Chapter 16
Towards Intercity Cooperation:
Comparison of Spatial Transport Energy
Efficiency Between Central
and Peripheral Cities in Japan
Shoki Kosai and Eiji Yamasue
Abstract Interest in transport energy efficiency in a given spatial area has been
increasingly growing as a research topic. Various studies have analyzed the overall
association of energy-related indicators with the city form, whereas the compassion
of individual city has yet to be fully evaluated. Given the importance of developing
the efficient intercity transport cooperation, the consideration of intracity transport
situation in the two relevant cities is necessary before determining the intercity travel
mode among various modal choices. There is a possibility that even if the intercity
public transport infrastructure is developed, automobiles would be the first choice
for the intercity travel as long as the public transport system inside of the peripheral
cities is not well developed. Therefore, a focus on differences of spatial transport
energy efficiency between central and peripheral cities is of significant importance.
In particular, the city combination in Japan would be an appropriate case study. In
response to the decrease in population, networking the central city with peripheral
cities to construct the coordination through the public transport is highly required in
Japan to maintain quality of life and sustainable city management. This study first
assesses the transport energy efficiency of various transportation modes in the form
of transport energy intensity in Japan. The assessed transportation means include
walks, bicycles, automobiles, buses and electric trains. The transport energy intensity is obtained on the basis of well-to-wheel (WTW) fuel consumption and energy
input for the material structure. Then, this is integrated with the modal split to obtain
the spatial transport energy intensity in a given city. This study focuses on 44 cities
in Japan and evaluates its relationship with population. Finally, by using the hierarchical cluster analysis, its differences between central and peripheral cities in the
major metropolitan area, the sub metropolitan areas and regional urban areas are
evaluated from the perspective of the geographical location and city scale gap to
S. Kosai (B)
Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
e-mail: kosai0203@gmail.com
S. Kosai · E. Yamasue
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering,
Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_16
239
Towards Intercity Cooperation:
Comparison of Spatial Transport Energy
Efficiency Between Central
and Peripheral Cities in Japan
Shoki Kosai and Eiji Yamasue
Abstract Interest in transport energy efficiency in a given spatial area has been
increasingly growing as a research topic. Various studies have analyzed the overall
association of energy-related indicators with the city form, whereas the compassion
of individual city has yet to be fully evaluated. Given the importance of developing
the efficient intercity transport cooperation, the consideration of intracity transport
situation in the two relevant cities is necessary before determining the intercity travel
mode among various modal choices. There is a possibility that even if the intercity
public transport infrastructure is developed, automobiles would be the first choice
for the intercity travel as long as the public transport system inside of the peripheral
cities is not well developed. Therefore, a focus on differences of spatial transport
energy efficiency between central and peripheral cities is of significant importance.
In particular, the city combination in Japan would be an appropriate case study. In
response to the decrease in population, networking the central city with peripheral
cities to construct the coordination through the public transport is highly required in
Japan to maintain quality of life and sustainable city management. This study first
assesses the transport energy efficiency of various transportation modes in the form
of transport energy intensity in Japan. The assessed transportation means include
walks, bicycles, automobiles, buses and electric trains. The transport energy intensity is obtained on the basis of well-to-wheel (WTW) fuel consumption and energy
input for the material structure. Then, this is integrated with the modal split to obtain
the spatial transport energy intensity in a given city. This study focuses on 44 cities
in Japan and evaluates its relationship with population. Finally, by using the hierarchical cluster analysis, its differences between central and peripheral cities in the
major metropolitan area, the sub metropolitan areas and regional urban areas are
evaluated from the perspective of the geographical location and city scale gap to
S. Kosai (B)
Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
e-mail: kosai0203@gmail.com
S. Kosai · E. Yamasue
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science and Engineering,
Ritsumeikan University, Shiga, Japan
© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
Y. Kishita et al. (eds.), EcoDesign and Sustainability II, Sustainable Production, Life
Cycle Engineering and Management, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6775-9_16
239