EcoTechnoPark
The ETP is a center for the practical implementation and demonstration of uST Technologies in a temperate climate
It is located in Maryina Gorka (Belarus) covering an area of more than 30 hectares. The center conducts research, development and experimental and technological work related to transport and infrastructure complexes in overpass design.
The territory of the EcoTechnoPark used to be a tank range with its ground literally soaked with hydrochloric oil and gunpowder. After the abandoned area was taken over by the company, it was cleaned up for several years under the supervision of the General Designer and Board Chairman of UST Inc. Anatoli Unitsky. Today this place is the incarnation of the company’s philosophy. Not only are eco-friendly uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes built in the Innovation Center, but other green technologies are also practiced. In the ETP, you can see neat avenues of trees, well-tended gardens, vineyards and clean lakes. Here man does not come into conflict with nature, but peacefully coexists with it
Five different types of transport and infrastructure complexes have been built in the EcoTechnoPark; twelve fundamentally different models of uPods have been tested that were designed and manufactured by the company on its own production facilities and have different speeds, capacities and designs. Today two more transport and infrastructure complexes for heavy rolling stock weighing up to 60 tons are under construction
Implemented Transport & Infrastructure Complexes
Flexible string rail overpass
It has a simple and functional design. It can be built in a short time, even in areas with hostile terrain: the flexible track structure, i.e. sagging under its own weight, is characterized by high ease of installation
Specifications
Semi-rigid string rail overpass
It is designed for the travel of high-capacity and heavy-duty uPods. There is no need to adjust the speed when rail electric cars pass through the supporting towers due to minimized deflections of the rails.
The semi-rigid track is an intermediate solution between the flexible and rigid types of the string rail track structure. In the ETP, the track is located low off the ground for reasons of economy and ease of access to uPods during tests
Specifications
Superlight string rail overpass (based on coiled tubing)
It is designed for transportation in remote areas and characterized by a relatively low cost and low load capacity. The rail here is represented by a flexible continuous coiled tube with a bundle of high-strength steel wires and a special hardening polymer filler inside.
The installation of the track is simplified due to the absence of cross butt joints in the rail body (pipe) and sections. The span in this type of overpass can be up to 2 kilometers long
Specifications
Truss-type string rail overpass
It is implemented on the 2-in-1 principle, which is a promising development of UST Inc. The lines of urban and high-speed interurban traffic are combined on two levels – on the upper and lower chords of the truss with the help of hinged and suspended uBuses. This type of track structure provides sufficient rigidity and smoothness of the track to develop speeds up to 500 km/h.
Due to the short length of the transport complex in the EcoTechnoPark (up to 1 km), uPods can only reach speeds of up to 100 km/h
Specifications
Cargo string rail complex
It consists of a continuous closed multi-wheel vehicle uTrans U4-100 (with circular traffic) and cargo uPod uTruck U4-131 moving on the truss-type string rail overpass to transport bulk and loose cargoes
Specifications
Transport & Infrastructure Complexes under construction
Rigid heavy-duty string rail overpass
It is designed for operation of heavy uPods weighing more than 50 tons. Absence of large deflections during the travel of rolling stock makes it possible to develop high speeds.
With a significant reduction in material consumption, it has a high load-bearing capacity, as well as high rigidity and smoothness of the track structure
Specifications
Semi-rigid heavy-duty string rail overpass
It enables movement of heavy uPods weighing more than 30 tons and is characterized by long supportless spans – more than 250 meters long. It allows overcoming water obstacles, mountain gorges, as well as laying roads over transport, industrial, residential and energy infrastructure facilities
Specifications
Infrastructure facilities in the EcoTechnoPark
uST passenger terminal
The terminal is integrated with an anchoring structure. It receives horizontal load up to 1000 tons (including temperature forces). It enables transfer between the two platforms serving uPods in suspended (on the second floor) and hinged (on the third floor) versions.
The building has a control room and the string technology museum (first floor). Such infrastructure facilities can accommodate shopping centers, catering facilities, etc. This allows the customer to receive extra profit in the operation of uST Transport & Infrastructure Complexes, which shortens their payback period
Indoor passenger station
The indoor passenger station is part of uST terminal integrated with an anchoring structure. It is designed for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers from suspended uPods – bi-rail and quad-rail ones. It is equipped with lounge seats, air-conditioning, sound information systems, video surveillance and intelligent security control. Automatic sliding gates are installed at the exit.
The capacity of the station is 10,000 passengers per hour. The total area is 200 m².
Outdoor passenger station
The outdoor passenger station (with a canopy) is located on the roof of the anchoring structure and designed for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers from hinged uPods. It is equipped with lounge seats, sound information, video surveillance and intelligent security control systems.
Station capacity – 10,000 passengers per hour. Platform area – 80 m². Floor area – 280 m²
Embarkation platform on the semi-rigid string rail overpass
It is designed for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers from uPods. Special lightweight structure with a roof and side panels in the embarkation and disembarkation area ensures protection against precipitation while waiting for transport.
Platform area – 11 m²
Control room
The control room is designed for collecting, analyzing and storing information, and making operational decisions on its basis. There are four workplaces.
Technical equipment: server, stationary personal computers, electrical and information networks, communications equipment, telephony, video surveillance
EcoHouse
The EcoTechnoPark has an EcoHouse built with green technologies and eco-friendly materials.
All the land that was cleared for the foundation was moved to the roof of the building, which made it possible to preserve the fertile soil. The same technology is used in the construction of stations and the garages with repair shops for string transport
String bridge
It demonstrates alternative applications for string communications. Outwardly, the string bridge is almost indistinguishable from a conventional bridge, but it employs uST technology: composite parts of a string overpass with coiled tubing as the main load-bearing element.
The technology eliminates expansion seams throughout the entire structure. It increases evenness, strength and durability of the bridge, as well as reduces material consumption by several times, thus decreasing the construction cost. The characteristics of the string bridge are fully compliant with the applicable international standards for bridge crossings
