Systems Approach to Choice in Transport Technology

Methods for selection of candidate technologies and transportation systems for systems analyses of multimodal transportation networks are described. System engineering methods have been developed which provide meaningful cost benefit comparisons of varied transportation systems. Cost-estimating relationships for advanced ground transportation have been developed. Automobile, bus, conventional air, V/STOL, and tracked air cushion systems are analyzed as a part of the Northeast Corridor transportation project. Systems engineering is also underway on tube vehicle and automobile related systems. A computer program, TRANSCOP, has been developed to optimize subsystem performance on the basis of selected objective functions, usually minimum cost.