The Mid-Term paper is based on a topic from this class. You may choose a topic from the first four weeks of lecture readings. Use the course readings and web sites to extend the materials on the topic.

Your paper should discuss and extend the information on the topic, and to expand on the topic by giving real-world scenarios, which reflect this topic.

Use APA format to submit this paper. This paper should be at least 1000 words with 3-5 references. Keep your submissions concise, focused, and succinct. Remember that Wikipedia is not a credible academic resource – please use the university library. This assignment will be graded on content, grammar, and format.

Transport Modes

Transport modes refer to the means through which freight and individuals attain mobility. They are divided into three based on the surface used for travel. One is road transportation (Rodrigue et al, 2015). Though road transport was historically developed in order to boost non-motorized means of transportation, it is motorization which has influenced most of its growth from the start of the 20^th century. Road transport frameworks have high costs of maintenance.

Rail Transportation

The other is rail transportation. Heavy industries are always connected with rail transport, though containerization has enhanced the dynamism of rail transportation by connecting it with road transport and water transport (Rodrigue et al, 2015). To this extent, it provides the highest capacity. Pipeline channels on the other hand are practically unrestricted. This is because they can be placed on both water and land. There is variation in the cost of pipeline construction with reference to diameter.

Maritime and Air transport

The other transport mode is maritime transport. The physical attributes of water provide buoyancy while reducing friction which makes this form of transport the most efficient to transport cargo over stretched distances. Major maritime routes include oceans, seas and rivers among others. The other one is air transportation (Rodrigue et al, 2015). Air channels are unlimited though they are concentrated over North America, North Pacific, Europe and North Atlantic. The constraints of this form of transport are multidimensional and entail the site, climate, aerial currents and even fog. Air operations are connected to different sectors including more so tourism. Over the recent past, this form of transport had been accommodating large quantities of freight and remains crucial in global logistics.

Telecommunication

Intermodal transportation concerns different modes employed in combination in order to exploit the advantages of every mode in a better way. Containerization remains a strong factor when it comes to intermodal integration, allowing land and water transportation to interconnect efficiently (Rodrigue et al, 2015). The last mode of communication is telecommunication which is debatable with reference to whether they could be considered as modes of transport because as opposed to real transportation, telecommunication always lacks physicality. However, they are formed as networks with unlimited capacity and low constraints. They permit rapid movement of information.

Transportation Terminals

A terminal on the other hand is described as any facility that permits assembly and dispersal of goods and passengers. Passengers have to enter bus terminals first and the airports. The two are unable to travel individually (Rodrigue & Slack, 2015). On the contrary, they are move in batches. Here, they are assembled to get to the final destinations before being dispersed. Freight must be consolidated at a rail yard or even a port prior to onward shipment. Furthermore, terminals could be areas of interchange entailing similar transport mode. Therefore a passenger seeking to travel by train or plane over a long distance could be forced to change trains or planes. On the other hand, terminals could be areas of interchange between various transportation modes (Rodrigue & Slack, 2015). This means that transport terminals are intermediate and important locations when it comes to the movement of goods and passengers.