Last modified: 23 Jul 2024 10:43
This course focusses on the management and operation of public transport (PT) systems. Management encompasses the organisation and control of PT systems. Operations relates to demand and supply with emphasis on the roles of subsidy, revenue and fares. Operations will be considered for: buses, trams, rail and metro. Appreciation of the interdependence of PT networks will be emphasised by a field trip to a UK metropolitan city. The trip involves a group field project and engagement with PT stakeholders with ‘behind the scenes’ access to operations and management environments.
| Study Type | Postgraduate | Level | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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This course focusses upon public transport (PT) systems. It addresses both the management and operation of PT systems. Management will encompass the organisation and control of PT systems including both legislative and regulatory frameworks. Network planning at a variety of scales will be considered including strategic national and regional planning as well as more local urban and rural networks.
Operations will be considered in relation to fundamental principles of demand and supply management with particular emphasis on the roles of financial instruments such as subsidy, revenue and fares. Operations will be considered in relation to: buses, trams, rail, metro and emerging forms of PT e.g. personal rapid transit. For each mode, historical development, current practice and issues and potential future developments will be considered. This approach will involve the exploration of detailed case studies such as high-speed rail in the UK and hydrogen buses in Aberdeen (supported by a site visit)
The importance of integration and intermodality will be emphasised through the exploration of the concept of ‘seamless mobility’ as an aspiration for the delivery of public transport services. This will lead into the discussion of in-depth case studies. Firstly, on the resilience of PT networks with particular attention towards climate change adaptation and extreme weather as well as the impact of large events (e.g. sporting events) on network management and operations. Secondly, the security of PT networks with particular attention to current and emerging security challenges such as:
The appreciation of the interdependence of PT networks will be further developed by a 5-day field trip to a UK metropolitan city (likely to be either Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester or London). The field trip will involve both undertaking an independent group field project and opportunities to engage key PT stakeholders in the city with ‘behind the scenes’ access to operations and management environments.
The future of PT systems will also be a focus with an exploration of the relationship between formal fixed-route PT networks and more informal, ad-hoc networks and services resulting from a changing economic, technical and technological landscape which is enabling more flexible and demand responsive transport services. The role of automation in PT networks will also be considered alongside opportunities for emerging forms of PT such as personal rapid transit.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Attendance at 5-day field trip at estimated cost of £300 per student | 300.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 36,37,38 | Feedback Weeks | 39 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analyse key issues of integration and intermodality which demonstrate the interdependence of public transport systems. |
| Factual | Understand | Understand key principles involved in the management and operation of public transport systems |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate public transport system integration and intermodality challenges in the context of a designated field site. |
| Reflection | Create | Create a fieldtrip project which addresses a research problem identified in relation to a metropolitan public transport system. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 42 | Feedback Weeks | 45 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analyse key issues of integration and intermodality which demonstrate the interdependence of public transport systems. |
| Factual | Apply | Apply understanding of public transport systems management and operations to the design of a field trip project |
| Factual | Understand | Understand key principles involved in the management and operation of public transport systems |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate public transport system integration and intermodality challenges in the context of a designated field site. |
| Reflection | Create | Create a fieldtrip project which addresses a research problem identified in relation to a metropolitan public transport system. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 20 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 34,35 | Feedback Weeks | 36 | |
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analyse key issues of integration and intermodality which demonstrate the interdependence of public transport systems. |
| Factual | Apply | Apply understanding of public transport systems management and operations to the design of a field trip project |
| Factual | Understand | Understand key principles involved in the management and operation of public transport systems |
| Reflection | Create | Create a fieldtrip project which addresses a research problem identified in relation to a metropolitan public transport system. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback | ||||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Factual | Understand | Understand key principles involved in the management and operation of public transport systems |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Analyse key issues of integration and intermodality which demonstrate the interdependence of public transport systems. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Evaluate public transport system integration and intermodality challenges in the context of a designated field site. |
| Factual | Apply | Apply understanding of public transport systems management and operations to the design of a field trip project |
| Reflection | Create | Create a fieldtrip project which addresses a research problem identified in relation to a metropolitan public transport system. |
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