Transport Geography

Transport geography studies the movement of people, goods, and information across space and the networks and systems that enable it.

Scope

It covers transport networks and flows, accessibility and mobility, the relationship between transport and land use, and time-space constraints on activity.

Core questions

• What shapes the movement of people and goods?
• How do transport networks structure space?
• How does transport relate to land use and development?
• How do time and space constrain human activity?

Key concepts

• Spatial interaction
• Accessibility
• Networks and flows
• Time geography
• Mobility
• Transport and land use

Key theories

Spatial interaction

Ullman analysed the bases of spatial interaction — complementarity, transferability, and intervening opportunity.

Time geography

Hägerstrand's time geography modelled how time-space constraints shape individuals' daily paths and activities.

History

Transport geography developed spatial-interaction theory (Ullman) and Hägerstrand's time geography, and now studies mobility, logistics, accessibility, and sustainable transport.

Debates

Aggregate flows versus individual paths

Whether to model transport through aggregate spatial interaction or individuals' time-space paths.

Key figures

• Edward Ullman
• Torsten Hägerstrand

Seminal works

• ullman-1956
• hagerstrand-1970

Frequently asked questions

What is time geography?

Hägerstrand's framework analysing how constraints of time and space shape the paths and possibilities of individuals' daily activities.