What is Transportation Engineering?

Transportation engineering is the branch of engineering that focuses on optimizing transportation systems to make them safe, economical, sustainable, efficient, and convenient. Transportation engineers are highly specialized civil engineers that work in a large variety of settings throughout the nation and world.

Traffic engineers are involved with the operation of every mode of transportation. The main subspecialties of traffic engineering are highway engineering, airport engineering, port and harbor engineering, and railroad engineering.

Highway Engineering

This subspecialty of engineering is focused on the operation of highways and how the vehicles and people who travel on them interact. Highway engineers concern themselves with the efficiency of every type of roadway and the safety of the individuals who travel on them, which includes bicyclists and pedestrians as well as automobiles.

Airport Engineering

These traffic engineers are responsible for the design and functionality of airports. They are required to consider environmental factors, such as wind patterns and climate, as well as the nature of the aircraft that use the airport and the frequency by which they do.

Port and Harbor Engineering

Port and harbor engineers focus on the construction and operation of ports, harbors, and all other waterways that are used for transportation purposes. Their roles extend to the design and operation of marine structures as well.

Railroad Engineering

This form of traffic engineering focuses on the design and proper function of all of the forms of mass transit that follow fixed guide-ways. This includes trains and light rails systems, such as monorails.