Geography Form 4 Notes : TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

Transport is the act of moving items and people from one place to another, while communication is the process of transferring information between individuals, groups, and places.

Factors Influencing Transport and Communication

1. Existence of corresponding places with surplus (supply) and deficits (demand) for goods, services, and information.
2. Alternative sources may hinder transport and communication, e.g., a nearby source or market of a required commodity or source of information or means of communication.
3. Infrastructure quality can lead to the establishment of efficient or inefficient transport and communication networks.
4. Politics, whereby the government may ban the use of certain means of communication, e.g., as was the case with Google in China, or where the government may decide to be the leading provider of transport and communication facilities.

Modes of Transport

There are three common modes of transport: land, water, and air transport.

Land Transport

This involves the movement of people and goods on land.

Types of Land Transport

Human Porterage

Movement of people from one place to another carrying light goods on their back, hands, or shoulders or by using hand carts, trolleys, bicycles, or motorcycles.

Use of Animals

Use of domesticated animals to carry goods and people on their back or pull loaded carts (draught animals).

Advantages of Human and Animal Transport

• It is the cheapest and can be used by all classes of people since no fuel is used. Animals require very low maintenance costs as they feed on vegetation.
• Relatively safe because few accidents occur during transportation.
• Does not pollute the environment as it does not use fossil fuels.
• Flexible in that it can be used to transport goods in areas without a good road network.
• Convenient as it is readily available whenever required.

Disadvantages

1. Goods can be stolen or destroyed by wild animals and extreme weather conditions because they are exposed.
2. Very slow means of transport, hence time-consuming, tedious, and boring.
3. Cannot transport large quantities of goods because human and animal energy get exhausted with time.
4. Can cause congestion on busy urban roads, which may delay other forms of transport.

Road Transport

Means of transportation of people and goods by motor vehicles on roads.

Types of Roads

• All-weather roads – used all year round, e.g., tarmac and murram roads.
• Dry weather roads – used reliably during dry seasons.
• Motorable tracks – used by people on foot and by vehicles during dry seasons. A track is a path or rough road made by people, vehicles, or animals.

Principal Trans-Continental Highways in Africa

• Great North Road connecting Cape Town and Cairo through Tanzania, Kenya, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
• Trans-Africa Highway from the Port of Mombasa to Dakar in Senegal through East and Central Africa.
• Dakar-Djamena Highway through Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Chad.
• Trans-Sahara Highway from Lagos to Tripoli through Algeria.

Advantages of Road Transport

1. Faster means of transport compared to human and animal transport.
2. Cheaper compared to railway transport because construction of roads is less expensive.
3. Available at one’s convenient time.
4. Roads can be constructed in stages, improved, and repaired while in use.
5. Flexible as road connections are available all over the country.

Disadvantages

1. Traffic congestion and jams occur when there are many vehicles on roads, leading to delays and fuel wastage.
2. Expensive over long distances and when transporting bulky goods.
3. Vehicles can carry a limited number of people and amount of goods at a time, making them expensive and uneconomical.
4. Adversely affected by weather; e.g., during heavy rains, roads become impassable, and foggy conditions hinder visibility, increasing accident risk.
5. Vehicles pollute the environment by their exhaust fumes and noise.

Railway Transport

Means of transporting people and goods using trains or rails.

Advantages of Railway Transport

1. Less expensive compared to road transport because it can carry a large number of people and heavy, bulky goods in one trip.
2. No congestion or jams because there is only one train on a given track at any particular time.
3. Passenger trains are comfortable for long-distance travel, with facilities such as accommodation, dining, and toilets.
4. Safer than motor vehicles because they are less prone to accidents.
5. Lower maintenance costs as they don’t require frequent repairs like roads.

Disadvantages

1. Very slow means of movement, especially for perishable and urgently required goods.
2. Expensive to construct due to the large amounts of iron and steel used for railway lines and trains.
3. Inflexible as railway lines are not available everywhere and their direction cannot be changed.
4. Adversely affected by terrain; steep gradients require tunnels and winding tracks, increasing construction costs.
5. Specific gauge of railway line can only be used by specific train designs, unlike roads usable by many vehicle types.
6. Trains cannot use rails while they are being constructed, unlike roads which can be used during construction, improvement, or repair.

Examples of Railway Links in Africa

• Tazara railway – connects Zambia Copper Belt with the seaport of Dar-es-Salaam.
• Benguela Railway – runs from Zambia Copper Belt to Angola.
• Kenya Uganda Railway – runs from Mombasa to Kisumu, with an extension from Nakuru through Eldoret to Malaba, then through Tororo to Kampala.
• Kenya’s other railway branches include Voi to Taveta, Konza to Magadi, Nairobi to Nanyuki, Gilgil to Nyahururu, Nakuru to Eldoret, and Kisumu to Butere.

Reasons for Few Railway Links among African Countries

• Administration by different colonial governments who constructed railway links only within their jurisdictions.
• Political differences leading to mistrust and hostility, hindering joint railway construction.
• Countries have railways of different gauges, making connections difficult.
• Little interstate trade, which does not justify constructing railways for bulky goods transport.
• Lack of sufficient capital to establish railways.
• Mountainous and swampy terrain hinder railway development to link countries.

Problems Kenya Experiences in Rail Transport

• Competition from cheaper and more flexible transport modes.
• Frequent derailment accidents due to inadequate servicing, leading to high maintenance costs and losses from looted goods.
• High maintenance and expansion costs limiting rail line expansion.
• Mismanagement causing deterioration and reduced income.
• Vandalism during political unrest and by scrap metal dealers.

Pipelines

Means of moving fluid or gas products such as water, gas, and oil through pipes from one place to another. Pumping stations are constructed along pipelines to maintain steady flow.

In Kenya, the main oil pipeline extends from Mombasa through Nairobi to Kisumu and Eldoret, where main oil depots are located. The pipeline is managed by Kenya Pipeline Corporation.

Advantages of Pipelines

1. No delay due to constant commodity supply.
2. Convenient as large amounts of commodity can be transported quickly.
3. Low operating costs since minimal labor is required, and maintenance costs are lower than other means.
4. Unaffected by bad weather unlike other transport modes.
5. Do not pollute the environment except in rare cases of leakages.

Disadvantages

1. Selective, transporting only fluids and gases, and only one type of commodity at a time.
2. Insecure as they may be sabotaged when crossing multiple countries with political differences.
3. May cause pollution if they burst, spilling oil, gas, or sewage; especially serious if underwater.
4. Inflexible as they remain permanently in one position; rerouting is impossible, and further distribution from depots must be by road or rail.

Water Transport

Involves movement of goods and people over waterways or water bodies.

Water transport is classified into two: sea waterways (marine water transport) and inland waterways.

Sea Waterways / Marine Water Transport

Involves movement of goods and people over seas. Types of vessels used include:

1. Liners

Ships with the following characteristics:

• Operate along fixed routes and time schedules.
• Transport both people and goods.
• Fixed freight charges.

Two types of liners:

Passenger Liners

• Carry people and small valuable items.
• Have luxurious facilities such as cinemas, shops, banks, and hotels.

Cargo Liners

• Carry both goods and people.
• Have loading and unloading facilities.
• Slower in speed.
• Less prestigious.
• Smaller in size compared to passenger liners.
• Some carry different products; others carry specialized goods like petroleum.

2. Tramps

Ships meant for transporting cargo.

• No fixed routes or schedules.
• Slower in speed.
• Lower freight charges compared to liners.

Improvements in Ocean Transport

1. Refrigeration facilities to enable transportation of perishable goods.
2. Containerisation: packing goods in standard sealed metal containers unsealed at the destination.

Advantages of Containerisation

1. Safety and security as containers are sealed, protecting goods from bad weather and theft.
2. Easy to handle due to special devices like hooks and rings for loading and unloading.
3. Time-saving because goods are consolidated in one container rather than multiple boxes.
4. Economical in space usage due to standard container shapes allowing tight packaging.

Ocean / Sea Routes / Ocean Trade Routes

Well-marked routes through which ocean traffic passes, also called ocean trading routes due to trading activities among regions.

Major ocean routes are concentrated in the northern hemisphere because of:

• High degree of industrialisation.
• Intensive trading activities.
• High population.
• Availability of ocean terminals in developed countries of Europe, North America, and parts of Asia.

World Major Sea Routes

1. Panama Canal Sea Route – connects Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
2. Cape of Good Hope Sea Route – serves eastern and western coasts of Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.
3. North Pacific Sea Route – serves industrialised countries of Asia, e.g., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Western North America.
4. North Atlantic Sea Route – connects Western Europe to Eastern North America.
5. Mediterranean Asiatic Sea Route – connects Europe to Africa and Far East countries.
6. Trans-Atlantic Sea Route – connects Europe to Eastern South America.

Inland Waterways

Movement of goods and people over rivers, lakes, and canals.

Examples of Navigable Rivers of Africa

• Section of River Congo.
• River Nile from Uganda to Khartoum.
• River Ogowe in Gabon.
• Sections of River Niger.
• Tana River.
• Zambezi River.

Examples of Navigable Rivers in Other Parts of the World

• River Rhine and its tributaries Main, Meuse, and Ruhr.
• Mississippi and its tributaries Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee.
• Mackenzie, Yukon, Nelson, and Albany in North America.
• Most important waterway in North America is the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Examples of lakes which are inland waterways include Victoria (largest inland waterway in East Africa), Tanganyika, Malawi, Albert, and man-made lakes such as Kariba, Nasser, Volta, and Kainji.

Factors Hindering Development of River Transport in Africa

1. Inadequate capital to develop waterways, ports, and purchase vessels.
2. Fluctuation of water levels making sailing difficult as rivers pass through dry areas.
3. Presence of rapids and waterfalls hindering vessel movement.
4. Siltation making river channels shallow, hindering vessel movement.
5. Floating vegetation narrowing river channels and obstructing navigation.
6. Most rivers pass through unproductive zones, making river transport uneconomical.
7. Rivers flow across political boundaries requiring negotiation for transport use.
8. Inadequate technology.

Canal Transport

A canal is a water channel cut through land for boats or ships to travel along. Some canals join large water bodies like seas and oceans.

Examples of Canals

• Suez Canal – joins the Mediterranean and Red Sea.
• Panama Canal – connects the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean.
• Dortmund-Ems Canal – joins River Rhine to the North Sea.
• Soo Canals – connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron.

The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway

• Most important seaway in North America shared by the USA and Canada.
• Located along the boundary between the two countries.
• Stretches over 3,680 km from the Atlantic Ocean to the interior of North America up to Lake Superior.
• Comprises the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario.

Shortcomings of the Seaway Before Development

• Obstacles such as rock outcrops, rapids, waterfalls, and small islands.
• Shallow sections due to silting.
• Narrow sections (bottlenecks).
• Freezing of water in winter.
• Presence of fog and mist at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River.

• St. Lawrence Seaway Project was started by the USA and Canadian governments in 1954 to improve navigability of the St. Lawrence River.

Objectives of the Project

• Promote trade and industrialisation between the two countries.
• Remove silt between Lake Erie and Lake Huron.
• Regulate the flow of the St. Lawrence River through dam construction.
• Smooth the river channel by removing rapids, small islands, rock outcrops, etc.
• Regulate water levels along the seaway through dredging to widen and deepen shallow sections.

Project Activities

• Dredging shallow sections to accommodate large shipping vessels.
• Forming water reservoirs behind dams to drown rapids, allowing ocean vessels to move along the routes.
• Installing radar and lights on ships to improve navigation and avoid accidents.
• Blasting to remove rocky islands and narrow sections along the sea route.
• Constructing canals to join lakes and bypass obstacles, e.g.:
  • Soo Canals joining Lake Superior and Lake Huron.
  • Welland Canal joining Lake Erie and Ontario to bypass Niagara Falls.
  • New York State Barge Canal connecting Lake Erie to Hudson River.

Benefits of the St. Lawrence Seaway to USA and Canada

1. Source of foreign exchange through tourism, e.g., Niagara Falls.
2. Dams produce hydroelectric power, stimulating industrial growth.
3. Fishing activities in dams and lakes along the waterway.
4. Development of agriculture along the seaway, e.g., horticultural farming villages.
5. Source of employment, e.g., tour guides, security, transport workers.
6. Revenue from toll charges paid by ships passing through.
7. Sources of fresh water for domestic and industrial use.
8. Increased trade between the two countries and globally.
9. Reduced transport costs to and from the continent’s interior.

Advantages of Water Transport

1. Offers less friction to vessel movement compared to roads.
2. Natural and free transport routes requiring less artificial infrastructure.
3. Less expensive as large loads can be carried at minimal costs and water routes require minimal maintenance.
4. Reliable mode of transport with very little traffic congestion due to large waterway size.
5. Goods are protected as they are transported in containers or tankers.
6. Safe mode of transport for delicate goods.

Disadvantages

1. Many waterways are affected by water fluctuations, making them unnavigable at times.
2. Water transport is the slowest and unsuitable for perishables, casualties, and medicines.
3. Great losses during accidents such as fires, typhoons, tsunamis, and mechanical breakdowns due to large vessel capacity.
4. High capital required for purchasing modern vessels and maintenance.
5. Ocean transport is available only to people living near waterways, unlike flexible roads.
6. Insecurity in oceans due to piracy and attacks on ships.
7. Sea vessels contribute to water pollution as most wastes are dumped into the sea.

Types of Communication

1. Verbal communication – by word of mouth, e.g., telephone, face-to-face, and radio.
2. Written communication – by writing, e.g., letters, magazines, newspapers, and journals.
3. Audio-visual communication – using a combination of sounds, signs, and pictures, e.g., gestures, beating drums, smoke signals, shouting in a special way, television.

Telecommunication Services

Communication over a distance using cables or wireless means, e.g.:

1. Telephone – converts sound into electronic signals and back to sound waves at the receiving end.
2. Facsimile (fax) – sends information through telephone lines by converting written information into electronic signals and back to written form at the receiving end.
3. Internet – global network of computers linked via telephone, enabling individuals to send e-mail. It is the fastest, cheapest, and most widely connected network worldwide.

Role of Transport and Communication in the Economic Development of Africa

1. Development of trade by enabling buyers and traders to access markets and order goods without traveling to suppliers, reducing transport costs and increasing profits.
2. Development of infrastructure by making tourist attractions accessible.
3. Promotion of industrial development as good transport and communication networks attract investors and facilitate distribution of finished goods. Communication helps industrialists locate raw materials without extensive travel.
4. Promotes international understanding by enabling citizens of different countries to interact and appreciate each other’s cultures, fostering good relationships.
5. Employment creation in transport and communication sectors, e.g., drivers, mechanics, engineers, journalists, broadcasters, computer programmers.
6. Development of settlements where transport routes converge, e.g., Khartoum at the confluence of the Blue and White Nile and Mombasa.
7. Opening up remote areas for exploitation of natural resources such as minerals, fish, and tourist attractions by facilitating labor and resource movement.
8. Source of government revenue through taxes on airtime, license fees for TV or radio stations, etc.

Problems Facing Transport and Communication in Africa and Their Possible Solutions

1. Landlocked countries (e.g., Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi) lack direct ocean access. Solution: Develop good relations among nations to allow access through neighboring countries’ sea routes.
2. Rugged relief with mountains (e.g., Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro) makes road and railway construction difficult and expensive. Rapids and waterfalls hinder river transport. Solution: Construct passes, tunnels, and bridges to facilitate transport infrastructure.
3. Shortage of navigable rivers due to obstacles, water fluctuations, narrowness, and shallowness. Solution: Widen and deepen river channels through dredging and build dams to improve navigation.
4. Vandalism of communication facilities such as telephones and cables. Solution: Prosecute offenders caught with communication materials.
5. Lack of adequate capital for establishing and maintaining transport and communication infrastructure. Solution: Joint partnerships between African countries and donors to finance infrastructure.
6. Political instability (e.g., Somalia) affecting transport and communication. Solution: Deploy peace missions to restore stability.
7. Language barriers due to many ethnic groups communicating mainly in vernaculars, hindering international communication. Solution: Adopt major international languages like French and English.
8. High travel costs due to expensive fuel reduce travel frequency among low and middle-income persons, lowering transport sector profits. Solution: Manage and conserve energy and explore alternative energy sources.
9. Colonial legacy of different railway gauges complicates extension into neighboring countries. Solution: Efforts to standardize and jointly construct roads and railways.