LECTURE 1_SITUATING THE DESIGN PROBLEM IN TRANSPORTATION.pdf

Computer Aided Design for Transportation (CDT521S) Prof Dumba July 2024  Lecture 1: Introduction to Transport Infrastructure Design Principles Learning outcomes By the end of this lecture, learners should be able to:- i. Dissect the transportation problem...

Computer Aided Design for Transportation (CDT521S) Prof Dumba July 2024  Lecture 1: Introduction to Transport Infrastructure Design Principles Learning outcomes By the end of this lecture, learners should be able to:- i. Dissect the transportation problem ii. Comprehend the rationale and principles for transport infrastructure design The transportation problem-unpacked Urban traffic congestion, typical for most developing cities characterised by:- Mixed traffic flow conditions High modal mix Pedestrian and vehicular traffic mix Narrow streets When high levels of traffic mix exist… Traffic Accidents INCREASE: Evidence from India Defining key terms and concepts around Road Traffic Accidents (RTA) Some RTA arise not because of a driver’s carelessness, but rather road hazards. Road hazards can include:- Animals, Rough roads, RTA Hazard Gravel, Bumpy edges, Uneven expansion joints, slick surfaces, standing water, debris, snow, ice, or objects that have fallen from a construction site or another vehicle. Ctd… In road traffic, risk is a function of four elements. i. The first is the exposure – the amount of movement or travel within the system by different users or a given Road Traffic Risk population density. ii. The second is the underlying probability of a crash, given a particular exposure. iii. The third is the probability of injury, given a crash. iv. The fourth element is the outcome of injury. So what is the difference between a hazard and a risk? Hazard Risk Something that could potentially The degree of likelihood that harm cause harm. Give examples will be caused. Give examples  A traffic collision, also called a motor vehicle collision, car accident or car crash, Traffic Crash occurs when a Vehicle collides with another vehicle, (V2V) Vehicle to Pedestrian, (V2P) Vehicle to Animal, (V2A) Vehicle to Stationary object (V2O)  Guiding Transport Infrastructure Design  Mobility Accessibility Guiding Cost Environment principles of Transport Infrastructure Health Safety and Security Design Land use Equity 1. Mobility and Accessibility Mobility Accessibility Understanding the Refers to the efficient movement of Refers to the ability to REACH opportunities people and goods that is seen as that is beneficial, not movement itself. distinction between beneficial or as they key aim of In remote rural contexts gaining access to accessibility and mobility is a policy. services, goods and contacts will often critical aspect in creating a With a mobility focus, governments require a lot of mobility. However, in many sound and sustainable would put a high priority on urban contexts accessibility might involve transportation policy. collective modes of transport (e.g., very short trips. And in places like Windhoek buses, rail). a policy to enhance accessibility might actually require that we reduce traffic or even reduce the need to travel (or reduce mobility). Relationship between mobility and accessibility 2. Cost We spend nearly as much on transport as we do on food or housing. Research estimates that monthly household expenditure on transport (public transport) must be around 20- 25% of the household income. If more than that then the expenditure on public transport is regarded as high and the government may consider the subsidy approach to ensure equitable access to public transport 3. Health Transportation and transport systems are related to health through multiple routes: as a cause of road injuries, through their contribution to air pollution particularly in urban environments, because of connections with climate change, and because of their influence on levels of physical activity. Efficient motorized transport is integral to modern living, but many people are now over-dependent on motor transport to the detriment to their health. A particular concern is the lack of physical activity arising from the displacement of active transport by motorised transport. A design policy to reduce the volume of urban traffic and to promote walking and cycling are likely to have appreciable net benefits to health.  The energy intensity of land transport correlates with its adverse health effects, which include: road-traffic injuries; physical inactivity (with consequent effects on obesity, chronic disease, especially diabetes, malignancy, and mental well-being); Health ctd… exposure to urban air pollution; adverse impacts on quality of life and noise exposure; environmental degradation; energy-related conflict; health effects consequent to climate change. 4. Safety Safety ctd… 5. Security Personal security while engaged in transport activity is an increasing problem throughout the world. In a sense, this is not a transport problem but a symptom of a much wider social malaise. But the inescapable need to undertake travel to pursue essential activities of life—such as work, education, health care, and so on— may force people into situations where they are most vulnerable to attack, with only a limited ability to adjust activities to avoid or ease their vulnerability  Threats to security of person and property may be classified into 4 main types. i. Theft by stealth:-which is largely a function of Security crowding on public transport vehicles, but which may also involve the unattended parking of bicycles ctd… and other vehicles. ii. Theft by force, which can occur in crowded places but is more likely to occur in situations where the victim is relatively isolated. Theft by force includes vandalism and violent physical attack. 6. Equity Equity (also called justice or fairness) refers to the distribution of impacts (benefits and costs) and whether they are considered appropriate. Take home question Discuss how transport infrastructure design can be used as a tool to achieve the foregoing principles End