Transportation Engineering Overview

Study Notes

Transportation Engineering Overview

Application of scientific principles for planning, design, operation, and management of transportation systems.
Major functional system in modern society facilitating the movement of goods and people.

Components of Transportation System

Physical Facilities: Streets, roads, highways, railroads, airports, sea/river ports, pipelines, canals.
Fleets: Vehicles, vessels, and aircraft utilized in the system.
Operating Bases: Includes vehicle maintenance and office facilities.
Organizations: Comprises facility-oriented and operating organizations.
Operating Strategies: Involves vehicle routing, scheduling, and traffic control.

Effectiveness of Transportation System

Accessibility: Affected by geographical expansiveness and costs of travel.
Mobility: Refers to speed or travel time available for transport.
Productivity: Measured by transportation output per unit time, considering the volume of goods/passengers and distance traveled.

Modes of Transportation

Highways:
- Most dominant mode, high accessibility to destinations.
- Low door-to-door travel time, moderate travel speeds and capacities.
- High environmental impacts, especially air pollution.
Air Transportation:
- Comprises commercial airlines, airfreight, and general aviation.
- High line-haul speeds but limited accessibility.
- Moderate capacities; significant capital and operational costs, though high productivity reduces cost per passenger.
- Notable environmental concerns include noise pollution.
Rail Transportation:
- Moderate speeds and access levels.
- Traditional practices cause high and unpredictable door-to-door travel times.
- High capital costs for locomotives and track maintenance but relatively low environmental impacts.
Water Transportation:
- Involves coastwise ocean shipping and inland waterway barge lines.
- Low speed and accessibility contrasted with high capacity.
- High capital costs for vessels; significant environmental issues including water pollution from routine and accidental discharges.

Scope of Highway Engineering

Development, planning, and location processes.
Design considerations for geometrical and structural aspects.
Traffic performance evaluation and control strategies.
Involvement in materials, construction, and maintenance practices.
Focus on economic, financial, and administrative management.

Civil Engineering and Transportation

Essential role in the design and maintenance of transportation infrastructure.

Characteristics of Road Transport

High versatility for various vehicle types.
Requires low government investment compared to other modes.
Allows complete freedom for road users, especially beneficial for short-distance travel.
Direct correlation between movement speed and infrastructure quality.
Unique as the only transport mode that offers itself entirely for use.

Description

Explore the principles of transportation engineering, focusing on the planning, design, and operation of transportation systems. This quiz covers essential components, including physical facilities like streets and roads, and their role in modern society. Test your understanding of how these systems facilitate the movement of goods and people.