We present our estimate of pole shift caused by the recent 31 largest earthquakes of magnitude over 8.0. After reviewing theory of perturbation in the Earth’s rotation, each co-seismic as well as post-seismic pole shifts by the earthquakes are acquired and illustrated. A total co-seismic excitation due to these earthquakes is (x1, x2)=(−3.35, 5.89) milliarcsec, which increased about twice the initial estimation when the post-seismic deformation is considered. The single largest co-seismic excitation by 2011 Japan earthquake was (x1, x2)=(−2.06, 2.36) milliarcsec, which corresponds to 9.7 cm pole shift on the surface of the Earth.

In this study, I calculate the past and future dynamical states of the Earth-Moon system by using modified Lambeck’s formulae. I find that the ocean tidal effect must have been smaller in the past compared to its present amount. Even though the Moon is already in the spin-orbit synchronous rotational state, my calculation suggest that it will not be in geostationary rotational state in the next billion years or so. This is due to the associated Earth’s obliquity increase and slow retardation of Earth’s spin and lunar orbital angular velocities. I also attempt to calculate the precessional period of the Earth in the future. To avoid uncertainties in the time scale, the future state is described by using the Earth-Moon distance ratio as independent parameter. Effects due to solar tidal dissipation are included in all calculations.

Being a torque free motion of the rotating Earth, Chandler wobble is the major component in the Earth’s polar motion with amplitude about 0.05-0.2 arcsec and period about 430-435 days. Free core nutation, also called nearly diurnal free wobble, exists due to the elliptical core-mantle boundary in the Earth and takes almost the whole part of un-modelled variation of the Earth’s pole in the celestial sphere beside precession and nutation. We hereby present a brief summary of their theories and report their recent features acquired from updated datasets (EOP C04 and ECMWF) by using Fourier transform, modelling, and wavelet analysis. Our new findings include (1) period-instability of free core nutation between 420 and 450 days as well as its large amplitude-variation, (2) re-determined Chandler period and its quality factor, (3) fast decrease in Chandler amplitude after 2010.

The atmosphere strongly affects the Earth’s spin rotation in wide range of timescale from daily to annual. Its dominant role in the seasonal perturbations of both the pole position and spinning rate of the Earth is once again confirmed by a comparison of two recent data sets; i) the Earth orientation parameter and ii) the global atmospheric state. The atmospheric semi-diurnal tide has been known to be a source of the Earth’s spin acceleration, and its magnitude is re-estimated by using an enhanced formulation and an up-dated empirical atmospheric S2 tide model. During the last twenty years, an unusual eastward drift of the Earth’s pole has been observed. The change in the Earth’s inertia tensor due to glacier mass redistribution is directly assessed, and the recent eastward movement of the pole is ascribed to this change. Furthermore, the associated changes in the length of day and UT1 are estimated.

The motivation of this study is the recent advancement of the Straddle Carrier (S/C). Previously Straddle Carrier (S/C) system was used focusing on container lift on/off due to its lower driving speed than that of (Y/T). Shuttle Carrier is evaluated as an upgraded Straddle Carrier. Recently, however, the driving speed of (S/C) has been improved to the level of Yard Tractor and Trailer systems (Y/T), which is 30Km per hour which makes (S/C) qualified as terminal in-yard transportation equipment. This paper, therefore, aims to evaluate three types of terminal in-yard transportation equipments such as (Y/T), (AGV) and the advanced (S/C) from economic perspective. The results revealed that by observing the total costs of equipment, (S/C) is a cheaper option than (Y/T) over 20 years, and than (AGV) over 6 years.