◄UNIT 15:INDUSTRIALIZATION IN THE WORLDUNIT 17 :TRADE AND COMMERCE IN THE WORLD►

UNIT 16 :TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION IN THE WORLD

  • UNIT 16 :TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION IN THE WORLD

    Key unit competence: The student-teachers should be able to analyze the
                                                    impact of transport and communication projects
                                                   on the sustainable development of different
                                                    countries in the world.

    Introductory activity
    Read the passage below and answer the following questions.
    In Eastern province of Rwanda there is a high production of banana. Mr.
    Gatabazi imported a lorry to help the people to carry their harvests to the
    market instead of using their heads. Gatabazi extended his businesses and
    became a businessman in the city of Kigali. He started to import his products
    from China. Sometimes he goes there to purchase goods or calls his partners
    using his mobile phone, then orders his goods, and pays using his BK Visa card,
    and finally gets his goods without moving from Rwanda to China.
    1. What types of transport mentioned are above?
    2. Explain the economic importance of the transport that Gatabazi introduced in that area.
    3. Describe the types of transport that he uses to import goods from China.
    4. What form of communication that he uses to get his products?

    5. Mention other types of communication he can use to order for his goods.

    16.1. Transport

    Activity 16.1

    c

    1. Observe the above photographs and identify the types of transport shown.

    2. Which type of transport is common in your area and why?


    This unit is about transport and communication. Transport is the medium
    to carry people goods from one place to another. It includes roadways, water
    transport, airways etc. Communication is a process of expressing one’s idea
    thought between two or more people. It includes direct talk, radio, television,
    internet, telephone, WhatsApp, etc.

    16.1.1. Meaning and types of transport
    (i) Meaning of transport
    The term transport refers to the movement of passengers and goods from one
    place to another. All means of transport need places where journeys start and
    end. These are called terminals.

    Terminals for land transport are called     Bus station or Train station. Those for
    air transport are Airports while terminals for water transport are called ports.

    (ii) Types of transport
    There are three main types of transport as described below with their
    advantages and disadvantages:
    ─ Land transport which includes human portage, water transport,
    animal transport, road transport, railway transport and pipeline
    transport.
    ─ Water transport.
    ─ Air transport.

    i. Land transport
    Land transport is the type of transport that takes place on land. It can be
    subdivided into: Human portage, Animal transport, Road transport, Railway
    transport and Pipeline transport.

    a. Human portage
    This is when people carry their load on their heads, on their backs or in their

    hands. It is the most used transport by most people in various parts of the world.

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    Advantages
    ─ It helps in inaccessible areas.
    ─ It is cheap compared to other forms of transport.

    Disadvantages
    ─ It is very slow compared to other forms of transport.
    ─ It requires a lot of human energy and it is time consuming.

    b. Animal transport
    This form of transport is commonly used in areas where it is not easy to develop
    other means of transport especially in arid (desert) areas. Animals used include:

    Camels, cows, Horses, Donkeys etc.

    d

    Advantages
    ─ It is used in wild areas where other means are not possible.
    ─ It is quicker than the human portage.
    ─ It is suitable in areas where human labour is limited.

    Disadvantages
    ─ It is slow compared to road transport.
    ─ Some animals cannot move in hilly areas.
    ─ Some animals cannot withstand certain climatic conditions.

    c. Road transport
    This involves the movement of goods and passengers mainly by vehicles,

    bicycles and motorcycles.

    w

    Advantages
    ─ Roads can be constructed in areas which are accessible to other
    forms of transport.
    ─ Because of being flexible goods can be sold on route or can be
    delivered any time.
    ─ It is cheaper and faster for short distances.
    ─ In some cases, it does not require large capital, except road
    construction.
    ─ It is easier for people to own and purchase vehicles, bicycles and
    motor cycles than airplanes, motor boats and ships.
    ─ It provides door to door services.

    Disadvantages
    ─ Heavy loaded Lorries are too slow.
    ─ Weather conditions affect road transport especially during rainy
    season.
    ─ There are expensive to construct and maintain especially in towns.
    ── Roads are affected by congestion and traffic jams in heavily populated
    urban areas.
    ─ Unsuitable for heavy and bulky goods compared to water transport
    ─ Vehicles at times run empty because of not having a scheduled
    timetable.

    d. Railway transport
    This involves the carrying of passengers and goods by train or tram along

    designated routes.

    s

    Advantages
    ─ It is cheaper for transporting bulky goods.
    ─ It is less affected by weather conditions.
    ─ It uses known routes and known timetable.
    ─ It carries more loads and a big number of people.
    ─ It is safe since the chance of accidents or breakdowns are minimal.

    Disadvantages
    ─ The use of railway lines does not allow trains to reach remote areas.
    ─ It is very expensive for short distances.
    ─ It is not suitable for carrying perishable commodities.
    ─ It is time consuming/ slow.
    ─ It is costly in terms of maintenance. Currently trams are being
    replaced by buses in modern cities.

    e. Pipeline transport
    This involves the movement of liquids and gases through a pipe from one point to another.
    d
    Advantages
    ─ It is cheap and easy to maintain.
    ─ It is relatively fast.
    ─ It can be used to transport large quantities of liquids at a single time.
    ─ It is not affected by weather conditions.
    ─ It does not pollute the environment.
    ─ It is free from traffic congestions.
    ─ It is convenient in transporting highly inflammable commodities
    such as petroleum.

    Disadvantages
    ─ It cannot be used to transport other commodities, apart from gas and liquid only.
    ─ It may be damaged leading to heavy losses.
    ─ It does not provide door to door services.
    ─ It is expensive to construct.

    ii. Water transport
    This is the movement of goods and passengers on water by use of ships, ferries,

    canoes and boats. It involves both in-land and marine water ways.

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    Advantages of water transport.
    ─ It does not require any route construction.
    ─ It is the cheapest for bulky goods.
    ── Bulky commodities can be transported over a long distance.
    ── It experiences less traffic congestion compared to road transport.

    ── It is suitable for carrying fragile goods because there is no shaking.

    Disadvantages of water transport.
    ─ Construction of sea port is too expensive to be afforded by most
    countries.
    ─ It is used by areas with navigable water bodies i.e. limited in use by
    landlocked countries.
    ─ It can be affected by sea pirates.
    ─ It is very slow in movement compared to air and road transport.
    ─ Obstacles on rivers such as rapids, waterfalls, floating vegetation,
    sand bars, aquatic animals, make them un navigable hence affecting
    movement of water going vessels.
    ─ Canals are affected by seasonal changes.
    ─ Storms and winds sometimes interfere with the ship schedule.

    iii. Air transport
    This is the form of transport that uses flying objects in the air such as airplanes,

    drones and balloons.

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    Advantages of air transport
    ─ It is the fastest and most comfortable method of transport.
    ─ It is suitable for transporting perishable commodities.
    ─ It is suitable for carrying urgently needed goods.
    ─ It can go to any place with an airport.
    ─ It is secure, not subjected to robbers.
    ─ It is less affected by relief features.
    ─ It does not need any route construction compared to road and railway
    transport.

    ─ Its time saving since it follows a specific time schedule.

    Disadvantages of air transport
    ─ It causes air and noise pollution.
    ─ It has limited storage space.
    ─ Usually weather conditions such as fog interfere with its schedule.
    ─ It is very expensive in terms of movement costs.
    ─ Long time is taken in air traffic control at airfields. e.g. checking and booking.
    ─ It requires large capital in airport construction and aircraft purchase.
    ─ It requires highly skilled man power to operate.

    ─ It is a target for terrorist attacks.

    Application Activity 16.1
    1. Explain why land transport is the most used type of transport in
    Rwanda compared to air and water transport.
    2. Describe the challenges associated with road transport.

    16.1.2. Factors influencing the development of transport and importance     of transport
    Activity 16.2
    1. Rwandair is improving its business worldwide. Explain the importance
    of that improvement?
    2. Make research and analyze the physical and human factors that influence
    the development of transport in your district.

    (i) Factors influencing the development of transport
    The factors affecting transport are physical, political and socio- economic. They
    are discussed below:
    • Relief: Steep slopes make the construction of roads and railway lines
    expensive. On the other hand, valleys have swamps, which contain
    water logged soils that are too soft to allow heavy objects like trailers,
    Lorries and trains to move on them.
    • Climate: Too much rainfall results into floods and landslides, hindering

    transport on the ground. On the other hand, accumulation of fog and

    clouds reduce visibility hence affecting transport.
    • Vegetation: Thick vegetation cover makes construction of road
    and rail networks difficult because it requires uprooting big trunks
    of trees. Furthermore, thick vegetation modifies climate through
    evapotranspiration hence affecting air transport.
    • Capital: The construction of roads, railway lines and airports is
    expensive. At the same time, a lot of money is required to buy ships,
    trucks as well as airplanes.
    • Political instabilities: Wars lead to massive destruction of transport
    means and infrastructure such as roads, wagons, airports and ports,
    making transport extremely difficult.
    • International restrictions based on international boundaries:
    These affect transport in that they restrict amount of freight. The same
    applies to road transport.
    • Economic factor: The structure and nature of transport costs are
    examined, together with service quality and methods of pricing and
    charging.
    • Government policy: Supportive government programs towards the
    investments in transport and regulation of transport prices lead to
    development of transport.

    (ii) Importance of transport to the development of countries
    Efficient transport is an important factor for economic development on both
    global and national scales. It can be a boost or a barrier to economic growth.
    Transports can contribute to economic development in the following ways:
    • Transport promotes trade and industrialization through the
    transportation of necessary raw materials to factory for production of
    goods and finished goods to consumers
    • Transport systems offer employment opportunities to many people.
    • Transport promotes urban development as many urban centers have
    developed where transport networks converge.
    • Promotion of international relations since transport brings leaders
    together for face-to-face talks.
    • Promotion of tourism industry, tourists move by use of means of
    transport.
    • Stimulation of the development of other sectors such as, agriculture,
    fishing and mining.
    • Transport increases revenue through taxes to the government and

    income to local transporters.

    Application Activity 16.2
    Visit the nearest taxi park and note what you observe in terms of economic

    impact of the transport

    16.1.3. Problems/challenges affecting transport
    Activity 16.3
    Analyse the photograph below taken in Nyabugogo and explain the

    phenomena that occurred in relation to the problems affecting transport.

    d

    (i) Problems/challenges affecting transport
    These are major problems affecting transport activities:
    • Inadequate capital: Transport requires enough capital investment.
    That is why it becomes difficult for developing countries that have
    weak economies to construct and maintain transport facilities such as
    roads, airports, ports, and railway lines.
    • Natural barriers: Hostile environment such as deserts, forests, rugged
    and mountainous terrain hinders the establishment of transport facilities.
    • Political instability: Some countries have undergone periods of
    political instability. With long periods of fighting in these countries,
    transport facilities were targeted for destruction while new lines were
    not established.
    • Climate: Heavy rainfall and floods make roads muddy and slippery.
    Bad climate disturb air transport also.
    • Mass wasting like landslides and mudflows affect roads in mountain
    areas and block roads for some times.
    • Low technology causes over dependence on imported expertise and
    technology which are expensive. This is associated with limitedness of
    skilled man power to construct infrastructure.
    • Presence of water falls and rapids along river courses and their
    tributaries make water transport difficult.

    (ii) Ways of improving transport
    • Ensuring political stability and avoid wars that destroy transport facilities.
    • Containerization of the ports and harbors for effective handling of
    goods and reduce delays.
    • Government policies. Governments have to develop and implement
    international transport projects like building international highways
    or railways as the project understudy between Rwanda and Tanzania.
    Such policies boost transport development.
    • Bridges are constructed across rivers to connect different areas across
    rivers and streams.
    • Draining swamps for road construction.
    • Improve engineering technology and use of national resources and
    materials to construct transport infrastructures. There is also need to
    train skilled manpower.
    • To develop air transport for both domestic and international
    connections in big countries like it is the case in USA, in areas with large
    impenetrable rainforests like Equatorial forests in DRC or Amazonian

    forest in South America and large water bodies (oceans).

    Application Activity 16.3
    1. Using examples, explain the challenges affecting transport in Rwanda.
    2. Suggest different ways Rwanda as a landlocked country can use to

    improve its international transport.

    16.1.4. Case study on transport
    Activity 16.4
    Make research, and find where the St. Lawrence sea way is located on the
    world map.
    St. Lawrence Sea way (USA-CANADA)
    St. Lawrence Seaway stretches from Port Duluth on Lake Superior to port
    St. Lawrence on the Atlantic Ocean. It covers a distance of 3,800 Km. It is the
    longest inland waterway in the world with the largest volume of traffic. It serves
    Canada and the USA. It allows passage of ocean going vessels. Before the sea
    way was constructed, large ships could only sail on the great lakes up to St.
    Lawrence town as far as Montreal. The construction of St. Lawrence Seaway
    was a joint project venture between the governments of Canada and USA. The
    construction works began in 1954 and ended in 1959.

    -- The main aim was to create deep water for navigation between Lake
    Ontario and Montreal. This would allow ocean going vessels to sail from
    the mouth of the St. Lawrence River onto the western shores of Lake

    Superior.

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    (i) Economic benefits of St. Lawrence seaway for the USA and Canada
    Economic benefits of St. Lawrence seaway for the USA and Canada include:
    • Cheap transport: The seaway has offered a cheap means of transport
    from the interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean. This has
    enhanced the movement of people and goods.
    • Creation of employment: Through transportation of raw material
    and finished products along the seaway, there has been an increased
    volume of traffic. This has created job opportunities.
    • Generation of hydroelectric power: The construction of dams along
    the seaway like Saunders and Beauharnous on Niagara Falls has led to
    the generation of abundant power which is cheap and reliable.
    • Growth of Towns: St. Lawrence Sea Way has encouraged urbanization
    along its shores. This is because the ports have attracted settlement
    along. Examples of such towns are Quebec, Duluth and Hamilton.
    • Increased volume of trade: St Lawrence Seaway has led to the
    increase of the volume of trade between the USA, Canada and the rest
    of the world. This has been due to the ease of transporting of goods
    such as iron ore, copper, wheat and manufactured goods.
    • Development of tourism: The seaway with the spectacular Niagara
    Falls is a great tourist attraction. This has earned foreign exchange to
    the two countries.
    • Development of industries: The seaway has contributed to the
    development of industries in the USA and Canada. The power generated
    from the dams is directly used in the industries. Likewise, water from
    the dams is used in cooling industrial plants.

    (ii) Problems of St Lawrence sea way
    • Congestion, unemployment, high crime rate due to the growth of urban centers.
    • High cost of maintaining the seaway like dredging to solve the problem of silting.
    • Decline in fishing activities due to destruction of wetlands and fish
    habitant as a result of dredging and blasting as well as pollution of water.
    • Many rocks used to adjust the level of water to improve navigation
    delay the movements.
    • Increase of pollution due to oil and chemical spills as a result of

    enormous increase of cargo size as well as industrialization.

    Application Activity 16.4
    1. Explain the problems hindering the development of St Lawrence
    Sea way and the problems it caused to the neighbouring countries.
    2. Briefly describe how St Lawrence seaway has contributed to
    development of both the USA and Canada. .

    16.2. Communication
    16.2.1. Meaning and types of communication
    (i) Meaning of communication
    Communication is a medium of sending and receiving information through
    various means. It is a very vital aspect of the society. Without communication,
    spatial interaction between people and communities would not be possible.
    People communicate to get needed things such as information, money, advice

    or just emotional support.

    Activity 16.5
    Observe the following images and explain how these devices are used for

    communication purposes

    m

    (ii) Types of communication
    There are different links, instruments and devices used in the transmission of
    information from one point to another. Early modes of communication included
    sending runners with verbal messages, fire and smoke signals, and later drums
    and horn blowing. The invention of writing led to improved communication as
    letters could be delivered to various destinations.

    Those methods of communication were found to be slow and inaccurate in
    some instances and limited in terms of the distances they could cover. The
    rise in electrical technology led to a new concept in communication known as
    telecommunication, which is communication over long distances.

    The current modes of communication include telegraph, telephone, fax, e-mail,

    courier, handwritten, television, radio, social networking.

    Application Activity 16.5
    Explain the most forms of communication used in Rwanda and why.

    16.2.2. Importance of communication, problems affecting
    communication and their solutions
    Activity 16.6
    Many business people in the city of Kigali no longer need to travel to
    purchase their goods in the foreign countries. They use different types of
    communication to order for the goods and get them in few days in Kigali.

    1. What do you think can be the consequences of such form of
    communication?
    2. Explain the importance of communication.

    A. Importance of communication
    The following are the main positive effects of communication:
    • Communication system facilitates economic development by sending
    information to various locations of the world. Communication system
    connects industries and business communities to take right decisions
    at the right time by providing them with information and news related
    with business and financial matter.
    • Communication is the basis of organizational functioning: good
    communication is an essential tool in achieving productivity and
    maintaining strong working relationships at all levels of an organisation.
    • Communication sector has led to the creation of employment
    opportunities to a variety of categories of people such as journalists,
    media managers and users.
    • Investors in the sector of communication such as radio, television
    and social media (e.g. Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.) get more
    revenue and many of them belong now in the world’s richest class.
    • Communication facilitates easy dissemination of information to
    remote areas.
    • Communication helps in building good public relations: good public
    relations comprise relations of the enterprise with outside agencies,
    particularly consumers and the public at large.

    B. Problems affecting communication
    The following are the problems affecting communication:
    • Inadequate capital: Many developing countries experience a problem
    of weak economies and few industries. They thus have insufficient
    funds needed to construct and maintain communication facilities.
    • High taxes: There are high taxes attached to the importation of
    communication equipment as well as high operation charges.
    • Inadequate technical know-how: This has hindered the growth of
    telecommunication since most countries have to rely on expatriates
    whose payments are very high.
    • Natural barriers: Desert, forest, rugged and mountainous terrains
    have hindered the establishment of communication facilities like
    telephone boosters.
    • Competition: There is competition between the local companies
    involved in the sector and free online communication systems.
    • Lack of skills: There is general lack of knowledge and skills to use
    telecommunication devices such as computers, radios, newspaper, etc.

    C. Possible solutions to the problems affecting communication
    Drawing from the problems facing communication discussed above, it is evident
    that most of them can be overcome by way of reversing them.
    • Political stability: There should be dialogue between countries and
    the use of peace talks should be emphasized.
    • Investing in communication and where capital is not available,
    looking for ways of getting it through loans or aid.
    • Training of personnel: Countries should invest more on training their
    people so as to equip them with knowledge to hand the ever-changing
    technology. It is cheaper to train home-grown personnel than to hire expatriates.
    • Increase the knowledge in technology: Use the recent technology
    radio, telephones, television, and internet to improve the standards of
    communication.
    • Communication is the link between knowledge and information.
    Therefore, there is need to provide knowledge of the people to be able
    to communicate properly.

    D. Interrelationship between Transportation, Communication and
    Economic Development
    1. Both transportation and communication play some major roles in the
    economic uplift of a country as they promote internal and external trade.
    2. Transportation and communication systems help to promote the use
    of natural resources, mobility of skilled labour-force, diversification
    of markets, provision of fuel, increase in agricultural and industrial
    production.
    3. Efficient transport and communication systems help to establish
    relationships among people in different parts of the world; these have
    also strengthened the feeling of unity among people in different cultural
    backgrounds.
    4. Transport and communication systems help to create job opportunity
    for people living in the rural areas by connecting labourers and creating
    employment for them in the industries; however these have also solved
    the needs of industries and reduce unemployment.
    5. The development of transport system also leads to development of
    industries because transport system utilizes the product of industries
    and both complement each other in different ways.
    6. Efficient means of transport and communication have indeed shortened
    time, distance, and cost that would have been used to move and to deliver
    goods and information from one person to another.
    7. Transportation and communication help to increase the size of the
    market of your products by helping you to transport your products
    across different countries which will help you to increase your sales in
    those countries that is, by penetrating new markets.
    8. Through the effective transport and communication systems one will
    know how to strategies in terms of war and also curtail crisis from taking
    place at any point in time.
    9. Government can swiftly evacuate or inform her people against any
    occurrence of natural disaster, outbreak of diseases and other social
    problems through the means of transportation and communication system.
    10. Transportation revolution has significantly improved accessibility of
    places and therefore bringing more developments and growth. This is
    because transportation is the main vein through which developmental

    facilities and services are channelled.

    Application Activity 16.6
    1. Explain factors hindering effective communication in your area.
    2. What is being done by Rwandan government to improve communication?

    End unit Assessment
    1. Examine the relationship between communication and transport.
    2. Explain the role of the government in ensuring effective
    communication in Rwanda.
    3. Referring to MTN and AIRTEL –TIGO explain the importance of
    telecommunication companies in the development of the country.
    4. Explain the factors that have contributed to the development of
    transport in developed countries than developing countries.
    5. Analyze the level of transport and the improvement of technology
    in communication in Rwanda and describe how this process can

    support the sustainable development of the country.

    ◄UNIT 15:INDUSTRIALIZATION IN THE WORLDUNIT 17 :TRADE AND COMMERCE IN THE WORLD►