It is well-known that the effectiveness and efficiency of a road system is directly correlated to its accessibility values. Measurements of variations in accessibility allow the effect of the interventions on the road system to be evaluated in terms of efficiency/costs and contribute to improving the profitability of the resources used. The functional structure of the urban settlements served by a road system is generally defined by using socio-economic indicators regarding the specific context and depend on the aim of the analysis. It is also known that the social and economic development of a region is directly correlated to the presence of appropriate infrastructural support and roads in particular, but it is also known that this condition is necessary but not sufficient. The aim of this study is to contribute to better knowledge of the relation between social and economic development and level of development of the road system of a territorial context, with particular regard to evaluating the feedback between the subsystems considered. With this aim in mind the coastal area of the Region of Apulia, between Foggia and Brindisi, with Bari, the Regional Capital, as its centre has been examined. This area has been indicated by the European Community as the hinge for exchange between Western Europe and the Balkan and Middle Eastern countries like Albania, Greece, etc., by means of corridor no. 8. Some "development indicators" and the "accessibility" regarding the period 1971-2001 have been measured. The results have provided some information on the social and economic evolution trends of the examined area, which is of significant interest with regards to planning. For the covering abstract see ITRD E135448.
Samenvatting