Application of partial order theory in the assessment of transportation sustainability for Islamic Countries

Abstract EN

This study attempts to characterize national passenger and freight transportation sustainability.

Based on the indicator that measures the conformity of the growths of all sectors with transportation, the Islamic countries are comparatively studied.

The proposed measure, elasticity, for each pair of variables indicates the extent to which the two variables have been changing consistently.

The study database consisted of key aspects of transportation sustainability in the form of national variables including transportation, economic, social, and environmental categories for the period 1980– 1995.

Firstly, the elasticity of the social, environmental, and economic variables with respect to passenger and freight transportation variables was developed.

Using individual elasticities, composite passenger and freight sustainability indices were suggested.

Then, utilizing partial order theory and Hasse Diagram Technique (HDT), two composite indices were employed to visualize the comparative situations of countries.

Based on comparative appraisal achieved by HDT, country ranking were developed.

The methodology may be applied to any other time and geographic area for addressing pertinent issues for balancing and sustainable development of transportation systems.