Importance of Transportation, Different Modes of Transportation, Characteristics of Road Transport, Scope

of Highway and Traffic Engineering

Engineers are like problem-solvers who design and take care of ways for people and things to travel safely and
efficiently. Transportation is about moving stuff from one place to another, and it's crucial for things like
medical help, business, and getting messages across. There are different ways to travel, like roads, water, air,
and trains, and engineers make sure it all works well.
IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION
Economic Role
 Transport extends the range of sources of supply of goods to be consumed in an area, making it
possible for user to get resources at cheap price and high quality
 The use of more efficient systems of supply results in an increase in the total amount of goods available
for consumption
 Since the supply of goods is no longer dependent on the type of mode, items can be supplied by some
alternative resources if usual source cannot supply what is needed
Social Role
 A person settles from one place to another where the availability of resources is present
 The size and pattern of settlements is also considered as the increased speed of transport and
reductions in the cost of transport have resulted in variety of spatial patterns
 For the growth of urban centers, the development of automobiles, and other factors like increase in
personal income, and construction of paved road network, the settlements were transformed into
urban centers of intense travel activity
Political Rule
 The government of an area must be able to send/get information to/about its people. It may include
laws to be followed, security and other needful information needed to generate awareness
 For political choices in transport, these choices may be classified as communication, military
movement, travel of persons and movement of freight. The primary function of transportation is the
transfer of messages and information. It is also needed for rapid movement of troops in case of
emergency and finally movement of persons and goods
Environmental Rule
 The negative effects of transportation are more dominating than its useful aspects as far as
transportation is concerned
 The transportation can have an unfortunate on the society in terms of accidents
 All transport modes consume energy and the most common source of energy is from the burning of
fossil fuels like coal, petrol, diesel, etc. The relation between air pollution and respiratory disease has
been demonstrated by various studies and the detrimental effects on the planet earth are widely
recognized recently
 Sound is acoustical energy released into atmosphere by vibrating or moving bodies whereas noise is
unwanted sound produced. Transportation is a major contributor of noise pollution, especially in urban
areas
 The spectacular growth in industrial and economic growth during the past century has been closely
related to an abundant supply of inexpensive energy from fossil fuels. Transportation sector is
unbelieved to consume more than half of the petroleum products. The compact of the shortage of fuel
was experienced during major wars when strict rationing was imposed in many countries
IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION
•They play an important role in the economic, social and commercial development of the country.
• They help in cultural development of the country.
• They help in political development of the country.
• They improve the employment opportunities
• Improves the contact between two countries
• Improves the living standard of the country.
• It helps to improve science and technology.
• It helps in industrial development throughout the country.
• Enhances the import and export of the country

DIFFERENT MODES OF TRANSPORTATIONS

Roadways or Highways are the means of transportation on land. Roadways are also known by highways. It
consists the modern highway as well as city streets, feeder roads and village roads, catering for a big range of
vehicles and the pedestrians. This is the only mode which is giving maximum service to one and all. It is
possible to provide door to door service only by road transport.
Railways
The steel tracks laid on the ground, over which the trains move is known as railways. Railways have been used
for long as well as for short distances and also for urban travels. For longer distances, railways transportation is
more effective and advantageous than highways
Airways
In the airways, air crafts and helicopters are used. Air system of transportation is one of the fastest systems. Air
system of transportation provides comfort and also save time to the passengers. But this system is more costly
compared to all other modes of transportation.
Waterways
The transportation by water is the slowest among the four modes. This mode of transportation uses oceans,
rivers, canals and lakes for the movement of boats and ships. By waterways human beings and materials are
used to transport from one place to another with the help of ships and boats etc. Transportation by this system
is possible between the ports on the sea routes or along the rivers or canals where inland transportation
facilities are available.
Other ways of transportation
 Pipelines are like giant tubes that move things like crude oil, gas, and water from one place to another.
They work well for large amounts of stuff that needs to flow steadily. Unlike trucks or other transport
methods, pipelines run all the time, and once they're set up, they don't need a lot of ongoing work.
However, they can't be easily changed once built, and they're best for specific types of materials like
liquids or gases. Currently, there are talks about using a pipeline to transport crude oil from Iran to
India through Pakistan to make it more cost-effective.
 Cables and rope ways. A ropeway is a form of naval lifting device used to transport light stores and
equipment across rivers or ravines. It comprises a jackstay, slung between two sheers or gyps, one at
either end, from which is suspended a block and tackle, that is free to travel along the rope and hauled
back and forth by inhauls (ropes attached to the pulley from which the block and tackle are
suspended).
  Unmanned Aircraft. Drones, which have become widely popular for consumers, represent only a small
part of the drone market. Industrial drones, equipped with advanced features such as precise controls,
GPS mapping, flight planning, geofencing, and increased carrying capacities, are increasingly utilized for
various commercial purposes. Companies involved in supply chain operations are employing these
drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and
significantly improve worker safety in tasks that were previously time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Transportation System, partially reusable rocket-launched vehicle designed to go into orbit around Earth, to
transport people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, and to glide to a runway landing on its return to
Earth’s surface that was developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Formally called the Space Transportation System (STS), it lifted off into space for the first time on April 12,
1981, and made 135 flights until the program ended in 2011.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ROAD TRANSPORT

Human Factor Affecting Transportation
Road users include drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, constituting the intricate human aspect of the traffic
system in Transportation Engineering. The diverse performance capabilities of individuals make this element
complex. Transportation engineers must consider various characteristics of road users, such as the elderly,
children, handicapped, slow and fast individuals, and skilled and unskilled drivers, when designing systems to
ensure safe and efficient accommodation for all.
- Variability
When designing things for people, like roads or facilities, it's tricky because everyone is different. People react
differently, see and hear things differently, and all of this can be influenced by age, tiredness, and even
substances. So, instead of trying to account for all these differences, designers often use a standard value
called the 85th percentile. This value represents what 85 percent of the population can do or exceed. For
example, if the 85th percentile walking speed is 2 m/s, it means 85 percent of people walk faster than that.
This makes it simpler to create designs that work well for most people.
- Critical Characteristics
The road user characteristics can be of two main types, some of them are quantifiable like reaction time, visual
acuity etc. while some others are less quantifiable like the psychological factors, physical strength, fatigue, and
dexterity
- Reaction Time
When driving, a person goes through different stages when they see something on the road. First, they notice
it (perception), then they understand what it is (intellection), followed by deciding what to do about it
(emotion), and finally, they physically act on that decision (volition), like hitting the brakes. For example, if a
driver sees a red traffic light, they first notice it, recognize it means stop, decide to stop, and then press the
brake. This whole process is called PIEV time. Additionally, the vehicle needs extra time to stop completely
after the driver hits the brakes.
- Visual Acuity and Driving
When it comes to our eyesight, the clearest vision is in a small area (3 to 5 degrees), with fairly clear vision in a
slightly larger area (10 to 12 degrees), and peripheral vision covering a wide range (120 to 180 degrees). This
matters for placing road signs and signals. Other aspects like dynamic visual acuity, depth perception, glare
recovery time (affected by age), and color vision are also important for designing things accurately. Color vision
helps in recognizing signs and signals on the road.
- Walking
When planning roads and spaces for people to walk, we shouldn't just think about drivers. Pedestrians, people
who walk, are important too. We need to consider where they walk, like on sidewalks or crosswalks, and how
fast they walk (around 1.5 to 2 meters per second). Factors like physical and mental conditions also matter.
When deciding where to put things like parking, traffic signals, bus stops, and bridges, we should think about
how far people are willing to walk. Studies show that in small towns, most people park within 185 meters of
where they want to go, while in big cities, fewer people do.
Vehicle Factor
It is important to know about the vehicle characteristics because we can design road for any vehicle but not for
an indefinite one. The road should be such that it should cater to the needs of existing and anticipated
vehicles. Some of the vehicle factors that affect transportation is discussed below.
- Design Vehicle
When designing roads, we need to think about different types of vehicles like bikes, cars, buses, and trucks.
The size of these vehicles matters because it affects things like lane width, parking space, and road capacity.
For example, if a vehicle is too wide, it can reduce the road's capacity. We also consider the height of vehicles
to make sure they can pass under bridges and power lines. The length of vehicles matters for turning safely,
overtaking, and finding parking. Rear overhang is important when a vehicle is turning, and ground clearance is
considered to prevent vehicles from getting stuck on bumps or hills. So, when planning roads, we think about
how all these dimensions of vehicles will fit and move safely.
- Turning Radius and Turning Path
The minimum turning radius is dependent on the design and class of the vehicle. The effective width of the
vehicle is increased on a turning. This is also important at an intersection, round about, terminals, and parking
areas.
- Breaking Performance
As far as highway safety is concerned, the braking performance and deceleration characteristics of vehicles are
of prime importance. The time and distance taken to stop the vehicle is very important as far as the design of
various traffic facilities are concerned. The factors on which the braking distance depend are the type of the
road and its condition, the type and condition of tire and type of the braking system. The distance to
decelerate from one speed to another is given by:

where d is the braking distance, v and u are the initial and final speed of the vehicle, f is the coefficient of
forward rolling and skidding friction and g is the grade in decimals. The main characteristics of a traffic system
influenced by braking and deceleration performance are:
• Safe stopping distance
• Clearance and change interval
• Sign placement
Road Factor
- Road Surface
The kind of road we build depends on how many vehicles use it, what they're made of, and how much money
we have. When designing and taking care of roads, we need to think about things like how bumpy they are,
how much tires wear out, how slippery they can get, and other factors like noise and reflection. It's hard to
make a road that's perfect for everything. For busy roads, we want a smooth surface that's good in all weather
conditions. We choose a surface that keeps these qualities so that fixing it and affecting traffic as little as
possible doesn't cost too much.
- Lighting
Illumination is used to illuminate the physical features of the road way and to aid in the driving task. A
luminaire is a complete lighting device that distributes light into patterns much as a garden hose nozzle
distributes water. Proper distribution of the light flux from luminaires is one of the essential factors in efficient
roadway lighting. It is important that roadway lighting be planned on the basis of many traffic information such
as night vehicular traffic, pedestrian volumes and accident experience.
- Roughness
This is one of the main factors that an engineer should give importance during the design, construction, and
maintenance of a highway system. Drivers tend to seek smoother surface when given a choice. On four lane
highways where the texture of the surface of the inner-lane is rougher than that of the outside lane, passing
vehicles tend to return to the outside lane after execution of the passing maneuver. Shoulders or even speed
change lanes may be deliberately roughened as a means of delineation.
- Pavement colors
When the pavements are light colored(for example, cement concrete pavements) there is better visibility
during day time whereas during night dark colored pavements like bituminous pavements provide more
visibility. Contrasting pavements may be used to indicate preferential use of traffic lanes. A driver tends to
follow the same pavement color having driven some distance on a light or dark surface, he expects to remain
on a surface of that same color until he arrives a major junction point.

- Night Visibility
Since most accidents occur at night because of reduced visibility, the traffic designer must strive to improve
nighttime visibility in every way he can. An important factor is the amount of light which is reflected by the
road surface to the drivers' eyes. Glare caused by the reflection of oncoming vehicles is negligible on a dry
pavement but is an important factor when the pavement is wet.
- Geometric Aspects
Different parts of a road, like how the surface is shaped, how wide the lanes are, and the available space, affect
how we can travel on it. If the road is not built right, water can collect and damage it. Narrow lanes can lead to
more accidents, slower driving, and longer travel times. Having enough space on the sides is crucial for future
growth. The slope of the road impacts how hard it is for big vehicles to move, and uphill parts use more fuel.
Sharp turns in the road can be risky, leading to more accidents and affecting how fast vehicles can go. So, when
building roads, we need to think about these things to make sure they are safe and convenient for everyone.
SCOPE OF HIGHWAY AND TRAFFIC ENGIMEERING
Highway Engineering
Transportation engineering is about planning and designing how we move around, like on roads and highways.
It includes using traditional things like signs and signals, but also new technologies like smart systems that give
us information about traffic. Engineers in this field also work on making the actual roads and bridges, ensuring
they are safe and efficient. They estimate how much transportation people need, find the money for projects,
and use engineering principles to improve how we get around. They focus on making sure drivers, vehicles,
and the roads work well together.
Traffic Engineering
Multimodal transportation networks aim to ensure safe and efficient movement on roads, and traffic
engineering plays a crucial role in addressing related challenges. Going beyond the construction of
infrastructure, traffic engineering focuses on the practical aspects of road design that facilitate smooth traffic
flow, including signage, signals, and road markings. Traffic engineering teams, equipped with diverse skills such
as research, planning, and implementation, work on improving urban, inter-urban, and rural roads. They
employ techniques like speed management, urban regeneration, and shared spaces to enhance traffic
management. Services encompass various measures such as traffic calming, signage, signals, roundabouts,
pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and the coordination of traffic signals, along with conducting transportation
and traffic counts/surveys to inform better planning.