URBAN SYSTEMS
Table of Contents
PART A....................................................................................................................................................1
PART B..................................................................................................................................................11
PART A
A1. Explain the four-step transport modelling process and identify the key data inputs that
urban planners will typically provide in each of these four steps. Provide your views on the
role of urban transport planning in the spatial transformation of South African cities .
Introduction
The four-step transport modelling process is a commonly used framework in transportation planning
to estimate travel demand, predict traffic flow, and evaluate the impacts of transportation infrastructure
and policies. The four steps in this process are:
Four-step transport modelling process
i. Trip generation: This step involves estimating the number of trips that are made by
individuals or households within a study area. Urban planners typically provide data on
population, employment, land use, and socioeconomic characteristics to help estimate the
number of trips generated by different types of activities (e.g., commuting, shopping, leisure).
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, URBAN SYSTEMS
ii. Trip distribution: This step involves determining where trips originate and where they are
destined to. Urban planners typically provide data on the geographic distribution of population
and employment, as well as information on the accessibility of different destinations (e.g.,
employment centres, commercial areas, recreational areas).
iii. Mode choice: This step involves predicting the mode of transport that individuals will choose
for their trips. Urban planners typically provide data on the availability and quality of different
modes of transport (e.g., car, public transit, bicycle, walking), as well as information on the
preferences and behavior of travellers.
iv. Trip assignment: This step involves assigning the predicted trips to the transportation
network and estimating the resulting traffic flow. Urban planners typically provide data on the
characteristics of the transportation network (e.g., road network, transit network, bicycle
infrastructure), as well as information on the travel time, cost, and reliability of different modes
of transport.
The role of urban transport planning in the spatial transformation of South African cities
i. Urban transport planning plays a crucial role in the spatial transformation of South African
cities. Historically, the apartheid-era urban planning and transportation policies in South Africa
have contributed to the spatial segregation of cities and the exclusion of certain communities
from accessing quality transport services and infrastructure. Urban transport planning can
help to address these legacies of spatial inequality and contribute to more inclusive and
sustainable urban development.
ii. Effective urban transport planning can help to promote accessibility, mobility, and connectivity
in South African cities. It can help to improve the accessibility of underserved communities to
key services, such as education, healthcare, and employment. It can also promote mobility by
providing people with a wider range of travel options, such as public transit, cycling, and
walking, which can be more affordable and sustainable than private car use.
iii. Moreover, urban transport planning can contribute to the development of more connected and
compact cities, which can help to reduce the negative environmental impacts of urbanization,
such as greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. This can be achieved by promoting
denser and mixed-use development around transport hubs and corridors, and by prioritizing
public transit, cycling, and walking infrastructure over private car use.
However, there are also challenges that need to be addressed in the context of urban transport
planning in South African cities. These include inadequate funding and investment for transport
infrastructure, the need to coordinate transport planning across different levels of government and
sectors, and the need to address issues of safety, security, and social inclusion in transport planning.
Urban transport planning can play a critical role in transforming the spatial dynamics of South African
cities by promoting accessibility, mobility, connectivity, and sustainability. However, it requires a
coordinated and collaborative approach across different levels of government and sectors, as well as
sustained investment and funding for transport infrastructure and services.
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