The regional impact area of the Alnabru freight terminal, Oslo, Norway: mapping shipment data for transport-political decision support

Abstract

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This paper maps the spatial relationship between Oslo's major freight terminal, Alnabru, and its customers' demand for freight transport. The mapping is based on detailed consignment data from the terminal operators. When detailed knowledge on freight movements are needed, node-to-node flows of model data laid out on a stylised network do not generate sufficient information on local transports. The claimed spatial proximity between the freight terminal and its customers was a strong argument behind a recent public decision in favour of keeping the terminal centrally located within the Norwegian capital's city limits for years to come. The aim of the work accounted for in this paper has been to map regional transport demand as freight volume densities for the counties of Oslo and Akershus. By doing so, the regional influence of the terminal's freight activities is visualised. Additionally, a mean centre point which could arguably constitute the optimal location of such a terminal is determined on the basis of our available data. Finally, we have estimated increases in transport work due to hypothetical terminal relocations. Three maps covering the two Norwegian counties of Oslo and Akershus accompany this article, all utilising different analysis tools. The conclusion of the reported research is that the current freight terminal is situated surprisingly close to the location that would minimise the regional transport activities it generates. However, this is only one aspect of the location of economic activity with urban development also of importance.