Name: Buquir, Sandra Alexa P.

Score:
Group No./Section: Group 3 / CE-4204 Date: 01/28/19

CORE COMPONENTS OF TRANSPORTATION

NETWORKS
I. Transport Networks

Transportation systems are commonly represented using networks as an

analogy for their structure and flows. Transport networks belong to the wider
category of spatial networks because their design and evolution are physically
constrained as opposed with non-spatial networks such as social interactions,
corporate organization, and biological systems, which are usually constrained by
other factors.

A transport network, or transportation network is a realization of a spatial

network, describing a structure which permits either vehicular movement or flow
of some commodity. Examples include but are not limited to road networks,
railways, air routes, pipelines, aqueducts, and power lines.

The territorial structure of any region corresponds to a network of all its

economic interactions. The implementation of networks, however, is rarely
premeditated but the consequence of continuous improvements as
opportunities arise, investments are made and as conditions change.

The setting of networks is the outcome of various strategies, such as

providing access and mobility to a region, reinforcing a specific trade corridor or
technological developments making a specific mode and its network more
advantageous over others.

II. Network Structure

 A. Centralized
One center has high accessibility and thus represents the
dominant element of the network and the spatial structure it
supports. This is the common characteristic of hub and spoke
networks.

B. Decentralized
Although the center is still the point of highest accessibility, the
network is structured so that sub-centers have also significant levels
of accessibility.

C. Distributed
No center has a level of accessibility significantly different from
the others.

III. Structural Components of Transport Networks

The main structural components of transport networks are:

• Node. Any location that has access to a transportation network.

• Link. Physical transport infrastructures enabling two nodes to be

connected.

• Flow. The amount of traffic that circulates on a link between two nodes and
the amount of traffic going through a node. Flows can thus be modal,
intermodal (between modes) and transmodal (between components of
the same mode).

• Gateway. A node that is connecting two different systems of circulation

that are usually separate networks (modes) and which acts as compulsory
passage for various flows. An intermodal function is performed so that
passengers or freight are transferred from one network to the other.
• Hub. A node that is handling a substantial amount of traffic and connects
elements of the same transport network, or different scales of the network
(e.g. regional and international).

• Feeder. A node that is linked to a hub. It organizes the direction of flows

along a corridor and can be considered as a consolidation and distribution
point.

• Corridor. A sequence of nodes and links supporting modal flows of

passengers or freight. They are generally concentrated along a
communication axis, have a linear orientation and connected to a
gateway.

IV. Centripetal and Centrifugal Networks

Networks tend to have two major spatial effects on flows, which are
centrifugal and centripetal. These effects depend on the structure of the
network and its relationship with the distribution of origins and destinations.

A. Centrifugal Networks
Centrifugal networks have no specific centrality as no node is
significantly more connected than the others. They typically have a
grid-like pattern.

B. Centripetal networks
Centripetal networks have a strong centrality where one or
several nodes are much more connected that the others. They
typically have a radial pattern.
CONCLUSION

A transport network is a realization of a spatial network, describing a

structure which permits either vehicular movement or flow of some commodity. A
transport network denotes either a permanent track (e.g. roads, rail and canals)
or a scheduled service (e.g. airline, public transit, train). It can be extended to
cover various types of links between points along which movements can take
place.

REFERENCES

Rodrigue, J.P. & Ducruet, C. (n.d.) The Geography of Transportation Networks.

Retrieved from https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=623
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_networks
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