145275 20260217205557.0 doi 10.3390/su16073041 sideral 140122 ART-2024-140122 eng Curtò y Díaz, J. de Analysis of Transportation Systems for Colonies on Mars 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted The colonization of Mars poses unprecedented challenges in developing sustainable and efficient transportation systems to support inter-settlement connectivity and resource distribution. This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation of two proposed transportation systems for Martian colonies: a ground-based magnetically levitated (maglev) train and a low-orbital spaceplane. Through simulation models, we assess the energy consumption, operational and construction costs, and environmental impacts of each system. Monte Carlo simulations further provide insights into the cost variability and financial risk associated with each option over a decade. Our findings reveal that while the spaceplane system offers lower average costs and reduced financial risk, the maglev train boasts greater scalability and potential for integration with Martian infrastructural development. The maglev system, despite its higher initial cost, emerges as a strategic asset for long-term colony expansion and sustainability, highlighting the need for balanced investment in transportation technologies that align with the goals of Martian colonization. Further extending our exploration, this study introduces advanced analysis of alternative transportation technologies, including hyperloop systems, drones, and rovers, incorporating dynamic environmental modeling of Mars and reinforcement learning for autonomous navigation. In an effort to enhance the realism and complexity of our navigation simulation of Mars, we introduce several significant improvements. These enhancements focus on the inclusion of dynamic atmospheric conditions, the simulation of terrain-specific obstacles such as craters and rocks, and the introduction of a swarm intelligence approach for navigating multiple drones simultaneously. This analysis serves as a foundational framework for future research and strategic planning in Martian transportation infrastructure. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 3.3 2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES 178 / 376 = 0.473 2024 Q2 T2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 80 / 193 = 0.415 2024 Q2 T2 GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 67 / 103 = 0.65 2024 Q3 T2 GREEN & SUSTAINABLE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 67 / 103 = 0.65 2024 Q3 T2 0.688 2024 Geography, Planning and Development 2024 Q1 Energy Engineering and Power Technology 2024 Q2 Environmental Science (miscellaneous) 2024 Q2 Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment 2024 Q2 Hardware and Architecture 2024 Q2 Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law 2024 Q2 Computer Networks and Communications 2024 Q2 7.7 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion de Zarzà y Cubero, I. de Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-5844-7871 5007 570 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Informát.Ingenie.Sistms. Área Lenguajes y Sistemas Inf. 16, 7 (2024), 3041 [27 pp.] Sustainability (Basel) Sustainability (Switzerland) 2071-1050 1671697 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/145275/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2576191 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/145275/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:145275 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:43:01 ARTICLE