Port Sheds


Update 01/25/2013: this application is being upgraded to ArcGIS 10.1. In the meantime please visit HarvestChoice MAPPR. Under Step 3. Summarize Indicators select Summarize a Market Shed to calculate and display travel time zones from a selected point location on the map.

The port shed is the total area surrounding each port for which that port has the lowest cost in terms of travel time. Travel time was estimated based on the combination of different spatial data layers, or variables, which affect the time required to travel across to the given points (i.e. cities).

This surface divides Sub-Saharan Africa into port sheds by measuring the nearest port considering the port type and port size besides the least costs. Nearness to a port is determined by measuring the least accumulated ‘cost’ or travel time to each port location. The port shed is the total area surrounding each port for which that port has the lowest cost in terms of travel time. Travel time was estimated based on the combination of different spatial data layers, or variables, which affect the time required to travel across to the given points (i.e. cities). These variables include: elevation, slope, landcover, roads, road type, rivers, borders, and major water bodies. For more details on the travel time see the Travel time to cities dataset. It is a good indicator of the value of a port in terms of port accessibility. The data is presented in a geodatabase format and besides the port shed locations, the individual crop productions, population and livestock are also summarized into each port shed.