Chapter 2 Transportation Systems and Networks

GEOG 80 Transport GeographyProfessor: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue

Hofstra University, Department of Global Studies & Geography

Topic 2 – Transportation and the Spatial Structure

A. Historical Geography of Transportation

B. Transport and Spatial OrganizationC. Transport and LocationD. Future Transportation

© Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue

B – TRANSPORT AND SPATIAL ORGANIZATION

1. Global Spatial Organization2. Regional Spatial Organization3. Local Spatial Organization


Scales of Spatial Organization for Transportation

Scale Nodes Links Relations

Global Gateways and hubs (airports and ports)

Air and maritime lanes

Investment, trade and production

Regional Cities Corridors (rail lines, highways, canals)

Urban system and hinterland

Local Employment and commercial activities

Roads and transit systems

Commuting and distribution


1. Global Spatial Organization

■ Reciprocity• Transportation shapes space and space shapes transportation.• Reciprocity in location:

• Composed of nodes, links and flows.• Streets: Shaping urban organization in terms of locations and relations.• Maritime shipping networks: Reflect the spatial organization of the global

economy.• Reciprocity in mobility:

• Activities are dependent on transportation at one level or another.• Based on a level of mobility.• Retail activity: conditioned by local accessibility• Large manufacturing plant: accessibility to global freight distribution for its

inputs as well as its outputs.


1. Global Spatial Organization

■ Impacts• Economic specialization and productivity, through international

trade.• Expanding markets and development opportunities, but not

uniformly.• Inequalities of the global economy are reflected in its spatial

organization and transport systems.• Growth in spatial flows (trade) and increased interdependencies:

• Telecommunications, maritime transport and air transport.• Scale of service.


Core / Periphery Division of the World


Transport Gateways and Hubs

Gateway

Intermodal

Hub

Transmodal

Accessibility to a large system of circulation of freight and passengers.Favorable physical location.Transport infrastructures.Origin, a destination and a point of transit.Commands the entrance to and the exit from its catchment area.

Central point.Collection, sorting, transshipment and distribution of goods for a particular area.Used in air transport for passengers as well as for freight.Collection and distribution through a single point such as the “Hub and Spoke” concept.


World’s Major Gateway Systems, 2006


Major North American Gateways, 2007

17.4%13.5%

8.5%


2. Regional Spatial Organization

■ Urban systems• Interdependent set of cities.• Mainly based on a series of market areas.• Specialized industries:

• Mainly manufacturing and mining.• Group into agglomerations according to location factors such a raw

materials, labor, markets, etc• Export oriented industries; provide for basic growth.

• Services:• Administration, finance, retail, wholesale and other similar services.• Tend to agglomerate in a system of central places (cities).• Optimal accessibility to labor or potential customers.

• Transport nodes and links:• Service major centers of economic activity.


Main North American Trade Corridors and Metropolitan Freight Centers


The BostWash Corridor


3. Local Spatial Organization

■ Urban transportation• Urbanization and transport are interrelated concepts.• Employment zones:

• Passengers and freight movements.• Dissociation between the workplace and the residence.• Increase in number and length of commuting trips.• Before suburbanization, public transit was wholly responsible for

commuting.• The automobile now supports the majority of these trips.

• Attraction zones:• Areas to which a majority of the population travels.• Shopping, professional services, education and leisure.


C – TRANSPORT AND LOCATION

1. The Importance of Transport in Location2. Location Factors


1. The Importance of Transport in Location

■ Location• Outcome of a constrained choice (several factors).• Explain the locational logic of economic activities:

• Market, institutional and behavioral considerations.• Explicit or implicit role attributed to transport.

■ Ports and airports• Convergence of related activities around terminals.

■ Roads and railroads• Structuring and convergence effect (according to accessibility).

■ Telecommunications• No specific local influence, but the quality of regional and national

telecommunication systems tends to ease transactions.


1. The Importance of Transport in Location

In w

hat

quan

tity

?

Where?

How

?

INPU

TS

SPACE

MA

RK

ETS

PLANNING

What to produce or sell?


Factors Affecting Location Decisions

Country Factors Region Factors Local Factors

•Government rules, attitudes, political risk, incentives•Culture & economy•Market location•Labor availability, attitudes, productivity, and cost•Availability of supplies, communications, energy•Exchange rates and currency risks

•Attractiveness of region (culture, taxes, climate, etc.)•Labor, availability & costs•Costs and availability of utilities•Environmental regulations of state and town•Government incentives•Proximity to raw materials & customers•Land/construction costs

•Site size and cost•Air, rail, highway, and waterway systems•Zoning restrictions•Nearness of services / supplies needed•Environmental impact issues


Locational Changes

Intensification

Specialization

1Concentration

X

Rationalization andrelocation

X

XX

X

Production

Empl

oym

ent

Product AProduct BProduct CProduct D

X Closing

2

3

4

Space


Basic Location Factors

SiteLand, utilities, visibility,

transportation (local access),amenities

AccessibilityLabor, materials, energy,markets, suppliers / customers

Socioeconomic EnvironmentCapital, subsidies, regulations,

taxation, technology

Location

Macro

MicroMeso


2. Location Factors

SectorPrimary Related to environmental endowments, such as natural resources.

Most basic location factors.Secondary Complex web of location factors.

Depending upon the industrial sector, relate to labor (cost and/or skill level), energy costs, capital, land, markets and/or proximity of suppliers.Location is thus an important cost factor (cost minimization).

Tertiary Bound to market proximity.Capacity to sell a product or service is the most important location requirement.Consumer proximity (as well as their level of income) is essential and is directly related to sale levels.Maximize sales revenues.

Quaternary High level services (banking, insurance), education, research and development; dominantly the high technology sector.Can be located almost anywhere (telecommunications and amenities).


E – FUTURE TRANSPORTATION

1. Past Trends and Uncertain Future2. Technological Trends3. Economic and Regulatory Trends


1. Past Trends and Uncertain Future

■ Revolutionary changes• Completely new technology.• Create new markets and growth opportunities.• Often marks the obsolescence of an existing technology.• Can paradigm shifts be predicted?

■ Incremental changes• Improvement of existing technology and operations.• Leads to increases in productivity:

• More capacity.• Lower costs.• Better performance.

• Possible to extrapolate.


General Impacts of Transport Innovations

Field OutcomeTravel time Lower time and higher reliability

Trip planning Easier to book and monitor

Environment Less environmental impacts and noise

Energy Lower energy consumption pet unit carried

Assets Higher level of utilization of modes and infrastructure

Safety Reduced number of accidents, fatalities and injuries

Accessibility Improved accessibility; reduced friction of distance

Cross-border Improved throughput and security

Infrastructure Longer life cycle, improved maintenance and reliability

Materials New and recycled materials

Intermodal Improved connections between modes


Flying Car Concept, 1951


Flying Car (Spinner) in Science Fiction (Blade Runner, 1982)


Major Technological Improvements in Transportation, Second Half of the 20th Century

Innovation Characteristics Role

Superships (1960-) Bulk and tank vessels with a mass up to half a million deadweight tons.

Reduce transport costs through massive economies of scale.

Container vessels (1968-) Vessel specifically designed to carry containers.

Carry primarily manufactured goods with the capacity to interface with major land transport systems.

Jet aircraft (1958-) Fast an non-stop services between major urban centers.

Linked with the development of service activities such as banking, finance and tourism.

Fuel-efficient vehicles (1970-)Reduction in fuel consumption due to lower weight and more efficient engines.

Enabled highway transport to increase its share of urban an intercity transport.

High-speed trains (1964-) Trains capable of moving at speed higher than 200 km/hr.

Effective competition between intercity air and road transport in high density areas.


1. Past Trends and Uncertain Future

■ Cyclic character of transport innovations• Innovations lead to a wave of development.

• A cycles starts with a revolution and evolves incrementally.• Introduction:

• Private entrepreneurs and innovators.• Growth:

• Fast adoption; Often involves a “paradigm shift” event.• Maturity:

• Maximal spatial coverage.• Government involvement (investment, regulations, etc.)

• Rationalization/obsolescence:• Diminishing returns (Segment or system-wide).• Possibility of nationalization.• A mix of regulations (protect public interests) and deregulations (increase

productivity).


Growth of the US Transport System, 19th – 21st Century

Canals

RailRoads

AirMaglev

1836

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000 20500%

1%

2%

3%

4%

1891 1946 2001

Δt= 30 years

Δt= 55 years Δt= 65 years Δt= 70 years

1825

18691913 1969

1836

1825 Paradigm shift

Peak year


Development of Operational Speed for Major Transport Modes, 1750-2000 (km per hour)

100

500

1000

1800 1900 20001850 1950

50

250

750

Stage CoachRail

Automobile

TGVPropeller Plane

Jet Plane

LinerClipper Ship Containership

Road

MaritimeRail

Air


2. Technological Trends

■ Promising technologies• Automated transport systems:

• Complete or partial automation of the vehicle, transshipment and control.• Improvement of existing modes (Automated highway systems).• Creation of new modes and new transshipment systems (Public transit

and freight transportation).• Alternative modes:

• Replace or complement existing modes.• Maglev:

– Magnetic levitation (no friction with its support and no moving parts).– Operational speeds of 500 km per hour.


Maglev Train, Shanghai 2003


ULTra (Urban Light Transport) System, Cardiff, UK


2. Technological Trends

• Alternative fuels:• Hybrid:

– Internal combustion engine and electric motor.– Breaking is used to recharge a battery.– Diesel has a high potential; can be made from coal or organic fuels.– A transitional technology to cope with higher energy prices.

• Biofuels:– Additive (and possibly a supplement) to petroleum.– Impacts on food production must be carefully assessed.

• Fuel cells:– Electric generator using the catalytic conversion of hydrogen and oxygen.– Applicable only to light vehicles, notably cars, or to small power systems.– Low environmental impact alternative to generate energy.– Fuel cell cars are expected to reach mass production by 2015?.


3. Economic and Regulatory Trends

■ Market versus planning• Provide increased flexibility and adaptability for transportation.• Cannot be planned; Governments:

• Poor managers.• Slow to understand technological changes (inertia).• Regulations and preferences to specific modes or to specific technologies.• Misallocation of capital in “pork barrel” projects.• If the new mode / technology competes with a nationalized transport

system, then the government will intervene to prevent its emergence.• Future transport systems will be the outcome of private initiatives.• The market will always try to find and adopt the most efficient

form of transportation available.


Circum-Hemispheric Rings of Circulation

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Chapter 2 Transportation Systems and Networks