Noise and vibration are sometimes among the major concerns regarding the effects of a transit project on the surrounding community and are key elements of the environmental impact assessment process for public transportation projects. A transit system is often placed near population centers by necessity and may cause noise and vibration at nearby residences and other sensitive types of land use.

Our team's experts assess and elaborate proper Noise and Vibration Impact Analysis connected to the level of environmental analysis and review based on the significance of any potential associated environmental impacts and on the scope and complexity of the proposed project.

The goals of a transit noise and vibration impact assessment are to:

determine existing noise and vibration levels;

assess project noise and vibration for potential impact;

evaluate the effect of mitigation options on impacts.

TED's team prepares hazard analyses to assist local authorities in developing a safe and secure transit system. Reports provided discuss safety critical systems and subsystems, types of hazard analysis, identification, elimination, and/or control hazards.

The primary purpose is to identify and describe hazards that might arise from flaws and fault conditions in the design and operation of a system or subsystem.

TED's team provides assessment of the environmental setting of the proposed transports project in terms of hydrology and hydrogeology and value the potential impacts that the construction and operation of the proposed transports project will have, including the analysis of appropriate mitigation measures to limit any identified significant impacts to water.

The objectives of the assessment are:

produce a baseline study of the existing water environment (surface water and groundwater including connectivity with local designated sites) in the area of the proposed project site;

identify likely negative impacts of the proposed project on surface water and groundwater during construction and operational phases of the project;

identify mitigation measures to avoid, remediate or reduce significant negative effects; and,

assess significant residual effects and cumulative impacts of the proposed project along with other local infrastructural project.

TED's team provides of hydraulic analysis and value the potential impacts that the construction and operation of the proposed transports project will have of the environment, including hydraulic facility design will address the following:

Culvert design;

Open channel design;

Bridge drainage design;

Underdrain system design;

Roadway drainage design;

Tunnel drainage system design;

Trench drainage system design;

Pump stations;

Debris control;

Siphons;

Energy Dissipators;

TED's team provides of Geotechnical Analysis and Investigations.

In order to provide a consistent and dependable design, TED use a standardized investigation approach, as well as reporting and documentation practices and procedures across all project segments. Uniformity and consistency for geotechnical investigation methods and documents facilitate sharing among technical and design teams throughout the design and construction stages of the project. The geotechnical investigations and reports are prepared by knowledgeable personnel with considerable experience in geotechnical, geological, design, and construction field, relevant to the project.

Geotechnical investigation performed by TED include:

Field preparation (work plans, permits, etc.);

Field exploration;

Laboratory testing;

Report documents;

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), European Standards Eurocodes as well as the American best practices as there guide of the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Association of State Highway, and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); United States Geological Survey (USGS); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and other locals standards, codes and guidelines.

The general basis of earthworks design performed by TED follow best practices currently used in railroad systems design, such as European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI); best American practices such as the Manual of Railway Engineering issued by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA); U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) - Technical and Design Guides; American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and other locals standard.

The earth structures are designed with the highest geometrical accuracy in order to ensure the maximum stability of the track. These earth structures shall also be able to support the heavy dynamic load and the high level of vibration due to high-speed trains.

TED design aerial structures such as Concrete and Steel Bridges, Concrete and Steel Arch Bridges, Cable-Stayed Bridges and Concrete and Steel Viaducts.

Design elements that are required for conventional or high-speed rail construction are identified, by TED, through basic structural design parameters which including material type selection, construction options, span length and span depth ratio.

TED's design parameters for aerial structures:

Structural Performance: accomplishment of superstructure and substructure design to ensure compliance with stringent project specific design criteria, including seismic resistance, fatigue resistance, reliability in train operation and passenger comfort issues. Design's choices also take into account the easiness of repair in case of seismic events and collision damage protection to allow a quick resumption of service.

Functionality: comply train run functionality and track bed support, preserving also the electrification clearance requirements for traction power supply and distribution, communications, train control, as well as foresee space for sidewalks, duct banks, sound walls, and drainage.

Safety: at least no structural failure criteria in the event of extreme seismic events, continuation of safe operation of conventional and high-speed trains after a seismic event and ability to perform required service, inspection and maintenance operations during routine and emergency conditions.

Serviceability: easiness of routine inspections, maintenance and repairs.

Economy: Realization of cost efficiency based upon scale economy, easiness and speed in construction, use of prefabricated segments or rolling forms in standard superstructure cross sections.

Trackside Environment: Attenuation of noise and vibrations, reduction of visual impacts and shadows, maintaining the required access to the property and promoting an appropriate aesthetic with the surrounding environment.

The integral design is created by a team of specialists in a three-dimensional model, often using a BIM model (Building Information Model).

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI), European Standards Eurocodes (0 to 9) as well as the American best practices as there guide of the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) - Codes and Guidelines, American Association of State Highway, and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges and Bridge Welding Code, American Concrete Institute (ACI) - Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete, American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) - Steel Construction Manual; and other locals standard.

Investigation, design, project management and supervision for underground projects are by performed by TED.

TED performed slope stability analysis and remediation, basic seismic evaluations of slope stability, lateral earth pressures, and liquefaction, and design pile foundations, shallow and deep foundations, earth retaining structures.

TED design railroad tunnels (Bored, Cut-and-cover and Jacked) using conventional (NATM) or mechanical (TBM) tunneling methods following best practices currently used on the design of railroad tunnels, such as European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) and best American practices as the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA) - Guidelines for Rail Tunnel Design, Construction, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation, American Association of State Highway, and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - Road Tunnel Design and Construction Guide Specifications , National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - 130 and 502, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) standards and guidelines and other locals standard.

TED performs aerodynamic and ventilation simulations through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling.

TED design railroads drainage such as culvert, highway drainage, bridge drainage, storm water drainage, storage facility, pump station, channel work and other hydraulic structures.

Ted provide Pavement Design in Rail and Road Construction and especially in application of bituminous track beds for the high-speed rail networks.

TED design intrusion protection systems required for conventional passenger railroad lines, High-Speed railroad lines and freight railroad lines.

Identify intrusion hazards in shared rights-of-way is a key safety issue for existing transportation systems. Reduce intrusion risk will allow high-speed lines to operate adjacent to existing transportation systems in a safe and acceptable manner.

The general basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the UIC (International Union of Railways), for railway lines, even considering European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) as well as the American best practices as the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) guidelines regarding the separation and protection of adjacent transportation systems and conventional railroads and Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 213-214.

The design of new railway lines inevitably leads to interferences with natural gas pipelines, Petroleum pipelines, Crude Oil pipelines, Power lines, Water lines, Sewer lines, Telephone or fiber optic lines and other aerial and underground utilities.

Further significant interferences are due to proximity towards airports and others large transport infrastructure.

TED plans rail crossings according to international best practices, with particular reference to the standards and guidelines of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), American Petroleum Institute (API), Gas Research Institute (GRI), National Electrical Safety Code and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) - Airport Design.

Train passenger stations fulfill multiple roles. Stations must provide the required functional services for the train systems, accommodate the needs of passengers, and support the administrative requirements for train operations.

Safe, secure, and comfortable stations that are of high quality promote and encourage ridership are an important part of design developed by TED.

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) as well as the American best practices as there guide of the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) - Codes and Guidelines, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 49 CFR 200 Series as specified in FRA Railroad Safety Regulations and other locals standard.

TED design Traction Electrification Systems at 1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC.

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the UIC (International Union of Railways), for the railway lines, even considering European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) as well as American best practices as the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and other local Standard, Codes and Guidelines.

TED also provide criteria for the traction electrification system (TES) grounding and bonding requirements and for protection against electric shock of the Conventional and High Speed Trains in order to:

Provide a general system description and define the general topics of the TES grounding and bonding requirements and provisions for protection against electric shock;

Define the traction power supply system (TPS) general grounding and bonding requirements;

Define the overhead contact system (OCS) general grounding and bonding requirements;

Define the passenger station platform grounding and bonding requirements;

Define the structure grounding and bonding requirements;

Define the overhead bridge protection and bonding requirements;

Define the requirements for protection against electric shock;

Provide the summary and design criteria for TES grounding and bonding requirements;

Provide the summary and design criteria for TES provisions for protection against electric shock.

In particular for the overhead contact system (OCS):

Provide a general system description and define the general performance requirements of the overhead contact system;

Define the overhead contact system performance requirements;

Provide a general detailed description of the overhead contact system;

Define the environmental requirements and climatic conditions applicable to the overhead contact system;

Define the electrical requirements including the electrical clearances applicable to the overhead contact system;

Define the overhead contact system mechanical requirements;

Define the overhead contact system structural requirements;

Define the grounding and bonding requirements applicable to overhead contact system;

Define the overhead contact system requirements in order to be adequately implemented in the design, procurement, construction and testing processes;

Define the requirements applicable for the execution of the design, construction, testing and commissioning of the overhead contact system.

TED design Traction Electric Substation (ES) for systems at 1.5 kV DC, 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC, and performs traction power simulations in different system scenarios in order to verify the ability of traction power systems to allow trains traveling up to 3 minutes ones from each other, under normal condition and in scenarios of substation failure.

TED design other traction power facility like Paralleling Stations (PS) that contains an autotransformer which helps support the OCS voltage in the electrified system and Switching Stations (SWS) that are traction power facilities required to be located approximately mid-way between Traction Electric Substations in order to split the electrical sections.

TED performing Electric and Magnetic Field (EMF) simulations for ES, PS and SWS.

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the UIC (International Union of Railways), for the railway lines, even considering European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) as well as American best practices as the Manual of Railway Engineering of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and other local Standard, Codes and Guidelines.

TED design Electrical Transmission Lines at 120/132/138 and 220 kV and Electric and Magnetic Field (EMF) simulations associated with the use of electric power.

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the European best practices as the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), as well as American best practices as the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and other local Standard, Codes and Guidelines.

TED design systems of Automatic Train Control (ATC), systems that provide:

Automatic Train Protection (ATP) functions of train detection, collision and overspeed prevention, broken rail detection, interlocking control, hazard detection, train separation, and work zone protection;

Automatic Train Operation (ATO) information and control functions;

Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) functions to provide central supervisors with status information and the ability to control train operations.

This design is based in European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) and specifically at the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) and European Train Control System (ETCS).

TED designs railway communication systems based in European GSM-R System.

The generals basis for the design developed by TED follow the best practices of the UIC (International Union of Railways), for the railway lines, even considering European Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI).

TED also provide criteria for the:

Identification and description of site location and communication system equipment required for conventional and high-speed railways;

Identification of communication industry standards for site equipment design and layout;

description of foreseen systems equipment and interfaces based on current industry best practices that will be applied in planned railway alignments;

Radio Frequency Propagation Simulations.