SIMULATING PORT HARCOURT CITY MASS TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM

Denor Dennis Popnen

Department of Architecture,

Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port –Harcourt

E-mail: popdenor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

Transportation in engineering deals with the movement of goods and people.  In this work transportation as a major problem in Nigeria and Port Harcourt city axis in particular is identified.  The major types of transportation were road, water, rail and air in the country were discussed.  How the oil industry has contributed to the congestion of Port Harcourt and that government controlled bus transportation system is the solution is identified.  The transportation problem is a queuing problem and requires simulation solution; hence computer is used to solve this problem.  Therefore, in this research work computer software was developed to tackle the problem.  Some constraints were established and the developed software was tested with life data to ascertain the usefulness of the computer programme and a print out is included.  Finally, conclusions and comments were made on the research work and areas government should assist are also stated.