SCHOOL OF CIVIL AND ENVIROMENTAL
ENGINEERING
TRANSPORT ENGINEERING
CENG 3301
Chapter I
Introduction to transportation
Engineering
Tamru T.
1
Definition
Transportation is
All about moving goods and people from one
place to another.
Safe, efficient, reliable, and sustainable
movement of persons and goods over time and
space.
2
Definition cont…
Transportation engineering
Focuses on the infrastructure of transportation
Design runways, build bridges, layout roads and plan
docking facilities.
Look at traffic patterns, determine when new
transport facilities are needed and come up with
better ways
Application of technology and scientific principles to
the planning, functional design, operation, and
management of facilities
3
The characteristics of transportation system
Multi-disciplinary
Multi-sector
Multi-problem
Multi-objective
Multi-modal
4
Elements of a transportation system
Infrastructure:
which includes Road, canal, rail, air Transfer points
Supporting elements (signs, signals, safety)
Vehicles:
which includes Planes, trains, autos, buses, ships, trucks
Operators/Content :
which includes Drivers, pilots, freight, passengers
5
History of transportation engineering
Humans had migrated by their feet
Use domesticated animals to carry goods
Built machines and devices, like sleds and travois, to help
them carry more.
Establishing trading routes
Well-used paths became more and more permanent.
These paths became the first roads
Maintain the roads and look at ways in which they could be
made easier to travel
The first transportation engineers.
6
History of cont…
√ Four critical dimensions of change in transportation
system
√ Change in values of the public
√ Changes in the technology
√ Change in operational policy
√ Change in the demand
7
Major disciplines of transportation
1. Transportation Planning:- Involves the development of a
transport model
2. Geometric Design:- Deals with physical proportioning of
other transportation facilities
Cross-sectional features,
Horizontal alignment,
Vertical alignment and
Intersections
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Major disciplines cont….
3. Pavement Design:- Deals with the structural design of
roads, both (bituminous and concrete)
Drainage design
Functional design
Structural design
4. Traffic Engineering:- Covers a broad range of engineering
applications with a focus on
The safety of the public,
The efficient use of transportation resources, and
The mobility of people and goods
9
Additional disciplines of transportation
1. Public transportation:- study of the transportation system
that meets the travel need of several people by sharing a
vehicle.
Characteristics of various modes;
Planning,
Management and operations; and
Policies for promoting public transportation
2. Financial and economic analysis:- tries to quantify the
economic benefit which includes saving in travel time, fuel
consumption, etc.
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Additional disciplines cont…
3. Environmental impact assessment :- attempts in quantifying
the environmental impacts and tries to evolve strategies for
the mitigation and reduction of the impact due to both
construction and operation.
4. Accident analysis and reduction:- looks at the causes of
accidents, from the perspective of human, road, and vehicle
and formulate plans for the reduction.
5. Intelligent transport system:- offers better mobility,
efficiency, and safety with the help of the state-of-the-
arttechnology.
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Factors in Transportation Development
Economic Factors
Geographical Factor
Political Polices
Military
Technological Factor
Urbanization
Competition
12
Role of transportation in society
Economic role of transportation:
Transportation contributes two kinds of utilities:
place and
time utility
Social role of transportation
Growth of Urban Centers
Size and Pattern of Settlement
Formation of settlements
13
Role of transportation cont…
Economic role of transportation:
Transportation contributes two kinds of utilities:
place and
time utility
Social role of transportation
Growth of Urban Centers
Size and Pattern of Settlement
Formation of settlements
14
Role of transportation cont…
Environmental role of transportation
Safety
Air Pollution
Noise pollution
Energy consumption
Other impacts
Aesthetics
Social life and social pattern
15
Modes of Transportation
Means by which people and freight achieve mobility
√ Road transportation
√ Intermodal transportation
√ Pipelines
√ Maritime transportation
√ Air transportation
√ Rail transportation
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QUESTIONS?
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