What is Transport Engineering?
Transport Engineering is the application of science and technology to the safe, efficient and sustainable movement of people and goods. It encompasses research, policy development, planning, design, implementation, operation and management of all modes of travel, be that by road (including motorised and non motorised travel), rail, water or air, and interfaces between these modes and with other land uses.
In managing the transport system, it is important to recognise that the overall transport system comprises people, vehicles, infrastructure and communications and other interfaces between these components, and that the transport system is a vital element of the overall land use and economic system. It is also important to understand that transport is a derived demand - it occurs because there is value created when people and goods move from one location to another that exceeds the cost of travel or transport.
The international and national transport systems represent vast investments made over many decades and change may often be incremental. Sometimes, there is a time, an opportunity and a need to make phase shifts in the system and such shifts will use innovative engineering which must be ready and available as a prerequirement.
Significant phase shifts have occurred in the past, often related to the use of different forms of motive power or fuels, and/or guidance systems, Significant phase shifts may not occur uniformly in time across the globe, due to variations in economics and/or cultures.
Engineers in transportation planning estimate the future travel demands for the movement of people and goods, based on the patterns of landuse, demographics and social and economic development. They develop policies and strategies for the management of that future travel demand, including the most appropriate modes of travel and identifying the infrastructure needs, including new or upgraded roads, railways, ports, airports, and intermodal terminals to optimise the total transport task and the technological applications and systems to cater for that demand and its management. They may, at times, identify the need for investment in entirely new systems, modes or forms of transport.
Engineers in road and traffic engineering are involved in the planning, design, construction, operation and asset management of highways, roads, bridges and associated facilities, including related bicycle, pedestrian and public transport facilities. They may also analyse parts of the road network or specific locations with high traffic volumes and/or high collisions, followed by the identification and implementation of safety and capacity improvements, including the application of Intelligent Transport Systems.
Railway engineers handle the design, construction operation and asset management of freight railroads and mass transit systems that use a fixed guideway (such as heavy rail, light rail, trams and monorail). Typical areas of focus include development of rail track alignments and associated civil infrastructure and facilities, including bridges, stations, sidings, intermodal terminals, together with signaling, communications and power systems. Rail engineers can also work in the field of train dispatching which focuses on train operations control systems.
Port and marine engineers handle the planning, design, construction, operation and asset management of ports, harbors, marinas, canals, and other maritime facilities. Typical areas of focus include wharfs, jetties, breakwaters, channel dredging, ship mooring and navigation aids, ship loaders and land backed intermodal facilities. Practioners in this field may also work in the area of coastal hydrodynamic modelling and ship berthing and loading/unloading simulation.
Airport engineers plan, design and construct runways, taxiways, aprons, terminals and hangars, baggage handling systems, aircraft refuelling systems, fire and emergency rescue services, airfield lighting and navigation aids. Airport engineers also plan, design and construct airport landside facilities , such as access roads and parking areas and provide all essential services (power, water, waste water, telecommunications) necessary for the running of an efficient transport hub.
