Nodes and Routes in Transport Networks

Nodes & Routes

• Nodes are locations providing entry to a transportation network.
• Unimodal transport nodes limit access to other routes.
• Intermodal transport nodes allow switching between routes to access more places.
• Routes are paths of travel between nodes.

Factors of Transport Networks

• Frequency: Impacts wait time and speed to the destination.
• Environmental Sustainability: Measures the environmental impact of the transport mode.
• Capacity: The number of people/goods that can be moved, impacting network efficiency.
• Coverage: Availability and reach of infrastructure, affecting walking distance and convenience.
• Convenience: Ease of movement, including accessibility for disabled/elderly and ease of transfers/payments.

Spatial Distribution of Intermodal Transport Nodes

• Major food exporters to Singapore may follow a general trend.
• Evidence supports the general trend for major food exporters.
• Contrasting trends may exist with the smallest food exporters.
• Exceptions or noteworthy observations can occur.
• Intermodal transport nodes impact Singaporeans in multiple ways.
• Superficial level, social impacts and economic impacts are all ways Singapore is affected

Population Density & Intermodal Transport Nodes

• High population density can lead to a location becoming an intermodal transport node.
• Jurong East is an example, with a high population density of 4900 people/km².
• Intermodal nodes in high-density areas provide residents with access to more routes and convenient travel options.

Important Amenities & Intermodal Transport Nodes

• Proximity to important amenities can lead to the development of intermodal transport nodes.
• Jurong East has amenities like Ng Teng Fong Hospital and governmental agencies like SEA.
• Intermodal nodes increase the accessibility of these amenities to people from all over Singapore.

Workplaces & Intermodal Transport Nodes

• A greater number of workplaces can result in a location becoming an intermodal transport node.
• Jurong East is developing more office workspace, increasing the number of commuters.
• Intermodal nodes allow people from all over Singapore to conveniently access workplaces.

Tourist Destinations & Intermodal Transport Nodes

• Tourist destinations may become intermodal transport nodes.
• This is done to provide easy access to places of interest.

Impact of Transportation on People & the Environment: Deforestation

• Development of transport infrastructure leads to deforestation.
• The construction of the Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) in Singapore cleared 15 hectares of primary forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Human Impacts of Deforestation

• Replacing forests with roads leads to the urban heat island effect.
• Dark-colored asphalt absorbs heat, increasing the temperature.
• Residents become more vulnerable to heat injuries like heat stroke.

Environmental Impacts of Deforestation

• Deforestation causes a loss in biodiversity.
• The primary rainforest is home to endangered native animals like the Sunda Pangolin.
• Disruption of the ecological cycle threatens the survival of other organisms.

Impact of Transportation on People & the Environment: Terrorism

• Crowded public spaces, like transport nodes, are attractive targets for terrorism.
• In 2016, ISIS suicide bombers detonated bombs in Brussels Airport and a Subway station.
• The bombings resulted in 28 deaths and over 300 injuries.
• Airport operation and subway services ceased operating for more than 36 hours.
• These events resulted in economic losses and disruption to daily routines.

Impact of Transportation on People & the Environment: Traffic Congestion

• Traffic congestion leads to the release of PM2.5 particles.
• In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, PM2.5 levels exceed 14 times the WHO recommended level.

Human Impacts of Traffic Congestion

• PM2.5 particles contain toxic chemicals that can enter the bloodstream.
• Exposure to PM2.5 particles leads to serious health issues like lung cancer and coronary heart disease.

Environmental Impacts of Traffic Congestion

• PM2.5 particles block out sunlight, affecting photosynthesis and leading to plant death.
• Loss of vegetation results in loss of food source and habitat for wildlife. This can threaten endangered species of animals leading to loss of biodiversity.

Sustainable Management via Legislation, Laws & Policies for Transportation

• Laws and policies regulate the use of private cars.
• Singapore's Certificate of Entitlement (COE) policy increases the cost of car ownership.
• The COE has caused a decrease in the number of cars owned in Singapore.
• Encouraging people to use public transport relies on greener vehicles. This reduces greenhouse gases and mitigates global warming.
• Alternatively, reducing cars decreases traffic congestion, which reduces exhaust fumes and PM2.5 particles, improving health and biodiversity.

Limitations (Cycling (Active Mobility)):

• Cycling does not emit greenhouse gases and air pollutants making it a green form of transport.
• Lack of interest in cycling.
• Expanding island-wide cycling network from 2019 to 2024, but the number of Singaporeans choosing to commute with bicycles is still very low at less than 6% of the population in 2024.
• Many cite safety issues and the lack of end-of-trip facilities like shower facilities as reasons why they would not cycle to commute daily .
• A high number of people would still choose to commute using cars or public transport which emits more greenhouse gases and air pollutants compared to cycling which has zero emissions.
• Causes higher carbon emissions leading to global warming, or more PM2.5 from reliance on private transport increasing health and biodiversity risk.

Sustainable Management via Research & Development of Green Transportation

• Technological innovations like electric vehicles (EVs) help promote environmental sustainability.
• EVs have a smaller carbon footprint, produce less noise, and maintain cleaner air quality.

Success (EVs for Public Transportation):

• Expand electric buses to replace older fuel-operated vehicles by 2040
• Reduces carbon emissions and greenhouse gases mitigating global warming.
• Less exhaust fumes means there are lesser PM2.5 particles, therefore benefiting biodiversity and managing health issues while improving air quality.

Limitations (Low Acceptance of EVs in India):

• Adopting rate of EVs remain very low at 7.5% in 2024 due to high retail price and lack of charging ports.
• Continued reliance on gas-powered cars releases more greenhouse gases, causing global warming and increased amounts of PM2.5, causing air pollution.

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