This course will introduce the methods and practices used to analyse and provide solutions to the most common transport planning problems including long-range strategic transport planning and transport project evaluation. A major focus will be on introducing significant concepts relating to forecasting, impact analysis and evaluation assessment, and the data, methods and tools that support these objectives.

The course will be delivered in 3 hourly blocks, once per week, over 9 consecutive weeks.

Urban Studies Research: Design, Methods and Ethics (URBAN5119)

Transport Planning Lab (URBAN5102)

Assessment:

This course will be assessed by an essay of maximum 4,000 words in length (100%) 

In keeping with the National Occupational Standards for Transport Planning, the aims of this course are to introduce design, tools and techniques, and data sources used in transport planning. Using a case-based approach, the course will introduce the student to the major methodological approaches in urban studies.

Specific course aims are to:

■ provide in-depth principles of transport demand forecasting and advanced approaches to create long-range transport plans;

■ explain and evaluate approaches for travel behaviour analysis; and

■ outline and critique cost-benefit analysis and related evaluation and impact analysis topics.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ demonstrate in-depth understand of the processes and methods involved in the integration and assimilation of information, and the nature and purpose of research in planning and transport;

■ appropriately design the specification and development of a transportation based research problem;

■ recognise and critically discuss the purposes and principles of diverse models in transport planning;

■ display a high level of awareness on the major sources of data used for transport planning;

■ process diverse transport data with appropriate models;

■ illustrate and critically discuss the fundamentals of transport analysis including travel demand modelling;

■ apply quantitative research methods skills to investigate a transport planning issue;

■ critically evaluate and conduct impact analysis of transport plans and projects; and

■ interpret results from models and produce policy implications based on outcomes.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.

Minimum requirement for award of credit for students on MSc City Planning is D3 or above.

University standard regulations apply to students on other qualifications.