Transport Methodology & Data
Transport Methodology and Data: This page documents the data sources, calculation methods, and interpretation rules used across all transport-related research on Odyssey Discoveries. Individual route analyses and interactive tools apply this framework to specific routes and scenarios. It defines the common analytical engine behind all Iberian intercity transport comparisons.
For broader governance, transparency, and methodological documentation, see the Research Desk, which details the assumptions, data sources, and update logic underpinning all analyses.
Scope of Application
This methodology applies to:
Iberian intercity transport comparisons
Route-level sustainability scoring
Interactive transport calculators and comparative tables
It does not include:
Live pricing feeds
Booking recommendations or operator endorsements
This framework ensures consistent, reproducible, and transparent comparisons across trains, flights, buses, and cars.
Mini Methodology Map: Transport Analysis Workflow
All route analyses follow the same process to maintain consistency:
Define route boundaries → Door-to-door travel time → Mode-specific carbon factors → Cost normalization → Score & compare results
Data Sources
Carbon Emissions
Carbon emissions are calculated using a mode-specific hybrid approach to maximize accuracy:
Trains, Cars, and Flights — train-travel-carbon-methodology
Calculated using EcoPassenger, developed by the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (IFEU)
Accounts for:
Country-specific electricity mixes
Vehicle or aircraft type
Average occupancy assumptions
Flight Carbon Methodology — flight-carbon-methodology
Short-haul vs medium-haul assumptions
Radiative forcing considered per EcoPassenger methodology
Includes airport access and standard buffers
Buses / Coaches — Bus-carbon-methodology
Calculated using European Environment Agency (EEA) well-to-wheel emission factors
Applied because EcoPassenger does not model long-distance buses
Car Travel Assumptions (Solo vs Shared) — car-travel-assumptions
Differentiates between single-occupancy and shared travel
Occupancy assumptions influence per-passenger carbon estimates
These calculations are applied consistently across all routes. For broader governance, sourcing, and methodological transparency, see the Research Desk.
Cost Data
Costs are modeled using:
Historical booking patterns
Major Iberian aggregators and operator sites
Standard advance-purchase assumptions
Costs reflect:
Mandatory seat reservations
Typical baggage allowances
Realistic fare availability
They do not include:
Loyalty discounts
Flash sales or operator-specific promotions
For interactive tools, see the Travel Carbon Calculator Hub.
Time Calculations
All travel times are door-to-door, not schedule-only:
Access to stations or airports
Security and boarding buffers
Transfers
Arrival into city centers
Flights include standard airport buffers to reflect real-world conditions.
Related anchor: Door-to-door travel time assumptions
Sustainability Score Framework
Each transport option is scored across three dimensions:
Cost
CO₂ emissions
Door-to-door travel time
Normalization
Each dimension is scaled 0–10 per route:
10 = best performer
0 = worst performer
This allows apples-to-apples comparisons across euros, kilograms, and hours.
Weighting
Users or default profiles assign weights to cost, carbon, and time.
Total score = (Cost × weight) + (CO₂ × weight) + (Time × weight)
No weighting is “correct”; the framework makes trade-offs explicit.
Interpretation Rules
Scores are relative within a route, not across routes
Higher scores indicate a better fit to stated priorities
Low scores do not imply unsuitability for all travelers
Limitations
This methodology does not account for:
Non-CO₂ aviation effects beyond standard multipliers
Congestion externalities
Infrastructure lifecycle emissions
Real-time disruptions or service quality
Results represent modeled snapshots, not guarantees.
Final Note
Transport Methodology and Data: This methodology exists to reduce guesswork, not replace judgment.
It provides a consistent framework to compare transport options while keeping value-based decisions explicit.
For broader governance, transparency, and methodological reference, see the Research Desk, which documents all assumptions, data sources, and update logic for Odyssey Discoveries research.
External Sources & References
This methodology is grounded in authoritative, publicly available datasets and institutional references to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reproducibility of all transport analyses.
EcoPassenger, developed by the Institut für Energie- und Umweltforschung (IFEU), provides detailed passenger transport emission factors for trains, cars, and flights across Europe, accounting for vehicle type, electricity mixes, and average occupancy.
The EEA provides well-to-wheel emission factors for buses and coaches in Europe, allowing accurate per-passenger carbon calculations where other models do not cover long-distance bus travel.
Spain’s official statistical office provides passenger and freight transport data by mode and distance, supporting route-level transport analyses and sustainability scoring.
Portugal’s national statistics office offers official datasets on passenger mobility, modal splits, and transport trends, forming the basis of Portuguese route-level comparisons.
Green Key is an internationally recognized eco-label documenting certified sustainable cities and properties, referenced to support city-level sustainability datasets used in transport scoring.
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