An Introduction to Non-Motorized Transportation Systems

Description

This free online course introduces you to the nature of a transportation system that does not involve any motorized or electronic devices. Firstly, it explains the need for non-motorized transportation (NMT) systems, their benefits, issues and types, and compares various such systems and their impacts on the environment. Sustainable forms of transportation and the key steps involved in the overall planning and assessment processes of NMT systems are discussed. The importance of analyzing the travel characteristics of a specific city is emphasized, including the need for different data sources to understand existing infrastructural information. The crucial process of understanding road inventory through various primary and secondary data sources is also described for you. This course is arranged systematically and presented clearly so you will easily be able to understand the given concepts.

Next, it goes on to explain the estimation of the demand for NMT and the process of measuring the existing level of congestion on the roads. You then learn the process of formulating context-specific NMT proposals and the method for judging and selecting the best possible proposal. This includes the integration of NMT strategies with other transportation plans and the process of retrofitting existing streets with new NMT infrastructure. In addition, the process of investing in such systems and the various methods for selecting the best interventions based on cost and economic analysis are highlighted. Then, the process of developing incentives for private stakeholders to invest in this infrastructure and the procedure for establishing budget allocations for NMT rehabilitation and maintenance are explained. You move onto examining the different characteristics for each type of NMT system and discuss variations in their size and dimension. The course explains how pedestrian speed is affected by individual characteristics as well as the built environment, and the process of determining the speed of two pedestrian groups.

Finally, you will learn about the different methods of collecting data on pedestrian flows and how data collection techniques are dependent on the time available and budgetary constraints. You will look at various options that are used to model pedestrian flows and the significance of linear regression analysis in establishing statistical relationships. The Indian Highway Capacity Manual (Indo-HCM) estimation of flow models for different land uses and the process of determining the ‘goodness of fit’ of the actual data, are discussed. You will discover how macroscopic pedestrian flow models differ based on their trip purpose and land use, and also the possibility of having two different regimes in their models. In addition, the different types of crossing facilities and the factors to be considered while designing pedestrian facilities are described. An Introduction to Non-Motorized Transportation Systems is an informative course that will interest students studying civil engineering, transportation engineering, urban planning or anyone who has an interest in creating greener urban spaces by encouraging the use of NMT.