CETB 412

TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
Chapter

Introduction
Transportation Engineering
■ Application of scientific, engineering and
management principles to the planning, design,
construct, operation and management of
transportation systems and facilities
■ Its comprised of multidisciplinary and overlapping
area of economics, psychology, geography, city
planning, public administration, political science and
other engineering disciplines (and not limited to
these areas of study only)
Importance of Transportation
■ Provide efficient access to various activities that satisfied
human needs
■ Affect economic, social, development, and population
growth in an area
■ A grown and develop country should have strong internal
transportation system as well as excellent linkage to the
rest of the word
■ The economic vitality and development of an area and
nation is depended on the speed, cost and capacity of
available transportation system
■ A country is unable to maximize the comparative advantage
it may have in the form of natural or human resources
without the ability to manufactured goods, raw material and
technical knowledge
Overview of History of Transportation in Malaysia
Overview of History of Transportation in Malaysia
- continue
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Planning:
■ The transportation planner defines problems,
gathers and analyzes data and evaluates
alternatives to determine the feasibility of
each alternative.
■ A planner must forecast future traffic
demands and estimate the environmental
and social impacts and benefits and costs for
each alternative.
■ The transportation planner compares the
alternatives and then determines which
alternative meets the requirements and
constraints of the problem at the lowest cost.
■ The planner must be knowledgeable in
statistical analysis and data gathering and
must be able to develop models to predict
future traffic demands. Planners are often
called upon to meet with the public regarding
their projects
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Design:
■ Transportation Design Professionals work on a variety
of projects. The Designer must meet the requirements
of the owner within a cost constraint and must be
concerned with environmental, social and safety
ramifications

Proposed
Marina for a
Port
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Construction:
■ Civil Engineers work at the
construction site to make
sure the proposed facility is
constructed properly and on
budget within the time
constraints
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Operation and Management:
■ Traffic Engineer works to improve traffic flow and
safety using engineering methods and information
technology to make decision supported by
enforcement and education
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Maintenance:
■ Maintenance Engineer needs to ensure the
transportation system is kept in proper working order
■ Activities involve include repair of pavement, road
markings and road signs; and redesign of existing
highway sections
■ Maintenance Engineer must also maintain an inventory
of traffic sign and markings and ensure that they are in
good condition
Profession of Transportation Engineering
Physical civil engineering involvement in a major highway project
 References

■ James H. Banks (2002); Introduction to

Transportation Engineering, 2rd Edition,
McGraw Hill
■ Nicholas J. Garber and Lester A. Hoel (2015);
Traffic and Highway Engineering, 5th Edition,
PWS Publishing.