Factors Affecting Transportation

What are the factors affecting transportation? When considering different modes of transportation and the factors affecting them, we must consider the carrying capacity (i.e., how much and what type of people can be moved) as well as throughput (i.e., the rate at which people or items move through a system). Each mode of transport has different capacities and throughput rates, and therefore each can be considered in terms of their efficiency relative to each other.

What are the Factors Affecting Transportation?

Here are some key factors that affect transportation in multiple ways;

1. Number of Passengers

The number of passengers affects the efficiency of a mode in two ways. First, the more people use a mode, the lower its carrying capacity for any one person. Second, the greater the number of people, the greater the potential throughput rate because there are more units completing trips per unit time. How technology will shape shipping in 2022 will also have a solid effect on the number of passengers that would use the mode of transportation

2 . Type of Passengers

Different types of passengers have different needs and expectations, which in turn affects the design and performance of a mode. For example, children require a unique seating arrangement because their height compared to an adult is very different, as well as special attention regarding safety since they cannot make decisions for themselves. Elderly people have more specialized requirements regarding seating and walkways because of their unique physical features. In addition, the method of carrying luggage for different passengers will have different requirements.

3 . Geographic Areas Served

The size and type of geographic area being served have a dramatic impact on transportation design and modes chosen. Land transport modes that serve an entire country would be much larger than those that serve only a small city. Modes that serve an entire continent must be capable of transporting very large and heavy objects, while those serving only a neighborhood may not require such robust designs.

4 . Speed

The speed at which a mode operates will affect its capacity and throughput rate in the way we expect. The higher the speed, the lower its ability to carry anyone passenger or item. The higher the speed, however, the greater throughput rate because more units are completing trips per unit time.

5 . Cost

Cost is another important factor that affects all modes of transportation in multiple ways either directly or indirectly. First, the cost will affect the initial design and construction of a model which in turn will affect its carrying capacity and throughput rate. Second, the cost is closely related to capacity so that if the initial cost of designing or building something is high, then its carrying capacity will be limited by necessity. Third, the cost is also related to throughput so any time you can save money on one aspect of a mode it allows for investment in some other area which could enhance capacity or throughput.

6 . Reliability

Reliability can be considered simultaneously with cost because any time you increase reliability, you are indirectly increasing cost. However, it is important to consider reliability as a separate issue because being able to input reliable data into light rail train models has a tremendous impact on their accuracy for example. A metro system that provides service every 3-4 minutes can be considered more reliable than one providing service every 10 or even 15 minutes.

7 . Amount of Infrastructure Required

The amount of infrastructure required for a mode directly affects its cost, carrying capacity, and throughput rate. The more sophisticated the infrastructure for moving people or cargo around (e.g., airports, highways, railways, canals, locks, pipelines), the more it costs. In addition, the more infrastructure required enables a mode to carry greater loads because of an increased number of paths between origins and destinations. The more modes that are available in a transportation network give you a choice for each trip from among many alternatives which can also increase throughput rates because people/freight can find what is best for each trip they make.

8 . Amount of Energy Required

The amount of energy required for a mode is another factor related directly or indirectly to its cost, capacity, and throughput. The more energy required will tend to increase the initial cost as well as the cost per passenger/freight unit moved. If the mode requires a lot of energy there is less opportunity for high throughput because of its lower carrying capacity. Less energy also means the traveler will be subject to more restrictions on what they can carry so it is very closely related to throughput as well.

9 . Amount of Time Required

The amount of time required for a mode directly affects its cost per unit of travel, capacity, and throughput rate. The more time required for a mode to complete service with one passenger/freight unit means the less cost per unit can be passed on because there is usually some minimum level that must be charged to keep the mode operating. Less time means higher costs per unit resulting in higher fares. For passenger travel, the less time required for a trip, the more capacity can be given to that mode because additional trips per unit time are possible within the same infrastructure. Less time also means higher throughput rates since people will find their best alternative in making trips.

10 . Amount of Excess Capacity

The amount of excess capacity a mode has is closely related to its cost per unit, carrying capacity, and throughput rate. For any mode with high-excess capacity, the initial cost will be lower because there is less infrastructure required to support it. In addition, since that mode can carry more units within the same infrastructure, its carrying capacity tends to be higher. Higher throughput rates are also possible because people have more alternatives for using that mode.

11 . Flexibility of Route

The flexibility of route is closely related to the amount of excess capacity that a mode has, but it is different in that it can sometimes refer to routes that have the excess capacity even when passengers are being carried. A flexible route can carry people with varying origins and destinations, but it also means the infrastructure required to support the mode will be lower because infrastructure is not needed in all locations where it might go.