Analysis of the development of the transport system taking into account natural and geographical factors (on the example of the city of Chernivtsi)
Authors: Zolotunets Denys 
Published: April 2024

The article is devoted to determining the influence of natural and geographical factors on the transport structure in the conditions of urbanization. Transport has always played a significant role in the organization and development of territories, the level of transport provision reflected the status of the country, its importance in the world community.

The purpose of the study is to establish the nature of the dependence of the transport structure on the natural conditions of the area and the geography of the region using the example of the city of Chernivtsi, to determine the conditionality of the features of building internal and external transport links in the urban space and beyond, and changes in the environment under their influence. The research methodology involves the involvement of general scientific and special methods, which allows us to consider the problem in different aspects, take into account the peculiarities of interdisciplinary issues in the field of urban planning and transport geography.

The types of transport and the nature of the links between settlements, and in general the choice of the place where these settlements were founded, directly depended on the natural and geographical conditions of the area. The structure of urban development was formed on the basis of land and waterways. The streets duplicated directions to neighboring settlements or economic points of attraction (raw material extraction sites, trading posts, etc.).

In the modern world, additional questions arise regarding the environmental aspects of the development of transport infrastructure - its impact on the environment and the quality of human life. This is especially true for large transport hubs that create a significant burden on the entire ecosystem due to the consumption of large amounts of energy, noise and light pollution, and chemical emissions. The adoption of the most adapted decisions on the nature of the traffic load in certain environmental conditions allows maintaining the balance of the ecosystem in a space that automatically passes to the status of an urbanized one.

The city of Chernivtsi is indicative for Ukraine in terms of considering the relationship of the transport structure with the natural and geographical environment, since here the problem can be considered in temporal genesis, taking into account spatial changes - the transfer of transport hubs and main networks. In addition, Chernivtsi is positioned as a potential international transport hub based on a new airport, which will allow joining the international air transportation system. The most successful geographical position since the founding of the city on the trade route ensured the further development of the entire transport system.

As a result, it was found that the main directions of economic relations and the transport networks served by them were laid down from the beginning of the formation of the city of Chernivtsi as an important stronghold on trade routes. Further, they developed due to the expansion of needs and new modes of transport (the consequences of technological progress). The tracing was determined by the location of neighboring settlements and the features of the terrain. In the city itself, the Prut became the main forming axis and significant differences in elevation marks on its right bank, which determined the nature of the development of the territory, the general street system. With the advent of the railway, it became necessary to create additional transport routes that were required to ensure its functioning. The construction of the airport also required the creation of an entrance to it by land transport. Automatically, all additionally involved territories were subject to gradual ordering, that is, they passed into the status of suburbanized. In recent years, there has been an urgent need to modernize the airport in Chernivtsi. Modern requirements for its equipment required the choice of another location - in the suburban area, which continues to develop the trend of suburbanization of new territories outside the city. The formation of a large transport hub based on the new airport will give impetus to the further development of the city, its inclusion in the international transport system in the field of air traffic. The rest of the transport structure is obliged to ensure its functioning. Taking into account natural and geographical factors will reduce the impact on the overall ecosystem of the territories, which is one of the most important requirements of our time.

Keywords: transport system, natural and geographical factors, suburbanized space, transport hub, transport network.