Key Concepts in Transportation and Trade
Space Tourism: Areas with a high influx of tourists (foreign or domestic) experience the highest densities in sun and beach tourism destinations.
Trade Balance: This refers to the registration of a country’s imports and exports over a specific period. The trade balance is the difference between exports and imports, reflecting a country’s goods sold abroad versus its purchases from other countries. There are two types:
- Positive: When the value of exports exceeds the value of imports (selling more than buying).
- Negative: When the value of imports exceeds the value of exports (buying more than selling).
Foreign Trade: This is the exchange of goods and services between a country and the rest of the world. Exporting refers to selling domestic products abroad, while importing refers to a country purchasing foreign products.
Transport Infrastructure: The movement of goods and people requires infrastructure consisting of roads, bridges, railroads, stations, and ports. The arrangement of these elements in a space creates a pattern known as “transmission.”
Interoperability: This is defined as the ability to move seamlessly across any section of the railway network. It represents the effort to make various technical railway systems in the EU operational together.
Currently, the competitiveness of rail is limited due to differences between Member States in terms of materials, technology, signaling, safety, braking, traction currents, and speed limits. This situation often requires trains passing through several states to stop at borders.
These technical differences between Member States stem from the historical need to protect the interests of each State or its rail industry. In contrast, the road transport sector has strengthened its market position due to the absence of such technical barriers.
The PEIT (Strategic Plan for Transport Infrastructure) 2005-2020 is the state policy governing transport. Its objectives are to achieve a balanced and effective transportation system, enhancing social and territorial cohesion, environmental sustainability, and economic competitiveness.
Public Service: This encompasses the set of services reserved by each State for governmental oversight, intended to provide certain benefits to citizens.
These services are provided by specific entities, primarily to meet the needs of society. Public services play an economic and social role and can be provided directly by the government or indirectly through public or private entities.
Transport System: This is the collection of resources and infrastructure that enable transport. The means of transport are the moving parts, while the infrastructure consists of fixed constructions.
Transportation: This is the act of moving people and goods between geographic locations.
Intermodal Transportation: This involves the coordination between different modes of transport using a single load measurement (usually containers) to make the transfer of materials and goods faster and more efficient. Subdivisions of land transport (road and rail) and water transport are treated as different modes.
Greenway: This term refers to old, disused railway lines and infrastructure repurposed for non-motorized use. Greenways, due to their railway origins, possess special qualities: maximum accessibility, ease of use, and safety. They are ideal for promoting sustainable mobility and the practice of walking and cycling.