The international engineering company Unitsky String Technologies Inc. has reached the final stage of the implementation of the first project intended for commercial use On the territory of the «Akvarel (Aquarelle)» Ecopark (city Maryina Gorka, Belarus) the transportation and infrastructure complex «Unilite» is already built. At this stage it is commissioned as a cargo transportation system. A number of measures are underway to change the purpose of the complex to cargo-passenger.
Purpose and technical features
The uST compact and cost-effective transport and infrastructure solution will ensure the fulfillment of social and economic tasks of the Ecopark – transportation of visitors, employees, as well as cargoes of the suburban complex on the territory of 168 hectares, their delivery to recreational areas, lakeshores, zoo and other facilities. At the initial stage, the rolling stock will provide transportation of cargoes. In the future it is planned to change the purpose of the complex from cargo to cargo-passenger with justification of safety and obtaining the relevant permits.
The 1120 m long transport and infrastructure complex consists of two stations, a flexible string-rail track structure, four intermediate supports (one of them is rotary), an automated control system and – Unimobile «Unilite» rolling stock. Due to this the complex owes its name.
• The unmanned electric vehicle on combined wheels can travel on a string-rail flyover at a height of 10 meters at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
• The Unimobile is designed to carry 6 people or transport 850 kg of cargo.
• The capacity of such a complex (if the number of Unimobiles is increased) can reach 10,000 passengers or 1,000 tons of cargo per day.
The rolling stock and string-rail flyover require minimal implementation costs. As with other uST solutions, the complex significantly outperforms cable cars, as well as elevated subways and other current transportation alternatives in flyover design, with equal performance.
The launch of the project – a defining event in the history of UST Inc. This is the first time the complex has been realized not for testing and demonstration purposes, but for commercial applications, said the CEO of Unitsky String Technologies Inc. Nadezhda Kosareva: «This project allowed us to gain experience of going through the full cycle of uST complex realization for commercial use: from design to commissioning».
«Unilite» can be used for cargo and passenger transportation in various circumstances:
• in areas with difficult terrain, water obstacles, mountain gorges and other natural obstacles (with spans of up to 1 km or more);
• in regions with strict environmental requirements;
• on closed territories of resort areas, historical sites, recreational complexes, where ground transportation is restricted;
• for taking passengers to railway stations, ports and airports at «last mile».
Advantages of the complex
The least expensive version of the uST complex was built in just six months. It was erected using groundless installation with local accesses from the ground near anchor and intermediate supports. This method of construction is economical because it does not require extensive excavation. In addition, the complex has a number of competitive advantages.
• Environmental friendliness
The light openwork supports are 250 meters apart and the stations are located at the sides of the track. With a total site area of the complex of 0.5 hectares, less than 0.1 hectares went to the supports and stations for which the land is alienated. Thus, the string-rail flyover does not disturb the natural topography of the area, preserves the landscape, fertile soil, as well as the biodiversity of the adjacent area.
• Cost-effectiveness
The complex is characterized by low construction costs due to the low number of expensive components in the structure, as well as low operating costs due to low electricity consumption, e.g. at 50 km/h the electricity consumption is 4.5 kW∙h/100 km, or is it equivalent to the conventional fuel consumption of 1.1 l/100 km.
• Safety
The tracks are located above the ground – on the second tier, so the risk of collisions with foreign objects is minimized. Unilite's operation is controlled by a complex of security systems and an automated control system. Plus, there's a dispatcher monitoring the situation.