MOBILITA' SOSTENIBILE

The course aims to provide the fundamental knowledge and tools to understand the principles of sustainable mobility, the various dimensions of sustainability as applied to transport systems, and the key intervention tools and strategies for transitioning toward sustainable mobility systems. Particular attention will be paid to sustainable mobility planning, the feasibility assessment of transport interventions, and the analysis of their primary impacts, with a specific focus on energy and environmental aspects.

Knowledge and understanding

Students will acquire knowledge regarding the principles of sustainable mobility and the various dimensions of sustainability, covering the environmental, energy, social, and economic aspects of transport systems. The course will also address the main factors influencing mobility sustainability, as well as the intervention tools and strategies for transitioning to more sustainable transport systems.

Furthermore, the course will analyse key approaches to sustainable mobility planning and the criteria for assessing the feasibility and impacts of intervention alternatives, with particular emphasis on energy and environmental considerations.

Applying knowledge and understanding

Through practical exercises and applied activities—including the analysis of case studies—students will acquire the fundamentals needed to apply their knowledge of sustainable mobility planning and assessment.

Specifically, students will be able to analyse a mobility system in relation to sustainability goals, identify and apply intervention tools and strategies, and assess the feasibility of transport interventions. They will also be able to analyse and compare alternative intervention solutions, with particular regard to their respective energy and environmental impacts.

Making judgements

By the end of the course, students will be able to identify and select relevant information for analysing the sustainability of a mobility system, based on the study's objectives; interpret key issues related to the transition towards sustainable transport systems; critically compare potential strategies and alternative intervention solutions; and evaluate—at a basic level—the implications of various alternatives regarding different dimensions of sustainability and transport system efficiency goals.

Communication skills

Students will develop the ability to clearly and appropriately communicate and discuss content, analyses, and results related to sustainable mobility. This will be achieved through targeted exercises and discussions concerning the analyses performed and intervention choices, using appropriate technical language. Any group activities will further foster collaboration skills and the ability to engage constructively with other team members.

Learning skills

Students will be encouraged to develop an autonomous learning method based on consulting and analysing technical, scientific, and regulatory sources regarding sustainable mobility and transport system planning. They will also be encouraged to examine case studies and the evolution of tools, strategies, and innovative solutions for the transition to sustainable mobility systems. The skills acquired during the course will provide a foundation for independently updating and deepening their knowledge in the fields of mobility planning and transport system sustainability.

The skills acquired during the course contribute to achieving Agenda 2030 Goals 9, 11, and 13, with particular reference to the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure, the sustainability of urban systems, access to safe, sustainable, and affordable transport systems, and the reduction of environmental impacts and emissions associated with transport.

The course includes:

- frontal lessons

- guided exercise(s)

- guided tours

The acquisition of skills will be verified by means of an oral test which will cover both the theoretical topics and the assigned exercises.

Students who have obtained recognition as student workers, student athletes, students with special needs, and students with disabilities, pursuant to Article 30 of the University Teaching Regulations and the related regulations (Rector's Decree No. 1598 of May 2, 2018), will be able to take exams in the special exam sessions reserved for students who have not completed their studies and will benefit from specific educational support activities (video lessons where available).

If the course is delivered in blended or remote mode, appropriate adjustments may be made to the above, in order to ensure consistency with the syllabus.

• DEFINITIONS

1. Transport system; transport service; cost, price, fare; generalized transport cost; transport mode; intermodality, multimodality, modal switch, modal integration, integrated transport; sustainable mobility.

• ELEMENTS OF TRANSPORT ECONOMICS

2. Demand for mobility services (Elements of consumer theory: isoutility curves, income limit, substitution effect and income effect, elasticity of demand for transport services); transport supply (Elements of firm theory: average cost, marginal cost, fixed costs, variable costs); the balance between transport supply and demand (competitive and monopoly operations, concessions, and service contracts).

3. Overview of transport system modeling: zoning; analysis of transport supply and demand; interaction between supply and demand; elements of flow theory; road service level. 

• THE SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY PARADIGM

4. Environmental, social, and economic sustainability; examples of sustainable and unsustainable mobility aspects at the local, national, and international levels.

5. Energy and environmental implications of transportation (emissions and climate change); the concept of accessibility and accessibility indicators; economic and technological measures; soft mobility and traffic calming interventions.

• TRANSPORT PLANNING PROCESS ARCHITECTURE

6. Short- and long-term planning (strategic and tactical plans). Planning at different territorial scales. Case studies: the Regional Transport Plan of the Sicilian Region (PRT); the General Urban Traffic Plan of Catania (PGTU); the Accessibility Plan of Ortigia (SR).

7. Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs): national and European reference legislation, state of the art in Italy, case studies.

8. Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs): Legislation and Applications of Energy Assessment in the Transport Sector.

• FUNDAMENTALS OF RAIL, AIR, AND MARITIME TRANSPORT

9. Fundamentals of Maritime Transport: Introduction; Overview of Locomotion Mechanics; Classification of Ships; Classification of Ports: Morphology, Types, Port Infrastructure, Terminals; Port Logistics. Environmental Sustainability of Maritime Transport: International Regulatory Framework; Top 10 ESPO Environmental Priorities; Air Quality, Energy, and Climate Change; Noise Pollution; Ship and Terminal Waste; Dredging Operations; Water Quality; Port-City Relationships: Port Master Plan, Case Studies, and European Regulations.

10. Introduction to Rail Transport: Rail Wheel Arrangement, Rail Superstructure, Rail Guideway, Regulatory Reorganization, Rail Network, Train Types, Environmental Impact of Rail Transport, and Overview of High-Speed ​​Rail (HS).

11. Fundamentals of Air Transport: Aircraft classification; Aircraft components; Flight principles and techniques; Wing shape and airfoils; Forces acting during flight; Lift. Airports: landside and airside; airport system capacity.

• LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT (LPT) - INTERACTION BETWEEN TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND TERRITORIAL PLANNING

12. Regional railways, light and heavy metros, trams, Transit-oriented development (TOD). Case studies: Copenhagen, Graz, Paris (Chatelet-les-Halles), London (St. Pancras International Airport), Hanover, Lille, New York City, Shanghai, Bordeaux

• FEASIBILITY OF INTERVENTIONS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

13. Investment theory

14. Cost-benefit analysis

15. Multi-criteria analysis (MCA). AMC methods (Electre, distance, AHP, overview of ANP and BWM). AMC applications for sustainable mobility planning.

•  THEMATIC FOCUSES

16. Focus 1: Participatory transport planning: methods and tools

17. Focus 2: Urban freight transport: environmental impacts and intervention policies

18. Focus 3: Transport innovation towards sustainable and smart mobility

19. Focus 4: Mobility management: transport demand management policies towards sustainable mobility

• EXERCISES. Transport analyses and evaluations of sustainable mobility scenarios using various tools (e.g., GIS, Excel)

1. Lecture notes

Suggested books:

2. De Luca M., Manuale di pianificazione dei trasporti, Franco Angeli.

3. De Luca M., Tecnica ed economia dei trasporti, CUEN Napoli.

4. Cascetta E., Teoria e metodi dell’ingegneria dei sistemi di trasporto, UTET.

5. Corona G., Festa D., Trasporto Pubblico Locale. Risorse, pianificazione, esercizio, EGAF.

6. Hickman, R., & Banister, D. (2014). Transport, climate change and the city. Routledge.

7. Marcucci, E., & Gatta, V. (a cura di) (2017). Le politiche per la mobilità urbana sostenibile. Le sfide del futuro. Editrice Apes

8. Dalla Chiara B., Pede G., Valentini M. P., Coviello N., Deflorio F., Trasporti terrestri ed energia. Tecnologie, metodi ed applicazioni, EGAF.

9. La Greca, P., & Tira, M. (a cura di) (2017). Pianificare per la sostenibilità energetica della città. Maggioli Editore

The acquisition of skills will be verified by means of an oral exam which will cover both the theoretical arguments and the assigned exercises.

At least 7-10 days before the date of the final exam, the student must send a draft of the report about the practical excercise on the class topics via mail. Once revised, the student should bring a copy of the final version of such a report the day appointed for the finals.

During the finals,the student should answer, generally, three-four oral questions about the topics of the course (please refer to the Most frequent questions below).

The evaluation will be based on the:

- quality of the report on practical applications (50%);

- completeness and clarity of the answers to the oral questions (50%).

Active participation to class work will be also accounted for.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on-line, should the conditions require it. To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current laws, interested students may request a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures based on educational objectives and specific needs. Students can also contact the CInAP (Centro per l’integrazione Attiva e Partecipata — Servizi per le Disabilità e/o i DSA) referring teacher within their department (https://www.cinap.unict.it/content/referenti).

- The sustainable mobility paradigm

- Rigid and elastic transport demand

- Difference between cost / price / tariff in the transport sector

- Cost-benefit analysis and multi-criteria analysis

- Principles of air transport

- SEAP