Abstract: A system and method of predicting the financial impact of environmental or geologic events (that include one or more environmental or geologic conditions) by determining a recurrence interval of each past condition in each location, determining the correlation between the past condition and the observable financial impact of the past event, calculating a predicted observable financial impact of each past event, calculating a predicted financial impact of each past event recurring by multiplying the predicted observable financial impact of the past event by the recurrence interval of the past condition, grouping the past events into a plurality of groups based on the predicted financial impact of the past condition recurring, determining a threshold for each group, identifying current or forecasted conditions, and determining the predicted financial impact of the current or forecasted conditions by comparing the current or forecasted conditions with the thresholds.

Abstract: Taught is an apparatus for converting energy in a wheeled vehicle, comprising a wheel rim; a tire; and a plurality of hydraulic plunger cylinders alternatively distributed on periphery of the wheel rim.

Abstract: An applicator (10) for applying a friction modifying material to the top of rails (12). The wayside applicator includes an applicator bar (26) that has a dam for holding friction modifying material.