark Tank where they made a deal with Greiner for 20% equity in Drop Stop for $300,000. On a follow-up episode of Shark Tank airing on November 22,2013, on March 19,2014, Newburger and Simon were featured with their invention on The Queen Latifah Show where they were referred to as some of Lori’s most successful inventors. On a second episode of Shark Tank airing on December 5,2014. In February 2015, Drop Stop was named one of the nine most successful Shark Tank businesses
2.
Space Shuttle thermal protection system
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The Space Shuttle thermal protection system is the barrier that protected the Space Shuttle Orbiter during the searing 1,650 °C heat of atmospheric reentry. A secondary goal was to protect from the heat and cold of space while in orbit, used where reentry temperature exceeded 1,260 °C. High-temperature reusable surface insulation tiles, used on the orbiter underside, made of coated LI-900 Silica ceramics. Used where reentry temperature was below 1260 °C, fibrous refractory composite insulation tiles, used to provide improved strength, durability, resistance to coating cracking and weight reduction. Some HRSI tiles were replaced by this type, flexible Insulation Blankets, a quilted, flexible blanket-like surface insulation. Used where reentry temperature was below 649 °C, low-temperature Reusable Surface Insulation tiles, formerly used on the upper fuselage, but were mostly replaced by FIB. Used in temperature ranges roughly similar to FIB, toughened unipiece fibrous insulation tiles, a stronger, tougher tile which came into use in 1996. Used in high and low temperature areas, white Nomex felt blankets on the upper payload bay doors, portions of the mid fuselage and aft fuselage sides, portions of the upper wing surface and a portion of the OMS/RCS pods. Used where temperatures stayed below 371 °C, each type of TPS had specific heat protection, impact resistance, and weight characteristics, which determined the locations where it was used and the amount used. The shuttle TPS has three key characteristics that distinguish it from the TPS used on spacecraft, Reusable. Previous spacecraft generally used ablative heat shields which burned off during reentry and this insulation was robust and reliable, and the single-use nature was appropriate for a single-use vehicle. By contrast, the reusable shuttle required a reusable thermal protection system, previous ablative heat shields were very heavy. For example the heat shield on the Apollo Command Module comprised about 1/3 of the vehicle weight. The winged shuttle had much more area than previous spacecraft. The only known technology in the early 1970s with the thermal and weight characteristics was also so fragile, due to the very low density. The orbiters aluminum structure could not withstand temperatures over 175 °C without structural failure, aerodynamic heating during reentry would push the temperature well above this level in areas, so an effective insulator was needed. Reentry heating differs from the atmospheric heating associated with jet aircraft. The skin of high-speed jet aircraft can also become hot, but this is from frictional heating due to atmospheric friction, the orbiter reentered the atmosphere as a blunt body by having a very high angle of attack, with its broad lower surface facing the direction of flight
3.
Hong Kong
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Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China, is an autonomous territory on the Pearl River Delta of East Asia. Macau lies across the delta to the west, and the Chinese province of Guangdong borders the territory to the north. With a total area of 1,106 square kilometres. Hong Kong was later occupied by Japan during World War II until British control resumed in 1945, under the principle of one country, two systems, Hong Kong maintains a separate political and economic system from China. Except in military defence and foreign affairs, Hong Kong maintains its independent executive, legislative, in addition, Hong Kong develops relations directly with foreign states and international organisations in a broad range of appropriate fields. Hong Kong is one of the worlds most significant financial centres, with the highest Financial Development Index score and consistently ranks as the worlds most competitive and freest economic entity. As the worlds 8th largest trading entity, its legal tender, Hong Kongs tertiary sector dominated economy is characterised by simple taxation with a competitive level of corporate tax and supported by its independent judiciary system. However, while Hong Kong has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world and it has a very high Human Development Index ranking and the worlds longest life expectancy. Over 90% of the population use of well-developed public transportation. Seasonal air pollution with origins from neighbouring areas of Mainland China. Hong Kong was officially recorded in the 1842 Treaty of Nanking to encompass the entirety of the island, before 1842, the name referred to a small inlet—now Aberdeen Harbour, literally means Little Hong Kong)—between Aberdeen Island and the southern coast of Hong Kong Island. Aberdeen was a point of contact between British sailors and local fishermen. Detailed and accurate romanisation systems for Cantonese were available and in use at the time, fragrance may refer to the sweet taste of the harbours fresh water estuarine influx of the Pearl River or to the incense from factories lining the coast of northern Kowloon. The incense was stored near Aberdeen Harbour for export before Hong Kong developed Victoria Harbour, the name had often been written as the single word Hongkong until the government adopted the current form in 1926. Nevertheless, a number of century-old institutions still retain the form, such as the Hongkong Post, Hongkong Electric. As of 1997, its name is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the Peoples Republic of China. This is the title as mentioned in the Hong Kong Basic Law. Hong Kong has carried many nicknames, the most famous among those is the Pearl of the Orient, which reflected the impressive nightscape of the citys light decorations on the skyscrapers along both sides of the Victoria Harbour
4.
Platform gap
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A platform gap is the space between a train car and the edge of the station platform, often created by geometric constraints, historic legacies, or use of partially compatible equipment. Alignment setups such as Kassel curbs help to reduce platform gaps without requiring time-consuming manual alignment at each BRT station stop, the ideal platform would be straight and align perfectly with a train or other large vehicle. Even in this case, a gap between the conveyances and the platform is necessary to allow the vehicles to move freely without rubbing against the platform edge. In 2007, the Long Island Rail Road regarded an 8-inch platform gap as typical on its non-curved platforms, in real-world situations, stations are often constrained by limited space, legacy designs, and track geometry or roadway layout. These spaces are caused by the gap between a curve and the straight-line chord or tangent formed by a railcar or bus in proximity to a platform. These types of gaps are geometrically intrinsic, and cannot be eliminated as long as the platform is located on a curved or banked segment of track or guideway. When passenger car doors are located only at the ends of each car, platform access from a platform is preferred. By contrast, a platform would leave the largest possible gaps between the car ends and the platform edge, making this design undesirable and thus rarely implemented. Concave and convex gaps also exist in several MTR stations in Hong Kong, particularly on the East Rail Line, mechanical platform edge extensions known as platform gap fillers may be used to bridge the gap between platform and vehicle. These stopgaps require careful alignment of the vehicle upon arrival, and they increase station dwell time, and introduce safety and maintenance concerns of their own. Alternatively, the gap fillers may be mounted on the train and they may be found on modern trainsets, like various versions of the Stadler GTW. Moving all active components of the system to the train instead of the platform allows maintenance to be performed in a shop, the city of Singapore has committed to specifying its newer trains with gap fillers, to reduce the incidence of platform gap accidents in its crowded stations. In some rail systems, significant platform gaps may occur because of equipment and platforms designed to different and somewhat incompatible height. Other variables that can increase platform gaps include rail wear, wheel wear, condition of the railcar suspension, a further complication is super-elevation, deliberate tilting of the railbed to allow faster travel around curves. This factor is especially relevant on systems where some trains operate non-stop through local stations located on curves. Higher pass-through speeds also increase railcar sway, requiring even larger physical clearances to avoid platform strikes, in the US, the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that platforms be “readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities, including individuals who use wheelchairs ”. However, this only applies to new construction or major renovations of stations. However, currently no rail system in the U. S. has been able to achieve this without the use of manually operated bridge plates. ”As of 2007, the US Federal Railway Administration recommended platform gap maximum limits of 7–10 inches
5.
Tokyo subway
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The Tokyo subway is a part of the extensive rapid transit system that consists of Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway in the Greater Tokyo area of Japan. While the subway itself is largely within the city center. There are two primary subway operators in Tokyo, Tokyo Metro – Formerly the Teito Rapid Transit Authority and it currently operates 179 stations on nine lines and 195.1 kilometers of route. Toei Subway – run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation and it operates 106 stations on four lines and 109.0 kilometers of route. As of 2015, the subway network of the Tokyo. The Tokyo Metro and Toei networks together carry an average of over eight million passengers daily. Despite being ranked first in worldwide usage, subways make up a small fraction of heavy rail rapid transit in Tokyo alone—only 274 out of 882 railway stations. The Tokyo subway at 8.7 million daily passengers only represents 22% of Tokyos 40 million daily rail passengers, other urban commuter rail systems include Keihin Electric Express Railway, Keio Corporation, Keisei Electric Railway, Odakyu Electric Railway, Seibu Railway, Tobu Railway and Tokyu Corporation. The Tōyō Rapid Railway Line, which is essentially an extension of the Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line, the Yamanote Line is not a subway line, but a surface commuter loop line which operates with metro-like frequencies. It acts as a key transportation artery in central Tokyo, and is marked on Tokyo subway maps. The Yokohama Subway and the Minatomirai Line also operate in the Greater Tokyo Area, however, direct through services from the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line regularly run into Yokohamas Minatomirai Line via the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line railway. 1915, Japans first underground railway opened under Tokyo Station and it was only for the railway post office, not for passengers. 1927, Tokyo Underground Railway Co. Ltd. opened Japans first underground line of the subway Ginza Line on December 30,1927, the distance of the line was only 2.2 km between Ueno and Asakusa. 1938, Tokyo Rapid Transit Railway Co. Ltd. opened its subway system between Aoyama 6-chome and Toranomon,1939, Tokyo Rapid Transit Railway extended its line from Toranomon to Shimbashi, and started an reciprocal operation with Tokyo Underground Railway. 1941, During World War II, the two companies merged under the name Teito Rapid Transit Authority by the local government. 1954, The Marunouchi Line, the first subway line after World War II,1960, Toei Subway Line 1, present-day Toei Asakusa Line, opened between Oshiage and Asakusa. 1991, The Tokyo Metro Namboku Line opens,1995, On March 20, the Tokyo subway sarin attack occurred on the Marunouchi, Hibiya, and Chiyoda Lines during the morning rush hour. Over 5,000 people were injured and 13 people were killed, all three lines ceased operation for the whole day
6.
1 (New York City Subway service)
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The 1 Broadway–Seventh Avenue Local is a rapid transit service in the A Division of the New York City Subway. Its route emblem, or bullet, is colored tomato red since it uses the IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line for its entire route, the 1 operates local at all times between Van Cortlandt Park–242nd Street in Riverdale, Bronx and South Ferry in Lower Manhattan. When the first subway opened between 1904 and 1908, one of the main service patterns was the West Side Branch, trains ran from Lower Manhattan to Van Cortlandt Park via what is now the IRT Lexington Avenue Line, 42nd Street Shuttle, and IRT Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line. There was both local and express service with trains using the express tracks south of 96th Street. Some express trains ran to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn via the Joralemon Street Tunnel during rush hours while all other trains turned around at City Hall or the South Ferry outer loop. This shuttle was extended south to South Ferry, with a shuttle on the Brooklyn branch between Chambers Street and Wall Street, on July 1,1918. Finally, the new H system was implemented on August 1,1918, late night service was not operated. All 1 Local trains ran from 137th Street to South Ferry days and evenings, on September 5,1937, the practice of splitting Sunday morning trains at Brooklyn Museum was discontinued, with the alternate trains going to New Lots Avenue or Flatbush Avenue. As of July 1,1938, all evening and Sunday trains were rerouted to New Lots Avenue, by 1945, all 1 Local peak period trains were cut back from Dyckman Street to 137th Street. Beginning on May 10,1946, all 1 Brooklyn trains were made express during late nights running on 12 minute headways, previously all 1 trains ran local from 12,30 to 5, 30am and they alternated between Flatbush and New Lots Avenues. On December 20,1946, all night trains were routed to Flatbush Avenue. On June 12,1949, 137th Street to South Ferry Sunday locals were discontinued, on March 15,1954, weekend 137th Street to South Ferry locals were discontinued, and simultaneously weekend Brooklyn trains were rerouted to Flatbush Avenue. An attempt was made to extend service further north on January 14,1955. This proved unsuccessful, and ended on June 28,1956, meanwhile, in Brooklyn, weekday trains were rerouted to Flatbush Avenue on December 20,1957, and evening 137th Street to South Ferry locals were discontinued on May 23,1958. Under a $100,000,000 rebuilding program, increased and lengthened service was implemented during peak hours on the 1 train, switching north of 96th Street was eliminated. On February 6,1959,1 trains began to run between 242nd Street and South Ferry all times, trains began to be branded as Hi-Speed Locals, being as fast as the old express service was with new R21s and R22s on the line. During rush hour in the direction, alternate trains, those running from 242nd Street. The bypassed stations were served by locals originating from Dyckman Street and this express service was discontinued on May 24,1976, after which all 1 trains began to make all stops
7.
Interborough Rapid Transit Company
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The IRT was purchased by the City in June 1940. The former IRT lines are now the A Division or IRT Division of the Subway, the first IRT subway ran between City Hall and 145th Street at Broadway, opening on October 27,1904. It opened following more than twenty years of debate on the merits of subways versus the existing elevated rail system. Founded on May 6,1902, by August Belmont, Jr. the IRTs mission was to operate New York Citys initial underground rapid transit system after Belmonts, mcDonalds Rapid Transit Construction Company was awarded the rights to build the railway line in 1900, outbidding Andrew Onderdonk. On April 1,1903, over a year before its first subway line opened, the Manhattan EL was the operator of four elevated railways in Manhattan with an extension into the Bronx. The IRT coordinated some services between what became its subway and elevated divisions, but all the lines of the former Manhattan EL have since been dismantled. In 1913, as a result of expansion in the city. The IRT ceased to function as a privately held company on June 12,1940, today, the IRT lines are operated as the A Division of the subway. The remaining lines are underground in Manhattan, except for a stretch across Harlem at 125th Street. Its Brooklyn lines are underground with a single elevated extension that reaches up to New Lots Avenue, the Flushing Line, its sole line in Queens, is entirely elevated except for a short portion approaching its East River tunnel and its terminal at Flushing–Main Street. The Flushing Line has had no connection to the rest of the IRT since 1942. It is connected to the BMT and the rest of the system via the BMT Astoria Line on the level of the Queensboro Plaza station. The Flushing Line became the responsibility of IRT, the Astoria Line had its platforms shaved back for exclusive BMT operation
8.
R12 (New York City Subway car)
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The R12 was a New York City Subway car built in 1948 by the American Car and Foundry Company. The R12 was the first post-war city-owned rolling stock for the IRT division and these cars were very similar to the R10s, except that the R12 was smaller due to A Division specifications. The R12s were the first cars to feature electric door motors, there were two versions of the R12s, Westinghouse Electric-powered cars and General Electric-powered cars. The R12s bore several schemes during their service lives, the cars were delivered in two-tone gray scheme with orange stripes, then a solid bright red, and finally, repainted into the MTAs silver with blue stripe scheme. Delivery of the began in June 1948. The first R12s began service on the 7 on July 13,1948, all 100 cars were delivered by October 1948. The R12s ran on the Flushing Line until the arrival of the R33WFs and R36WFs in late 1963-early 1964, the R12s were then transferred to operate on other A-division routes. One particular assignment included all GE-powered cars being modified and sent to the 8 in the Bronx during August 1969. Although officially replaced by the R62 delivery of 1983-85, most R12s were retired due to service reductions in the 1970s that made the fleet redundant. Many R12s were also converted to work service post-1965 to replace older Lo-V work cars, the last R12 was pulled from passenger service in September 1981. All but 2 cars have since taken off property to be scrapped. The two cars that today are 5760 and 5782. Car 5760 has been preserved by the New York Transit Museum since July 1976, Car 5782, formerly used for fire training, is also being held for the New York Transit Museum. The car retains its MTA blue/silver livery paint scheme and has been stored at the 207th Street Yard for many years, however, it is slated to receive only a cosmetic restoration, the car will not be restored to operational status. R14 - a follow-up order to the R12s, also built by American Car & Foundry Company, evolution of New York City subways, An illustrated history of New York Citys transit cars, 1867-1997. New York Transit Museum Press, New York,1997 ISBN 978-0-9637492-8-4
9.
Hurricane Sandy
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Hurricane Sandy was the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season, and the second-costliest hurricane in United States history. Classified as the named storm, tenth hurricane and second major hurricane of the year. While it was a Category 2 storm off the coast of the Northeastern United States, estimates as of 2015 assessed damage to have been about $75 billion, a total surpassed only by Hurricane Katrina. At least 233 people were killed along the path of the storm in eight countries, Sandy developed from a tropical wave in the western Caribbean Sea on October 22, quickly strengthened, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Sandy six hours later. Sandy moved slowly northward toward the Greater Antilles and gradually intensified, on October 24, Sandy became a hurricane, made landfall near Kingston, Jamaica, re-emerged a few hours later into the Caribbean Sea and strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane. On October 25, Sandy hit Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, early on October 26, Sandy moved through the Bahamas. On October 27, Sandy briefly weakened to a tropical storm, early on October 29, Sandy curved west-northwest and then moved ashore near Brigantine, New Jersey, just to the northeast of Atlantic City, as a post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds. In Jamaica, winds left 70% of residents without electricity, blew roofs off buildings, killed one, and caused about $100 million in damage. Sandys outer bands brought flooding to Haiti, killing at least 54, causing food shortages, and leaving about 200,000 homeless, in Puerto Rico, one man was swept away by a swollen river. In Cuba, there was extensive flooding and wind damage inland, destroying some 15,000 homes, killing 11. Sandy caused two deaths and damage estimated at $700 million in The Bahamas and its storm surge hit New York City on October 29, flooding streets, tunnels and subway lines and cutting power in and around the city. Damage in the United States amounted to $71.4 billion, in Canada, two were killed in Ontario and an estimated $100 million in damage was caused throughout Ontario and Quebec. Hurricane Sandy began as a low pressure system which developed sufficient organized convection to be classified as Tropical Depression Eighteen on October 22 south of Kingston and it moved slowly at first due to a ridge to the north. Low wind shear and warm waters allowed for strengthening, and the system was named Tropical Storm Sandy late on October 22, early on October 24, an eye began developing, and it was moving steadily northward due to an approaching trough. Later that day, the National Hurricane Center upgraded Sandy to hurricane status about 65 mi south of Kingston, at about 1900 UTC that day, Sandy made landfall near Kingston with winds of about 85 mph. Just offshore Cuba, Sandy rapidly intensified to winds of 115 mph, after Sandy exited Cuba, the structure became disorganized, and it turned to the north-northwest over the Bahamas. After briefly weakening to a storm, Sandy re-intensified into a hurricane. The storm moved around a low over the eastern United States and also to the southwest of a ridge over Atlantic Canada
10.
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
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The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is a US labor law that prohibits unjustified discrimination based on disability. The final version of the bill was signed into law on July 26,1990 and it was later amended in 2008 and signed by President George W. Bush with changes effective as of January 1,2009. ADA disabilities include both mental and physical medical conditions, a condition does not need to be severe or permanent to be a disability. Additionally, other conditions, such as gender identity disorders, are also excluded under the definition of disability. The ADA states that an entity shall not discriminate against a qualified individual with a disability. This applies to job application procedures, hiring, advancement and discharge of employees, job training, and other terms, conditions, covered entities include employers with 15 or more employees, as well as employment agencies, labor organizations, and joint labor-management committees. Prohibited discrimination may include, among other things, firing or refusing to hire someone based on a real or perceived disability, segregation, covered entities are also required to provide reasonable accommodations to job applicants and employees with disabilities. An employee or applicant who currently engages in the use of drugs is not considered qualified when a covered entity takes adverse action based on such use. There are many ways to discriminate against people based on disabilities, anyone known to have a history of mental disorders can be considered disabled. Employers with more than 15 employees must take care to all employees fairly. Even when an employee is doing a job well, she or he is not necessarily no longer disabled. The Court determined that state employees cannot sue their employer for violating ADA rules, state employees can, however, file complaints at the Department of Justice or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, who can sue on their behalf. Title II prohibits disability discrimination by all entities at the local level, e. g. school district, municipal, city, or county. Public entities must comply with Title II regulations by the U. S. Department of Justice and these regulations cover access to all programs and services offered by the entity. Access includes physical access described in the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, Title II applies to public transportation provided by public entities through regulations by the U. S. Department of Transportation. It includes the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, along all other commuter authorities. This section requires the provision of services by public entities that provide fixed route services. ADA also sets minimum requirements for space layout in order to facilitate wheelchair securement on public transport, Title II also applies to all state and local public housing, housing assistance, and housing referrals
11.
Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
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The MRT network encompasses 170.7 kilometres of route, with 102 stations in operation, on standard gauge. These operators also run bus and taxi services, thus facilitating full integration of transport services. The MRT is complemented by a number of local LRT networks in Bukit Panjang, Sengkang. The origins of the Mass Rapid Transit are derived from a forecast by city planners in 1967 which stated the need for an urban transport system by 1992. The initial S$5 billion construction of the Mass Rapid Transit network was Singapores largest public works project at the time, the network was built in stages, with the North South Line given priority because it passed through the Central Area that has a high demand for public transport. On 7 November 1987, the first section of the North South Line started operations, fifteen more stations were opened later, and the MRT system was officially launched on 12 March 1988 by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Another 21 stations were added to the system, the opening of Boon Lay on the East West Line on 6 July 1990 marked the completion of the system two years ahead of schedule. The MRT has subsequently been expanded, the first expansion was in 1996. This was a S$1.2 billion expansion of the North South Line into Woodlands, merging the Branch Line into the North South Line and joining Yishun and Choa Chu Kang Stations. The concept of having rail lines that bring people almost directly to their homes led to the introduction of the Light Rail Transit lines connecting with the MRT network, on 6 November 1999, the first LRT trains on the Bukit Panjang LRT went into operation. In 2002, the Changi Airport and Expo stations were added to the MRT network, the North East Line, the first line operated by SBS Transit, opened on 20 June 2003, one of the first fully automated heavy rail lines in the world. On 15 January 2006, after lobbying by the public. The Boon Lay Extension of the East West Line, consisting of Pioneer and Joo Koon stations, the Circle Line opened in four stages from 28 May 2009 to 14 January 2012. Stage 1 of Downtown Line opened on 22 December 2013 with its official opening made on 21 December 2013 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Stage 2 opened on 27 December 2015, and was officially opened on 26 December by Prime Minister Lee. The following table lists the Mass Rapid Transit lines that are operational, Except for the partly at-grade Bishan MRT Station. Most below-ground stations are deep and hardened enough to withstand conventional aerial bomb attacks, mobile phone and 3G service is available in every part of the network. Underground stations and the trains themselves are air-conditioned, while above-ground stations have ceiling fans installed, every station is equipped with General Ticketing Machines, a Passenger Service Centre and LED or plasma displays that show train service information and announcements. All stations are equipped with restrooms and payphones, some restrooms are located at street level, heavy-duty escalators at stations carry passengers up or down at a rate of 0.75 m/s, 50% faster than conventional escalators
12.
Singapore
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Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, sometimes referred to as the Lion City or the Little Red Dot, is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia. It lies one degree north of the equator, at the tip of peninsular Malaysia. Singapores territory consists of one island along with 62 other islets. Since independence, extensive land reclamation has increased its size by 23%. During the Second World War, Singapore was occupied by Japan, after early years of turbulence, and despite lacking natural resources and a hinterland, the nation developed rapidly as an Asian Tiger economy, based on external trade and its workforce. Singapore is a global commerce, finance and transport hub, the country has also been identified as a tax haven. Singapore ranks 5th internationally and first in Asia on the UN Human Development Index and it is ranked highly in education, healthcare, life expectancy, quality of life, personal safety, and housing, but does not fare well on the Democracy index. Although income inequality is high, 90% of homes are owner-occupied, 38% of Singapores 5.6 million residents are permanent residents and other foreign nationals. There are four languages on the island, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil. English is its language, most Singaporeans are bilingual. Singapore is a multiparty parliamentary republic, with a Westminster system of unicameral parliamentary government. The Peoples Action Party has won every election since self-government in 1959, however, it is unlikely that lions ever lived on the island, Sang Nila Utama, the Srivijayan prince said to have founded and named the island Singapura, perhaps saw a Malayan tiger. There are however other suggestions for the origin of the name, the central island has also been called Pulau Ujong as far back as the third century CE, literally island at the end in Malay. In 1299, according to the Malay Annals, the Kingdom of Singapura was founded on the island by Sang Nila Utama and these Indianized Kingdoms, a term coined by George Cœdès were characterized by surprising resilience, political integrity and administrative stability. In 1613, Portuguese raiders burned down the settlement, which by then was part of the Johor Sultanate. The wider maritime region and much trade was under Dutch control for the following period, in 1824 the entire island, as well as the Temenggong, became a British possession after a further treaty with the Sultan. In 1826, Singapore became part of the Straits Settlements, under the jurisdiction of British India, prior to Raffles arrival, there were only about a thousand people living on the island, mostly indigenous Malays along with a handful of Chinese. By 1860 the population had swelled to over 80,000, many of these early immigrants came to work on the pepper and gambier plantations
13.
North South MRT Line
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The North South Line is the first Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore which stretches from Jurong East to Marina South Pier. The line is 44 kilometres long with 27 stations, including Canberra, travelling from one end of this line to the other end takes about one hour. The line is coloured red on the rail map, as the name implies, the line connects central Singapore to both northern and southern parts of the island. In the clockwise direction, the North South Line starts at Jurong East, the line then passes through Choa Chu Kang, where it interchanges with the Bukit Panjang LRT, and Woodlands, where it will interchange with the Thomson-East Coast Line from 2019. Going further south, the North South Line passes through Bishan, in the city, the North South Line interchanges with the Downtown Line at Newton. It then passes through Orchard at the end of Orchard Road. At the eastern end of Orchard Road, it interchanges with the North East Line, cross-platform interchange with the East West Line is possible at City Hall and Raffles Place. Most southbound trains terminate at Marina Bay, where one can transfer to the Circle Line, and from 2021, some trains however, terminate at Marina South Pier. The North South line was the first MRT line in Singapore, nine more stations from Novena to Outram Park followed on 12 December 1987, with through service onto what is today the East West Line. The northern terminal was extended to Yishun on 20 December 1988 when Yishun, separate operation of the North South and East West Lines only started on 4 November 1989, when the extension to Marina Bay was opened. After the Branch Line opened in 1990, the Woodlands Extension MRT line was envisioned to close the gap between Yishun and Choa Chu Kang, but on the second round of planning, the government decided to build these station and omit Sungei Kadut station from the plan. Sungei Kadut station will be later if the towns population justifies the necessity for the station. With the completion of the Woodlands Extension in 1996, the Branch Line became part of the North South Line, the Jurong East Modification Project consisted of the construction of a new platform and the addition of a fourth track to Jurong East Station. It has been in use since 27 May 2011, originally it opened from 7am to 9am, this was expanded from 27 December 2011 and it also opens during the evening peak hour. A 1-kilometre, one station extension from Marina Bay to Marina South Pier station was opened on 23 November 2014, the extension serves the Marina South Pier and the Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore in Marina Bay. On 27 April 2015, construction started on Canberra Station which will be built along a section of the line. Similar to Dover Station, the platform will be of an elevated side platform layout. Construction is expected to be completed by 2019 to serve the upcoming developments near the station, subsequently, installation began in May 2011 at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station
14.
East West MRT Line
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The East West Line is the second Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore. It currently takes about 70 minutes to travel from one end to the other, the line is coloured green on MRT system maps. There is a tunnel between Kembangan and Bedok where the line ascends into the hill at Siglap, and there is a longer tunnel due to the space limitations between Kallang and Redhill. The line passes through the median of roads in Tanah Merah, Bedok, Queenstown, Commonwealth, Dover. Originally, East West Line had a trip that terminated at Tanah Merah after peak hours. There was a connection to the Changi Airport before it changed to a shuttle service from 22 July 2003. EWL is currently the line connecting east and downtown. The East West Line is the line to be built. It was extended to Clementi on 12 March 1988 and to Lakeside on 5 November 1988, additionally, the eastern extension to Tanah Merah was opened on 4 November 1989, and to Pasir Ris on 16 December 1989. The last station of the system, Boon Lay opened on 6 July 1990. On 18 October 2001 Dover station was opened, and then on 25 February 2002 the Expo, on 28 February 2009 the Pioneer and Joo Koon stations were officially opened to the public. On 11 January 2011, the Tuas West Extension was announced and it is an extension of the East West Line from Joo Koon to Tuas Link. The stations — Gul Circle, Tuas Crescent, Tuas West Road, the MRT viaduct is also integrated with part of a 4.8 km long road viaduct along Pioneer Road, which will increase the road capacity to cope with anticipated increase in traffic. A 26-hectare depot will also be built to provide stabling and maintenance facilities for the trains that will be bought for the extension. On 4 May 2012, the Land Transport Authority marked the start of construction of the Tuas West Extension with a ceremony at the site of the future Tuas Link station. Underground stations already featured the doors since 1987 and they were first installed at Jurong East and Pasir Ris stations in 2009 as trial runs. Installation of platform screen doors began at Clementi and Lakeside stations on April 2010, on 31 August 2011, the last station, Expo, began installation of half-height platform screen doors. The new sleepers installed will allow trains to move along the tracks smoothly, in order to carry out works at night when trains are not operational, train services were ended earlier on the East West Line
15.
North East MRT Line
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The North East Line is the third Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore and the worlds second longest fully underground, automated and driverless, rapid transit line after the Circle Line. The line is the worlds first fully automated and driverless underground rapid transit line at 19. 2km with 16 stations, travelling from one end of this line to the other end takes 33 minutes. This line is coloured purple in the rail map, the North East Line is also the first line to feature Art in Transit across all 16 stations. As the name implies, the line connects central Singapore to the part of the island. Transfer to the North South Line is provided at Dhoby Ghaut, to the East West Line at Outram Park and to the Circle Line at Serangoon, Dhoby Ghaut, the North East Line interchanges with the Downtown Line at Chinatown and Little India. The North East Line will interchange with the future Thomson-East Coast Line at Outram Park and it passes through the busy areas such as Chinatown, Clarke Quay and Dhoby Ghaut, and through the mature and new residential estates at Potong Pasir, Serangoon, Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol. The North East Line passes through the Eu Tong Sen Street, Serangoon Road, Bendemeer Underpass, Upper Serangoon Road and this line is the first in Singapore to be entirely underground and the first line to be operated by SBS Transit. The North East Line is the first line in Singapore to have integrated into all its 16 stations under the Art in Transit programme. Other than the Art in Transit programme, the architecture for the stations are typical of the design of the early 2000s with lots of white, glass. This kind of design can be seen in other stations built during this period like the Shenzhen Metro. As of 2015, trains operate at intervals during peak hours, five-minute intervals during mid-day service and six-minute intervals in the early morning. North East Line dates back to 1986, where the Communications Minister Yeo Ning Hong had announced that it would be feasible to extend the MRT once it is 3 million, the line would have gone from Punggol and Seletar/Jalan Kayu to Outram Park. In the initial stages of planning, Outram Park was initially planned to be the terminus of the North East Line. However, in 1993, the Land Transport Authority decided to extend the line southwards to HarbourFront, french company Alstom was chosen as the main contractor and manager of the project. The operating license was given to new rail operator SBS Transit in order to foster competition with SMRT Trains, construction began on 1 January 1997 and was completed on 20 January 2001, but all the stations had been completed with new signages. The line was scheduled for completion in December 2002, but due to problems in the automation. It was finally opened on 20 June 2003, with higher fares than existing lines supposedly to compensate for the construction costs. At the time that the line was opened, all of the stations were operating except Buangkok, SBS Transit announced that these would open only when there was a critical mass of passengers in those areas
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Circle MRT Line
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The Circle Line is Singapores fourth Mass Rapid Transit line. This fully underground line is 35.5 kilometres long with 30 stations and is automatically operated. It takes about one hour to travel from one end to the other, the line is coloured orange on the rail map. As the name implies, the line is a circle route linking all radial routes leading to the city. It also covers parts of the Central Area. From Promenade, the branches with one branch terminating at Dhoby Ghaut. Transfers to the North South Line are provided at Bishan, Dhoby Ghaut and Marina Bay, East West Line at Paya Lebar and Buona Vista, the Downtown Line interchanges with the Circle Line at Bayfront, Promenade and Botanic Gardens. Future sections of the Downtown Line will interchange with the line at MacPherson, the future Thomson-East Coast Line will interchange with the Circle Line at Caldecott and Marina Bay. The Circle Line is the first medium capacity line in Singapore, as a medium capacity line, each Circle Line train has only three cars instead of the six-car configuration as seen on other currently operating MRT lines excluding the Downtown Line. As of May 2015, the ridership is 398,000. The line reduces travelling time for commuters by allowing them to shorten trips between north and east or north and west, bypassing busy interchange stations like City Hall and Raffles Place. On 8 October 2011, the Circle Line became fully operational to commemorate its operator SMRTs 24th Anniversary of Rail Services since the establishment in 1987. Plans for the Circle Line date back to the 1980s, the then Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yeo Ning Hong stated that such a system would be feasible when the population reaches four million. The Circle Line was first known as the Marina Line in May 1998, the Marina Line was initially planned as a 12-station underground line, starting from Chinatown and Dhoby Ghaut via the National Stadium to either Kallang or Paya Lebar station. However, the Chinatown leg was truncated and was reduced to 6 stations up to Stadium station. On the other hand, an extension towards Upper Paya Lebar was added in the year 2000. The Marina Line was also merged with an LRT line that goes from Paya Lebar to Buona Vista via Serangoon, stations in Circle Line that were a part of the original Marina Line plans include Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Promenade, Nicoll Highway and Stadium. Also, the part of the Marina Line from Chinatown to Promenade is now part of the Downtown Line, construction started in April 2002, and was supposed to be opened from 2006 and fully opened in 2010, with an estimated cost of S$6
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Mind the gap
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The phrase was first introduced in 1969 on the London Underground in the United Kingdom. It is today associated with the UK among tourists because of the particularly British word choice. The phrase Mind the gap was coined in around 1968 for an automated announcement, after it had become impractical for drivers. London Underground chose digital recording using solid state equipment with no moving parts, as data storage capacity was expensive, the phrase had to be short. A concise warning was also easier to paint onto the platform, the equipment was supplied by AEG Telefunken. Lodge read the phrases to line up the equipment for level. While Lodges recording is still in use, some use other recordings. One was recorded by voice artist Emma Clarke, others, on the Piccadilly line for example, are by Tim Bentinck. At least 10 stations were supplied with announcers manufactured by PA Communications Ltd. of Milton Keynes, the recorded voice is that of Keith Wilson, their industrial sales manager at the time. It can still be heard, at Paddington for example, in March 2013 it was reported that an old Mind the gap recording by the actor Oswald Laurence would be restored to Embankment station so that the actors widow could hear his voice. Because some platforms on the London Underground are curved and the stock that uses them are straight. In the absence of a device to fill the gap, some form of visual and auditory warning is needed to advise passengers of the risk of being caught unaware, the recording is also used where platforms are non-standard height. Deep-level tube trains have a height around 200 mm less than sub-surface stock trains. Where trains share platforms, for example some Piccadilly line and District line stations, on Londons Metropolitan line, a gap has been created between the train and the platform edge at Aldgate and Baker Street stations. This is due to the out of the old A stock trains and their replacement with S stock trains. Mind the gap audible warnings are prominently played on the Central line platforms at Bank, the Northern line northbound platform at Embankment, There are markings on the platform edge which usually line up with the doors on the cars. In Dublins DART, the mind the gap is announced at each station along the line. Mind the gap signage is present at all stations in the city centre
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International Standard Serial Number
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An International Standard Serial Number is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title, ISSN are used in ordering, cataloging, interlibrary loans, and other practices in connection with serial literature. The ISSN system was first drafted as an International Organization for Standardization international standard in 1971, ISO subcommittee TC 46/SC9 is responsible for maintaining the standard. When a serial with the content is published in more than one media type. For example, many serials are published both in print and electronic media, the ISSN system refers to these types as print ISSN and electronic ISSN, respectively. The format of the ISSN is an eight digit code, divided by a hyphen into two four-digit numbers, as an integer number, it can be represented by the first seven digits. The last code digit, which may be 0-9 or an X, is a check digit. Formally, the form of the ISSN code can be expressed as follows, NNNN-NNNC where N is in the set, a digit character. The ISSN of the journal Hearing Research, for example, is 0378-5955, where the final 5 is the check digit, for calculations, an upper case X in the check digit position indicates a check digit of 10. To confirm the check digit, calculate the sum of all eight digits of the ISSN multiplied by its position in the number, the modulus 11 of the sum must be 0. There is an online ISSN checker that can validate an ISSN, ISSN codes are assigned by a network of ISSN National Centres, usually located at national libraries and coordinated by the ISSN International Centre based in Paris. The International Centre is an organization created in 1974 through an agreement between UNESCO and the French government. The International Centre maintains a database of all ISSNs assigned worldwide, at the end of 2016, the ISSN Register contained records for 1,943,572 items. ISSN and ISBN codes are similar in concept, where ISBNs are assigned to individual books, an ISBN might be assigned for particular issues of a serial, in addition to the ISSN code for the serial as a whole. An ISSN, unlike the ISBN code, is an identifier associated with a serial title. For this reason a new ISSN is assigned to a serial each time it undergoes a major title change, separate ISSNs are needed for serials in different media. Thus, the print and electronic versions of a serial need separate ISSNs. Also, a CD-ROM version and a web version of a serial require different ISSNs since two different media are involved, however, the same ISSN can be used for different file formats of the same online serial
Media related to Train station platform gap fillers at Wikimedia Commons