Benchmarking a future transportation system

Abstract

More than 3,000 million people live and work in the urban area. In fact, in 2000, almost 50% of the population in the world was living in the urban area. In 2020, more than 60% of the population in the world will gather up in the urban area. In order to accommodate the increasing flow of passengers and cargo, new concepts in the city transportation area are requested. The S.A.T. project creates the first steps towards the breaking-up with the bi-dimensional use of modern cities. The system is designed for the transportation of people and/or freight (around 15-20 passengers per unit). It consists of unitary electric-vehicles. Its cabins maintain a horizontal-level position regardless of changes in track direction or even height level. The tracks are modular structures in the form of suspended tubes requiring minimum supports. Several vehicles are able to circulate on one track, i.e. in its different displacement direction either in suspension or held in place. The system is dynamic. It will consequently act as a catalytic tool towards the redefining of the urban space, generating mutation on architectural morphology and typologies. Interaction will appear between the urban grid and the buildings. The S.A.T. project will provide a possible sustainable solution to the new demand and requirement for the urban transportation in the future. In the paper a first in-depth investigation of its merits for reliable logistic service, technical feasibility, environmental benefits and cost performance are discussed, based on benchmarking simulation experiments.