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Abstract
The Philippines struggles to maintain an efficient system of public transportation. It currently uses a system of privately owned "jeepneys" (a type of small bus) that operate on prescribed routes. Due to a lack of regulation and control, passengers can expect long waits, frequent transfers, and traffic delays. This study examines possible solutions for these problems. A minimal spanning tree transportation model is introduced to show how public transportation in the Philippines can be better routed. This paper also offers insight into how engineering management solutions can help improve the efficiency of a developing country's public transportation system.
Keywords
Developing country, transportation, network optimization
1. Introduction
Like most developing countries, the Republic of the Philippines struggles to maintain a transportation system that can meet the needs of its citizens. Due to a lack of capital, roads are difficult to maintain and expand [1]. Government supported transportation is nearly non-existent except in the naval and aerial sectors [2]. The Philippines' problem is even further compounded by the tight confines of its island terrain. Cities are very crowded due to the high mountains on the interior of the islands and few flatlands along the coasts. With little room to grow and expand, cities become very congested and traffic begins to back up.
These conditions have lead to horrible inefficiencies in the public transit system in most of the larger cities. Efficiency will be defined as the ability to quickly and cheaply transport individuals to their desired destinations (cost and trafficability). The goal of this study is to find a more efficient system of transportation. While there are many different theoretical approaches that can be used to help solve this problem, this paper will focus on using a minimal spanning tree transportation model to evaluate possible alternatives to the current system.
2. Background
Although the Republic of the Philippines has many different modes of transportation, jeepneys are the primary source of public travel in large cities. A jeepney is a brightly colored and extravagantly decorated vehicle that was originally made from leftover jeeps following World War II. In many ways, it is similar to a minibus. Jeepneys operate along planned routes, and drivers are required to hold a license from the Board of Transportation to drive...