Geography of Transport Systems
Code
711041072
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Geografia e Planeamento Regional
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
João Figueira de Sousa
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) To recognize the role of transport systems in Modern Society;
b) To understand the historical, spatial, technical, political, economic and social contexts that influences the development of transport networks;
c) To understand the complexity of the existing relationships between transport systems, the levels of economic and social development and spatial planning;
d) To analyse the spatial diversity of transport networks and the factors that condition their evolution;
e) To develop critical thought concerning the main challenges facing the transport sector in developed societies;
f) To analyse the consequences of transport development on human activities, the space and the environment;
g) To develop methodologies and techniques to analyse transport networks and systems;
h) To apply the knowledge acquired to practical situations, namely to studies concerning the supply and demand for transport in a specific space;
i) To develop technical reports concerning the development and organisation of transport systems from a geographical perspective.
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
1) The historical context and physical constraints upon the development of transport systems; 2) The political, economic, social and spatial factors; 3) The means and modes of transport; 4) The technical performance of the different transport modes and networks; 5) The supply and demand for transport; 6) The accessibility and territories competitiveness; 7) The mobility growth and circulation problems; 8) The challenges of urban mobility; 9) The innovation applied to transport: the alternative modes of transport and the new types of energy; 10) The role of the Government and other actors in the organisation of transport systems; 11) The social role of transport: public transport versus private transport; 12) Transport as an economic activity; 13) The competition and complementarity between modes of transport; 14) The impacts of the transport sector; 15) The conciliation of transport policies with environmental, energy and spatial planning policies.
Bibliography
IDAE, PMUS: Guía práctica para la elaboración e implantación de planes de movilidad urbana sostenible, Madrid, Ministerio de Industria, Turismo y Comercio, 2006, 155 p.
VUCHIC, V.R, Urban Transit: Operations, Planning and Economics, N. Jersey, Wiley, 2005.
HOYLE, Brian, KNOWLES, Richard (ed), Modern Transport Geography, Londres, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 1998, 374 p.
MÉRENNE, Émile, Géographie des Transports, Paris, Éditions Nathan, 1995, 192 p.
WOLKOWITSCH, Maurice, Géographie des Transports, Paris, Armand Colin Éditeur, Collection Cursus, Série Géographie, 1992, 191 p.
Teaching method
Theory classes (50%): lectures and debates; Practical classes (50%): presentation and discussion of case studies, debates and applying specific methodologies and techniques.
Evaluation method
Each student will undertake:
- An individual written test;
- Group work on a theme related to the subject matter. This aims for knowledge gained through lectures and reading of the literature to be applied practically (max. 15 pages).