Transportation
Engineering
Transportation systems
1 Concepts and definitions
2
Terms and Definitions
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
3
• Transport:
is a science that concerns with the efficient movement of
people and goods that is undertaken to accomplish
objectives to complete tasks that require transfer from one
location to another
• Transportation Engineering:
Is a branch of civil engineering that is involved in the
planning, design, operation and maintenance of safe and
efficient transportation systems.
These systems include
Roadways,
Railways, and
Intermodal operations
https://civilengineeringbible.com/article.php?i=113
What is Transportation Systems?
4
It is used to refer to the equipment and
logistic of transporting passengers and
goods.
It covers movement by all forms of transport
from cars to busses to boats, aircrafts and
even space travel.
http://getawaytips.azcentral.com/what-is-the-meaning-of-transpotaion-system-
12347036.html
5
Transportation systems consists of the
following components:
Physical “fixed” facilities:
streets;
roads;
highways;
railroads;
airport;
sea & river ports;
pipelines and canals.
Flow entities:
fleets of vehicles;
vessels and
aircrafts.
Transportation systems consists of the
6
following components cont’d:
Control system
It refers to the technological ways in
which individual vehicles are guided on
fixed facilities.
It can be done manual or automatic.
They include means that permit the
efficient safe and smooth operation of
streams of vehicles and reduce
conflicts between vehicles
[Signing; Marking and Signalling]
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Transportation Systems
7
Facility oriented organization are involved in:
planning; designing; constructing;
maintaining & operating fixed facilities
Operation organization “ carriers” concerned
with operating fleets to provide transportation
services
[Railroads; airlines; ships; truck lines; transit
operator; private car owner, etc]
Operating bases and facilities for vehicle
maintenance facilities
Characteristics of transportation
8 Transport demand characteristics:
Highly qualitative and differentiated
[By time of the day; day of the week; journey
purpose and type of cargo)
It is derived and transport is not an end by itself.
People are travelling in order to satisfy their
needs at their destinations and for the seek of
transport
It takes place over space [the distribution of
activities over space]. The spatiality of demand
leads to problem of lack of coordination which
affect equilibrium between demand and
supply
Characteristics of transportation
9
Transport supply characteristics:
It is a service and not a good. We cannot stock
it. Transport service must be consumed when
and where it is produced otherwise its benefit is
lost.
Transport infrastructure is lumpy and take long
time to be carried out.
Transport investment has an important political
role.
Transport is very important elements in the
welfare of nations and well being of urban and
rural dweller.
Transportation system classification
10
The definition of transportation systems makes a distinction
between passengers and freight “goods”. Both are needed to
satisfy human needs and both constitute a significant portion
of Gross National Product
Transportation system is categorized into four major
sub-system according to the medium on which the
flow elements are supported. These subsystem are
commonly referred as modes.
Modes describe various means of travel.
The four major subsystem are:
11
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Mode classification by geography location
12
Location Freight Passengers
Private Auto-Highway
Urban Truck-Highway
Transit-Highway/Railway
Truck-Highway Private Auto-Highway
Railway Bus
Ocean shipping Rail
Intercity
Inland water Air
Pipelines
Air
Special Conveyor belt
Purpose Cable system Cable car
Transportation provider type
13
Transportation systems are classified as either public or private or classified
as for hire or not for hire
Hire system are further classified into:
Contract Carriers: provide service to public under individual contractual
arrangement
Common Carriers offer scheduled service and are open to all member of
public willing to pay the posted fare.
Mass transportation or Mass transit refer to the common carriage of
passengers; taxi; car rental
Urban Transportation systems
14
The intra-city or urban distribution of freight is
predominantly accomplished by highway
subsystem using vans; trucks.
The major movement within urban areas are related
to passenger transport.
Water transport is found within urban areas, it is
related to passenger transport.
Air transportation is unsuited for urban travel
Transport means available for urban travel are land
based regardless of being private or public.
Mode of transport in urban, heavy rail; light rail, bus
15
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Transportation Modes
16
Highways are the most dominant mode of
transport in most countries of the world.
The highway system is used by private
vehicles; truck lines; bus lines.
Highway systems serves intercity passengers;
freight transportation; urban passenger
transport & distribution of goods.
Major Characteristics of highway systems
17
Very high accessibility to almost all potential
destination
Direct service with very low-to-door travel time
Moderate line haul speed & capacities
Capital costs of physical facilities are moderate
18
Vehicle used are small & cheep to be owned
by individual compared to all other mode.
Total investment of physical facilities & vehicle is
high
Operating cost is high
Environmental impact of the system as a whole
are high and of major concerns of societies
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Urban Transit
19
It is a specialized mode. It includes traditional
mass transit modes [Buses, street cars, light rail,
rapid rail transit & para-transit]
20
Streetcar/Trams
A tram is a rail vehicle that runs on tramway
along public urban streets.
Average trams generally travel at anything
between 40 and 55km/h. The highest tram
speed limit is 60km/h.
The capital cost per mile of a streetcar is
between $30 million and $75 million.
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
21 Streetcar/Tram
22
Light Rail
A term embracing a wide range of electrical
powered vehicle running on steel rails
(metro). Passengers board from road surface
or low plat form. It operated along street but
maybe provided with exclusive right of way
The light-rail trains run on electricity, as most
already know from seeing the power lines
running above the tracks.
New light rail systems average 17.2 miles per
hour, and the fastest at-grade systems
operates at 18.2 miles per hour.
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
23 light Rail
24 Rapid Rail Transit System
Rapid rail transit system “metro” is the underground tube
operate on exclusive R.O.W and relatively high speeds &
provide highest line capacity available
25 Para-transit
A term applies to small passenger vehicles operating
informally on fare-paying basis & serving in some places
as an alternative to regular bus transit services.
Paratransit is the term in North America for special
transportation services for people with disabilities
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Who use urban transit system
26
Mainly serves passenger transportation(10% of passenger trips in USA
is made by transit, the percentage is much higher in Europe)
Transit passengers are either persons making work trips into central
business district, usually referred as commuters/choice rider or
passenger without access to automobile often referred to as captive
rider
Characteristics of Urban Transit
27
Line haul speeds vary a great deal(Bus are slow
where rapid rail transit has quite high speed.
Door-to-door travel time are greater than those of
automobiles with an exception in CBD.
Accessibility depend on route & stop station spacing
but in general it is less than of private car.
Capacities are high.
Capital costs of rail system are high (both physical
facilities & vehicles)
Operating costs for both bus and rail system are
moderate but operating costs per trip is almost
higher than dare.
Environmental impact are regarded as being less
than those of private cars.
28
Rail Transportation
The primary market for rail is intercity freight,
considerable amount of general cargo are
shipped by rail; particularly the bulk cargo.
Rail share for intercity passenger miles is relatively
low. Most passenger rail trips are of short to
intermediate length are limited to high density
corridor
Advantages and Disadvantages of
29
Rail Transportation
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Dependable 1. Huge capital outlay
2. Better organized 2. Lack of flexibility
3. High speed over long 3. Lack of door to door service
distances 4. Monopoly
4. Suitable for bulky and heavy 5. Unsuitable for short distance
goods and small loads
5. Cheaper transport 6. No rural services
6. Safety 7. Under-utilized capacity
7. Larger capacity
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
30 Types of Rail Transport
• Urban Rail transit
• Rapid Transit
• Elevated rail
• Commuter rail
• Light rail
• Tramway
• funicular
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Rail Transportation characteristics
31
Provides Moderate speed & level of
accessibility.
High & unreliable door-to-door travel times;
however continuous work is under-taken to
reduce the travel time.
Physical facilities for railway represent heavy
investment.
Capital cost of locomotives & railcars are
relatively high & productivity is low
Maintenance costs for track are relatively high
Operating cost per ton-mile are low
Environmental impact are comparatively low
32 Air Transportation
Air transportation is the movement of passengers
and freight by aircraft such as airplanes and
helicopters.
Air transport enables highly perishable and
valuable products to be move fast over long
distances.
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Advantages and Disadvantages
33
of air transportation
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. High speed 1. High cost
2. Minimum cost 2. More risks
3. Strategic importance 3. Huge investments
4. Easy transport of costly
and light good
5. Free from physical
barriers
6. Useful for agriculture
7. Useful in natural
calamities
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Air transportation Characteristics
34
Include commercial airlines, air freight carriers and general aviation (private
aircraft). Air transportation serves intercity passenger travel (long-distance travel
High line haul speed
Accessibility is limited (relatively little importance
because of great length of trips made by air)
Capacities of individual aircraft are moderate but
productivity is high due to high speed.
Capital & operating costs are both quite high but
because of high productivity, the cost per
passenger carried is moderate.
Cost of general aviation airports and aircraft are
moderate.
Environmental impact are significant especially
the noise impact of commercial aviation, but are
of much less concern than those of highway system
Water Transportation
35
Transportation by water can be categorized by
• inland transport
• Ocean transport
Ocean transport include container ships; bulk cargo carriers & oil
tankers.
Water transportation serves intercity freight.
Inland waterways serve bulk goods
Ocean shipping carries all types of goods.`
Advantages and Disadvantages
36
of Water Transportation
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Less maintenance cost 1. Slow speed
2. Cheap 2. More risky
3. Useful for bulky goods
4. Useful during natural
calamities
5. Helpful in defense
6. Important for foreign
trade
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Water Transportation characteristics
37
Low speed; low accessibility
High capacities
Capital cost of vessel is high but operating costs per ton-mile are low
Environmental impact are relatively low, but if oil spills occur, serious
problem rise
38 Pipeline Transportation
Pipeline transport is the long distance transportation of a liquid
or gas through a system of pipes.
Pipeline transport is the mode of transportation of goods or
material through pipes.
It takes about 10 to 20 days to transport oil products over 1600
miles, it represent a speed of roughly 3 to 6 miles per hour.
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Advantages and Disadvantages of
39
pipeline transportation
Advantages:
1. Reduction in cost of transportation is very significant.
2. Supply through pipelines is very reliable. It is free from
obstacles in road and rail transport
3. It ensures supply in remote areas where road ways are not
very good.
Disadvantages:
1. Illegal pilferage and wastage due to to leak is a problem in
pipelines.
2. Like other big linear structures patrolling and maintenance of
pipelines is a huge task.
3. In case of chemicals and petroleum pipelines any leak can
cause an accident.
Dr. Lina Shbeeb
Pipe lines transportation characteristics
40
Pipe line transportation is specialized in freight transportation system.
It serves primarily crude oil.
Low speed to high speed continuous flow transportation
Costs are low
Environment impact is normally quite low once they are built.
However, construction impact is sometime of concern.
Other modes
Cables & belt system, they do not have significant role.
They are used for specialized passengers “Ski-lift and
moving belt in airports
Institutional Structure
41
Transportation should be the responsibility of government
body
The government should be in charge of formulating national
polices & research development for transportation facilities &
services
Transport service & lines are organized by governmental body
Transport administration is further organized geographically
into region and district.
The design, construction, and maintenance of transportation
system is organized by governmental body
Local government at city level are responsible of setting
standards for design street & roads, maintaining & operating
them & they maybe directly involved in the design &
construction of their facilities.
Transport planning is responsibility of an agency that exist at
national level or district level or municipality level.
Private organization involved in transportation sector are the
carriers such as airlines, truck lines, bus operators
System for financing transportation
42
Source of funds for transportation are:
User charges include direct charges such as fares,
tolls & indirect sources such as fuel tax.
General fund revenues collected by different levels
of government are derived from regular taxes “No
direct relationship between source of fund and the
activity which they spent on”
Private investment occurs in the part of
transportation system that are normally under
private control (carrier).
Cross-subsidization occurs when revenues collected
from users of one type of transportation are used to
finance some other type of system (Gasoline tax
revenue to finance public transport)
