Abstract
This paper tracks the history of trams over the last two centuries, and reviews the engineering evolution and technical innovations of Embedded Rail Systems (ERS) technology from cradle (late 1 9th century) to present date (2008). The starting point was horse drawn tramway in the 1 9th century and trams became the most popular means of transportation in cities until the invention of the car in the early 2 0th century. Since the late eighties trams have seen a resurgence in popularity as congestion clogs the roads of our cities. For trams that run along our roads the rail needs to be embedded to allow both tram and road vehicle passage. This paper splits the evolution of ERS since the 80s into 5 generations: ? 1st generation ERS ? discrete supported track with fasteners ? 2nd generation ERS ? continuously supported track with fasteners ? 3rd generation ERS ? fastener-less poured solution with bottom-up construction ? 4th generation ERS ? fastener-less preclad rails with top-down construction ? 5th generation ERS ? pre-manufactured panels including rails, embedment, road finish, drainage etc. The paper assesses the advantages and disadvantages of each generation and aims to offer the reader a framework to distinguish and to understand the particularities and typical characteristics of each of the different ERS on the market in 2008.

Abstract
The LUSI mud volcanoe blast that occurred on May 29, 2006 has had a prolonged impact, even up until now (early 2011). One of the consequences can be viewed geologically: subsidence is causing houses to suffer cracks. BMKG, in-cooperation with PT. Lapindo Brantas has conducted a survey of gravity around the location of LUSI in 2008. The author tried to analyse the structure using gravity data measured on 5-12 July 2008. Gravity measurements carried out around LUSI included as many as 171 points. To separate the anomaly the author used the spectral analysis of the bouguer anomalies and the second vertical derivative method. Spectrum analysis showed that the source of some regional anomalies lie at a depth average of 1800 m, and other regional anomalies at a depth average of 130 m. Based on the forward modeling method with a 2D structure we can identify the structure that caused LUSI to experience many new cracks and also caused the subsidence in the area around LUSI.

Abstract
Bridges which were built before 1 970s, either in the US or Japan or Europe, had been designed with little or no consideration for seismic demand. Majority of these bridges are supported by reinforced concrete bents and pier walls that lack the ductility and strength to resist earthquakes. Meanwhile strong motion earthquakes have revealed all vulnerable places on each of those bridges if built in seismically active region. After the 1 971 San Fernando earthquake the US started several seismic retrofit programs. Retrofit programs in the 1 980s included the first use of isolators on bridges and a program to retrofit single-column bents. These programs were greatly accelerated after the 1 989 Santa Cruz (Loma Prieta) and 1 994 Northridge earthquakes. After the 1 994 Northridge earthquake it was observed that no serious damage would have occurred if the previous retrofit program had already been implemented. Japan also started similar programs, especially after the 1 995 Kobe earthquake. Europe may not be out of this global problem and must have own retrofit program not only for buildings (Eurocode 8, Part 3 : Assessment and retrofitting of buildings, EN 1 998-3:2005) but for bridges as well. Some solutions for retrofitting the abutment, bent and column of concrete bridges recommended in these programs as well as some recommendations and comments made by the author will be presented in this paper.

Abstract
The Geological Survey of Namibia established a National Seismological Network in 2000 which has expanded to seven seismological stations to date, with a view to improve seismological records and ultimately generate a Seismic Hazard Map of the country. As a signatory of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- Ban Treaty (CTBT), the government in cooperation with CTBTO established an International Monitoring Station (IMS) in Tsumeb which monitors nuclear explosions worldwide. Collaborative projects include researches in Geosciences and weather studies with AfricaArray, with the main objective of studying the crustal studies. Walvis Bay Ridge Passive Source and Active Seismic Experiments with German Research Centre for Geoscience (GFZ) wwith a view of understanding the roll of the plume-lithosphere interaction during break-up of the Southern Atlantic Ocean and lithospheric structure of the passive volcanic margin of Namibia. More recently, seismology in schools project in collaboration with the British Geological Survey has been started, with a primary object of encouraging learners to take science as career.

Abstract
There are 62km of viaducts along the 74km of red and green lines that make up the Metro of Dubai. This project is a major undertaking which incorporates a viaduct design - the U-shaped viaduct - developed specially by SYSTRA for this type of project. We are therefore going firstly to describe this concept, chronicle its development and see how it has been applied in Dubai.