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June 2017
Mississippi Path of Goods Movement and the Distribution of the Transportation and Warehousing Industry
By: Yuanyuan Zhang, PhD
The concept of the "Path of Goods Movement", developed by Dr. Glenn R. Mueller in the early 1990s, can facilitate identifying the best locations for warehouses.

According to Mississippi Freight Plan, trucking is the dominant mode used for commodity freight in the state, with a share of 64 percent of the  total freight movement, followed by rail at 28 percent and water at 8 percent. The "Path of Goods Movement" (shown in map below) from the 2012 truck flow shows the major goods movements across Mississippi, with the wider lines indicating more freight movement. When we overlay the truck freight movements on the 2012 city Transportation and Warehousing industry employment data, we find that cities with higher employment are on the paths with heavy truck volume.
 
With the same data analysis method in ArcGIS, we can also map the shipment of goods by train or inland waterway to understand the routes of the largest shipments. To request a transportation study for your business or organization, contact us at 601-266-5514.
 
Data source: Truck volume data is obtained from Freight Analysis Framework (FAF) version 4; Industry employment data is obtained from US Census.
The Workforce Development Aspect of the Aerotropolis Model
Dr. John Hubbard, CEcD, EDFP Executive Director of the Stephenville Economic Development Authority in Texas successfully defended his dissertation, "Is Human Capital Development The Missing Component of The Aerotropolis Model." He examined the new urban form where cities are built around airports speedily connecting time-sensitive suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and business people to distant customers, clients, and marketplaces to identify whether workforce development is a factor in the success of this economic development approach. 

His study revealed a skills gap in the aerotropolis model as there was a disconnect between the training programs offered in the airport MSA and the needs of the businesses in the airport community. Findings also indicated cargo activity at the aerotropolis model airport is less important to the economic success of the airport community than passenger activity. The primary driver of economic success in the airport community is passenger activity. This finding is contrary to John Kasarda's opinion that cargo activity is equally important to the aerotropolis model as cargo activity.
USM's Dr. Monty Graham to Chair Governor Bryant's Newly Formed Ocean Task Force
On Thursday, June 1, 2017, Governor Phil Bryant announced Executive Order 1401 forming an Ocean Task Force. Dr. Monty Graham, Director of USM's School of Ocean Science & Technology, will lead the Task Force with the overall goal of increasing Mississippi's maritime economy and increasing the synergistic relationship between military and government assets positioned along the state's Gulf Coast region. 

The Task Force will provide guidance in producing a comprehensive economic development master plan to grow research and development for oceanography, unmanned maritime vehicles, technical workforce development, marine science research, and private sector activity. 
2017 Unmanned Systems Technology Showcase
The University of Southern Mississippi was represented at the Technology Showcase held in conjunction with the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command's unmanned operational demonstration held at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Mississippi.  

USM provided support to the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology in planning and coordinating the Technology Showcase which was attended by dignitaries including Governor Phil Bryant, Senator Roger Wicker, and Representative Steven Palazzo. The showcase invited companies which were identified as having potential to provide systems, services, or infrastructure of naval unmanned systems technology. Companies from across the nation showcased their unmanned systems technologies. During the showcase, the School of Ocean Science & Technology recognized students completing the  Certification of Unmanned Maritime Systems training.
In This Issue
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tenn-Tom Waterway Opportunities Conference
Aug 28 - Sept 1, 2017
Annual Conference
October 24 - 26, 2017
Transportation Research Board
Annual Meeting
January 7 - 11, 2018
JOB BOARD
Assistant or Associate Professor
UNO Transportation Institute
Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation  | [email protected] 
 118 College Drive #5191
Hattiesburg, MS 39401-0001

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