### ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes: Transport: Transport Network analysis

The transport network system of Uganda.

• A transport network is  a spatial pattern of transportation facilities in a given region
• It shows the pattern of transportation facilities that cover a given area e.g. a country, region or continent
• Various methods are used to analyse and describe transport networks
• These vary from graphical approaches, descriptive or qualitative approaches as well as quantitative methods
• Topological maps and graphs are often used to analyse transport networks
• Various terms are used when doing this
• These terms include:
• Route- refers to a pathway followed by transport type
• A route is typically shown by a solid line linking nodes
• It is also called an edge or a link
• Node- is any settlement through which a route passes or ends
• Transport routes link or connect node which maybe homes, villages, towns, mines or cities.
• All routes begin and end at different type of nodes.
• Routes and edges can be used to calculate the beta index of a transport network
$\text{Beta Index (B.I)} = \dfrac{\text{ number of edges} }{\text {number of nodes}}$
• The larger the beta index, the better the connectivity of settlements in an area.
• As transport networks develop and become more efficient, the value of the B.I should rise.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page