Introduction
You are responsible for transporting goods from the manufacturing island (City A) to four other cities on the mainland. Your task is to plan efficient transport routes that meet the following criteria:
- Deliver the goods to all four cities within 10 days of departing City A.
- Stay within a total budget of $5,000 for the entire journey.
- Minimize fuel/oil use as much as possible.
To succeed, you will need to:
- Use the provided distances to choose routes between cities.
- Select from various transportation methods, each with different costs, speeds, and oil use.
- Calculate and record the total cost, total time, and total oil consumption for your plan.
- Make strategic trade-offs to balance speed, budget, and environmental impact.
Additional Notes:
- City A is located on an island:
- Only plane or ship travel is allowed from City A.
- Cities C and D are inland:
- Ships cannot reach these cities.
- City D does not have an airport:
- Planes cannot land in City D.
- City Distances:
- City A to B = 300 miles
- City B to C = 600 miles
- City C to D = 200 miles
- City D to E = 500 miles
- City B to D = 700 miles (alternate route)
- City B to E = 1200 miles (alternate route)
Routing Rules
- You do not need to return to City A after each delivery.
- You may travel from any city to another, based on your strategy.
Transport Options
| Transport Mode | Maximum distance that can be traveled per day | Fuel/Oil Use (assigned fuel value) | Cost ($) per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | 1500 miles | Very high (5) | $800 |
| Ship | 200 miles | Low (2) | $150 |
| Train | 300 miles | Medium (3) | $200 |
| Truck | 500 miles | High (4) | $400 |
| Electric Truck | 500 miles | Very low (1) | $300 |
Route Planner
| From – To | Transport Mode | Distance (miles) | Cost ($) | Time (days) | Oil/Fuel Use (assigned fuel value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary
Total Cost: ____________________
Total Number of Days: ____________________
Oil/Fuel Use: ____________________
Reflection Questions:
- Did you find it easy or difficult to stay under budget in this activity? What trade-offs did you have to make?
- What did your choices in the simulation teach you about how goods are moved around the world in real life?
- Why is oil such a popular fuel for transportation?
- What are some problems that can happen when we rely too much on oil?
- What are some ways people and countries can reduce their dependence on oil for transportation?
Extension Reflection Questions (Optional):
- How does the global economy respond to changes in oil prices, and how did this affect your choices in the simulation?
- What might happen if oil becomes too expensive or unavailable in the future? How can transportation systems prepare for this?
- Would you consider your group’s plan sustainable if used in real-world trade? Why or why not?
- How might political decisions about oil-producing regions impact global transportation systems?