geography freak

Question 1

How do transport systems impact the Physical Environment

Answer 1

• Alter the natural landscape
• Impact the livelihood of Flora and Fauna
• Increase carbon footprint

Question 2

How do transport systems impact the People

Answer 2

• Improve mobility
• Create traffic congestion
• Present health risks
• Present safety risks

Question 3

Ways in which the natural environment is altered ( 4 main ways)

Answer 3

• Tunneling through large boulders or mountain rock to provide a faster route of path for transport
• Building roads along mountain hills
• Diverting river channels manually
• The physical environment is cleared and altered to enable the construction of transport systems (hence taking away the habitat of flora and fauna)

Question 4

3 Main greenhouse gases

Answer 4

• CO2 (Carbon dioxide)
• CH4 (Methane)
• N2O (Nitrous Oxide)

Question 4

What are greenhouse gases and can it cause excessive heat:

Answer 4

Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring gases that exist to ensure that the environment is habitably warm.

Excessive release of greenhouse gas can enhance the greenhouse effect thus leading to major consequences such as global warming and climate change.

Question 5

Define the Increase in Carbon Footprint:

Answer 5

Carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases released during human activities.

Question 6

How are transport systems involved in increasing greenhouse gas emissions:

Answer 6

• Fossil fuels are burnt to provide power for motorized transport modes.
• Even transport modes powered by electricity rely on the burning of fossil fuels to generate energy.
• Transport activities account for 25-30% of all greenhouse gases released.

Question 7

The 6 main needs of different members of a community:

Answer 7

1 - Access to lifts/ramps
2 - Longer crossing time at zebra crossings
3 - Audio and Visual assistance (textured path)
4 - Sufficient space for movement
5 - Support and railings
6 - Buttons at a lower height

Question 7

How is enhanced mobility essential (3 points)

Answer 7

• Allows people to access goods and services easily
• Allows for a more independent travel experience
• Allows people to engage in social exchanges which will improve their social well being

Question 8

case study example on the implementation of age-friendly and barrier free on roads and paths

Answer 8

Singapore has designated silver zones, which refer to places with a greater population of elderly.

These silver zones have special features to accommodate the safety and mobility of the elderly:

• Curved roads to force vehicles to slow down
• Vehicular speed limit is capped at 40km/h
• Brightly marked signages
• Yellow painted roads strips to alert drivers to the start of silver zones
• Mountable dividers that allow emergency vehicles to cross over when necessary

Question 9

Definition of Traffic Congestion:

Answer 9

It is the condition in which road usage is reaching or has surpassed capacity.

Question 10

Places and times when traffic congestion is most common

Answer 10

• During peak hour (commuting hour 7-9am)
• At CBD or town centre where there is a high concentration of economic activities.

Question 11

How does traffic congestion impact users:

Answer 11

• Experience a delay
• Waste time travelling
• Lose concentration and gain frustration
• Health concerns of those breathing in the polluted city air
• Health concerns of constant exposure to noise generated (by vehicles)

Question 12

How does traffic congestion impact the physical environment:

Answer 12

• In traffic congestions, vehicles spend more time on the road hence there is a greater release of particulate matter, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are toxic and pollute the air.

Question 12

Suggested solutions to curb the problem of traffic congestion (3 ways):

Answer 12

• Switch to clean alternative energies
• Encourage the use of public transport
• Encourage people to adopt non-motorised modes of transport such as cycling or walking

Question 13

Health concerns of exposure to polluted air in the city:

Answer 13

• Respiratory illnesses such as breathing difficulties, trigger asthma, lung infection and potential lung cancer.
• Eye irratation after prolonged exposure

Question 14

Example of Road Safety Concerns:

Answer 14

Road accidents

Question 15

Negative impact of road accidents:

Answer 15

• Loss of life
• Increased demand for healthcare (Follow-up appointments and a hospital bed for the stay)
• Damage of public and personal property
• Cause disabilities among people

Question 16

How are road accidents prevented:

Answer 16

• Stricter laws against the use of personal mobile device or drinking under the influence of alcohol and drugs (dangerous driving)
• Lowered vehicular speed cap limits
• Speed cameras to deter drivers from committing dangerous driving and to catch errant road users

Question 17

What gives rise to personal safety concerns:

Answer 17

As urban population grows, the amount of congestion within public transport increases

Question 18

Examples of personal safety concerns (2 types)

Answer 18

• pick-pocketing/theft
• outrage of modesty (molestation)

Question 19

3 Methods in which cities can follow to deal with increased crime on crowded public transport systems:

Answer 19

• Increased police patrols
• increased number of security cameras
• Introducing gender-segregated transportation (Example: Japan)

Question 20

The three types of safety concerns:

Answer 20

• Road safety concerns
• Personal safety concerns
• National safety concerns

Question 21

Example of a national security concern:

Answer 21

• Major transport terminals within a city are potential targets for terrorist attacks

Question 22

Negative effect and risk of terrorist effects:

Answer 22

• Attack on major infrastructure can cripple a city’s mobility and worldwide profile
• Significant loss of lives in the event
• Instill fear among civillians

Question 23

4 Methods in which cities can follow to deal with national security concerns:

Answer 23

• Non-uniformed and uniformed police officers patrolling transport terminals
• Increase in security cameras
• Conducting security checks (body/bag searches for illegal items)
• Remind commuters to be alert of suspicious activity and report them

Question 23

Two main ways in which cities can manage transport systems sustainably:

Answer 23

• Manage people’s demand for transport
• Improve the provision of transport

Question 24

4 ways to improve the provision of transport

Answer 24

• Transport policies and regulation
• Providing a range of transport modes
• integrated land-use and transport planning
• Research and development of transport systems

Question 25

Three main ways to implement transport policies and regulations:

Answer 25

• Discouraging the ownership of private vehicles to reduce the number of vehicles on the road (lessens congestion and emissions)
• Encouraging commuters to take up non-motorized modes of transports (walking and cycling)
• Encourage commuters to use public transport systems (Make efficient systems to attract users into switching to public modes of transport)

Question 26

What is the imposition of congestion pricing:

Answer 26

Road users pay an extra sum of money to use a specific stretch of road during certain times of the day (the causeway during peak hours), this policy make travel by private transport more expensive compared to public transport and moreover, the additional revenue raised from the policy is used to enhance public transport systems.

Question 27

Three problems associated with congestion pricing:

Answer 27

• The overall flow of traffic is not actually reduced, but diverted to other roads without congestion pricing (smart hacks among civilians)
• Unhappiness may arise among people over additional charges.
• Systems need to be in place to enforce regulations and collect fees (or else people can just drive without paying the fee)

Question 28

Definition of integrated land-use and transport planning:

Answer 28

Good integrated land-use or transport planning allows for better accessibility to different places

Question 29

How does good integrated land-use or transport planning allow for better accessibility to different places:

Answer 29

• Reduced travel time
• Making traveling safe
• Making travelling afforable
• Making travelling convenient
• Is environmentally friendly

Question 30

How is land-use planning important:

Answer 30

• Shapes the demand for travel
• Shapes the distance needed to travel

(When the time needed to commute is reduced, mobility and access to services are enhanced)

Question 30

Definition of Land-use planning:

Answer 30

They are zoning plans set up by the authorities that outline future locations and types of development that are to be permitted or not in land zones over a period of time (5-15 years)

Question 31

Definition of transport planning

Answer 31

When Authorities look at the current state of transport to predict and design the operations, provisions and management of transport systems for current and future needs

Question 32

Ways to encourage mobility among people:

Answer 32

-Having closely located shops and facilities
- Attractive building facades
- Wide, shaded pathways

provide pedestrians with an enjoyable travelling experience

Question 32

What must an integrated land-use and transport plan need to have (3 points)

Answer 32

• Good coordination and communication between different stakeholders
• Strike a balance between social, economic and transport needs
• Commit to investing time and large amounts of money to design and develop infrastructure

Question 33

Mobility in individuals can be limited by: (5 ways)

Answer 33

• Physical disabilities
• Health issues
• The cost of transport
• Availability of transport modes nearby

Question 33

Challenges in providing a range of mobility options:

Answer 33

• Cost heavy (Expensive)
• Careful and time-consuming planning process
• Use of resource

Question 34

Example of Transport Research and Development (for improvement):

Answer 34

• Designing and developing environmentally friendly transport infrastructure (use of green building materials and techniques when constructing transport infrastructure)
• Mobile applications which can provide useful information to commuters such as public transport arrival times, crowd conditions, availability of wheelchairs, delays (in the event of a transport break down)

[i.e. the MyTransport.SG mobile app]