Chapter 15

An Introduction to Transportation Systems

Objectives

• Types of transportation systems.• Components of transportation system.• Societal and economic goals of

transportation systems.

Types of Transportation Systems

• Transportation systems fall in one of the following categories:• Land transportation is the movement of goods or people in vehicle

operating above or under the ground.• Water transportation is the way in which people and cargo are

moved on bodies of water.• Air transportation is the movement of people or cargo above the

ground and within the earth’s atmosphere.• Space transportation is the movement of people or cargo within

near space and into outer space.• Intermodal transportation: When more than one environment is

used in a system. For example imported products come on cargo ships and are transferred to tractor trailers to be delivered to the final destination.

Transportation System Inputs

• Transportation system inputs are the various resources needed in order to begin and maintain the use of the system.

• People: People are needed for repairs, operation, ticket sales, and instrument monitoring. They also serve as passengers.

• Capital: Vehicles, roads, and buildings are all forms of capital in transportation systems.

• Knowledge: This is information attained through application and experience of tasks performed by the people.

• Materials: Raw materials used in the construction of transportation system – iron, wood, fuel, plastic, and concrete.

• Energy: This provides power and movement within the system – heat, mechanical, chemical, light, and electrical.

• Finances: Money needed to pay for equipment, materials, personnel, and energy sources.

Transportation System Processes

• Transportation system processes are the actions which convert the inputs into the desired outputs.

• 1. The production processes of a transportation system include:

• Receiving: Paperwork and tickets are processed to ensure the passengers and cargo will be transported to the correct place.

• Holding: Holding areas are places for people and cargo to wait for the transportation vehicle.

• Loading: Both people and cargo are moved onto or are loaded into the vehicle.

• Moving: This phase involves the actual transportation of people or cargo.

• Unloading: Unloading usually occurs at a terminal within a station or port.

• Storing and delivering: If passengers or cargo have reached their final destination, the transportation process is over. Otherwise, they start at the receiving stage again.

• 2. The management processes of a transportation system include the behind the scenes activities necessary to keep people and cargo organized and on schedule. Management processes need to plan, organize, and control the system.

• Plan: People plan the best route and decide how the system will be most efficiently run.

• Organize: Preparations made for transporting people or cargo.

• Control: Computers may be used to control the flow of oil through a pipeline.

• The transportation system output is the relocation of people or cargo.

A Functioning Transportation System

• Goals: The goals of a transportation system must be defined before the system can be designed or constructed.

• Systemic Goal: The goal of the transportation system is to transport people and cargo to the proper destination at the proper time.

• Personal goals: The goals of individuals affect the transportation method used.

• Economic goals: These goals consider the potential profits for businesses and possible opportunities for people in the immediate area.

• Societal Goals: Improvement of standard of living due to the implementation of a local transportation system.

• Feedback: Feedback allows the operator to evaluate how well the system is running.

• Control: Most control comes from the country’s governmental regulations, which helps control how the system is used (example is speed limits on roads).

Summary• Intermodal transportation: When more than one environment is used in a system.

For example imported products come on cargo ships and are transferred to tractor trailers to be delivered to the final destination.

• Transportation system inputs are the various resources needed in order to begin and maintain the use of the system.

• Transportation system processes are the actions which convert the inputs into the desired outputs.

• The management processes of a transportation system include the behind the scenes activities necessary to keep people and cargo organized and on schedule. Management processes need to plan, organize, and control the system.

• The transportation system output is the relocation of people or cargo.• Systemic Goal: The goal of the transportation system is to transport people and

cargo to the proper destination at the proper time.• Control: Most control comes from the country’s governmental regulations, which

helps control how the system is used (example is speed limits on roads).

Home Work

• 1. What are the different transportations system inputs?

• 2. What are the two processes in a transportation system?