Aerial Ropeways

Aerial ropeway, Claughton Brickworks

Simple, inexpensive yet powerful technology. One of the most energy-efficient forms of transporting goods and people. Relatively easy (and quick) to set up, operate and take down again. Most common materials used for constructing these were first wood and then steel. In mountainous regions, may be powered by gravity alone. Introduction of steel ropes and electric motors was major efficiency boost, so probably should be the preferred option.

Open source ropeway hardware for large-scale biochar transport

Biochar is becoming increasingly recognized as an important soil amendment and strategy to combat climate change. Some regions of the world, such as semi-arid regions, have abundant sunshine but little capacity for producing biomass. Other regions, such as forests, produce an abundance of biomass. However, this biomass may be at risk of wildfires, releasing gigatons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as part of the normal carbon cycle. Therefore, the production of biochar in forests has been proposed, followed by transport to nearby biomass-poor regions. If this was done by ground transport (trucks, rail), this would be prohibitively expensive.

Aerial ropeways may change that equation, as they have many qualities needed to transport large amounts of biochar energy-efficiently and inexpensively. Even topsoil could be transported in this way, for rapid regeneration of degraded soils.

Part of mobile unit for biomass transport (image from: Biochar BC)

Some open source hardware development is needed, and may include:

• very large bins of sheet metal with steel supports (for the light-weight and bulky biochar); bins are designed to prevent carbon dust (need to be covered/closed)
• poles that can be constructed of steel (in drylands) or wood (in forests); design for rapid take-down and re-assembly elsewhere
• standardized steel rope to be used
• standardized wheels, possibly sand-cast ? or CNC-machined wheels (i.e. shape that works with the size of steel rope)
• development of social and financial structures to facilitate these ropeways (i.e. who benefits ? ... prevent NIMBYism by financially including landholders who provide the land)

External Links

• Low-tech Magazine: "Aerial ropeways: automatic cargo transport for a bargain"
• Practical Action: "Technical Information Online Ropeways - Aerial Ropeways in Nepal"
• Appropedia: Aerial Ropeways in Nepal
• Appropedia: Ropeway in the Himalayas