Transport Planning, Modelling and Economics
Duration
One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48 hours
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Aims and objectives
This unit of study aims to develop an understanding of the characteristics of transport demand and supply, infrastructure costs and community benefits. This is in addition to learning about the factors that affect destination, route and mode choice of travellers and the application of relevant theories and principles in modelling trip distribution and network planning. It also aims to learn how to apply current guidelines and techniques in evaluating transport projects and assessing their costs and benefits.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe the transport planning process (K3, S1)
2. Appreciate the basics of transport demand analysis, acquire basic knowledge on household interview survey and understand how to estimate the number of trips (S1, S2, K3)
3. Discern how to model the destination choice of travellers (K3, K2, S1)
4. Discern how to model the mode choice of travellers and apply the knowledge to solve a complex problem ( K2, S1, S2, A7)
5. Describe the theory behind the principles of welfare economics as related to transport programs (K3, S1)
6. Apply the fundamental transport economic concepts of demand, supply, pricing, congestion and other externalities in their estimation (K3)
7. Apply the benefit cost analysis principles including multi-criteria analysis and generate high quality reports as part of a team (S1, K3, K2, S2, A7)
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe the transport planning process (K3, S1)
2. Appreciate the basics of transport demand analysis, acquire basic knowledge on household interview survey and understand how to estimate the number of trips (S1, S2, K3)
3. Discern how to model the destination choice of travellers (K3, K2, S1)
4. Discern how to model the mode choice of travellers and apply the knowledge to solve a complex problem ( K2, S1, S2, A7)
5. Describe the theory behind the principles of welfare economics as related to transport programs (K3, S1)
6. Apply the fundamental transport economic concepts of demand, supply, pricing, congestion and other externalities in their estimation (K3)
7. Apply the benefit cost analysis principles including multi-criteria analysis and generate high quality reports as part of a team (S1, K3, K2, S2, A7)
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
*Scheduled face to face: Lectures (36 hours), Tutorials (12 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online Learning events (total 6 hours)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (N/A)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 96 hours)
*Scheduled synchronous online Learning events (total 6 hours)
Non-scheduled online learning events and activities (N/A)
Other non-scheduled learning events and activities including independent study (approx. 96 hours)
Assessment
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Examination | Individual | 50-60% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Online tests | Individual | 5-15% | 1,2,5,6 |
| Assignments | Group | 35-45% | 3,4,6,7 |
Minimum requirements to pass this unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:
- problem solving skills
- analysis skills
- communication skills
- ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
- ability to work independently
- problem solving skills
- analysis skills
- communication skills
- ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
- ability to work independently
Content
• Introduction to transport planning
• Overview of transportation finance and economics – The Principles of Welfare Economics
• Demand and supply issues – Consumer and Producer Surplus: theory and estimation
• Appraisal process and methodologies
o Benefit cost analysis and multi-criteria analysis
o Cost effectiveness analysis
• Efficiency and equity concepts in project evaluation
• Post-completion/implementation evaluation of projects
• Pricing and cost allocation
o Pricing of transportation services (congestion pricing, road space, externalities etc.)
o Infrastructure costs
• Transport and traffic surveys and data for system planning
• Four–step transport modelling including trip generation, trip distribution, modal split, and trip assignment
• Overview of transportation finance and economics – The Principles of Welfare Economics
• Demand and supply issues – Consumer and Producer Surplus: theory and estimation
• Appraisal process and methodologies
o Benefit cost analysis and multi-criteria analysis
o Cost effectiveness analysis
• Efficiency and equity concepts in project evaluation
• Post-completion/implementation evaluation of projects
• Pricing and cost allocation
o Pricing of transportation services (congestion pricing, road space, externalities etc.)
o Infrastructure costs
• Transport and traffic surveys and data for system planning
• Four–step transport modelling including trip generation, trip distribution, modal split, and trip assignment
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.