MORDENO, ROGELIO

CEA_CE_3m

Assignment 1

1.Write a reflection/insight on what you learned from the topic: Introduction to

Transportation, Planning & Engineering? (1 page reflection) (50 points)

I have learned that transportation engineering is a vital field in civil engineering which
plays a huge role in the improvement of transportation system for the convenience of the
general public that will be directly affected by inevitable problems.

The introduction to transportation, planning, and engineering offers a thorough review

of a subject that is both fascinating and important in today's world of rapid change. I am
fascinated by the nature of these fields and their profound influence on society as a student.
The subjects of transportation planning and engineering are dynamic and involve the study,
creation, and administration of transportation systems. They are essential in meeting the
expanding demands of a populace that is becoming more mobile. Fundamental elements of
transportation planning include comprehending travel patterns, predicting future
requirements, and creating successful plans. A thorough understanding of a variety of aspects,
including population expansion, land use patterns, economic development, environmental
issues, and social equality, is necessary in this discipline.

In addition, transportation engineering entails using engineering and scientific ideas

to provide sustainable, reliable, and safe transportation infrastructure. This includes creating
highways, railroads, airports, bridges, and road systems. To improve safety, decrease
congestion, and optimize traffic flow, engineers use cutting-edge technologies and traffic
analysis. They are also in charge of integrating sustainability concepts into the planning and
management of transportation systems. The vital importance that transportation planning and
engineering play in forming our towns and communities really stands out to me. Professionals
in this industry improve overall quality of life by fostering social fairness, improving
accessibility, and minimizing environmental impacts by creating comprehensive transportation
plans. They work to build integrated transportation systems that incorporate other forms of
mobility like cars.

The focus on environmentally friendly transportation and alternate forms of

transportation will be essential for reducing environmental effects and advancing a greener
future. I have a newfound understanding of the complexity and importance of this profession
as a result of the introduction to transportation, planning, and engineering. As a college
student, I am eager to learn more about and contribute to these fields because they present
so many chances to influence how people move and interact in our society for the better.
2. What will be the challenges for the transportation engineer whose career can
be expected to encompass the better part of the twenty-first century? (25 points)

It will need continued improvement of knowledge and experience through life-long

learning and participation in professional society. Since transportation is a complex,
multidimensional, and interactive system, the transportation engineer will need an arsenal of
resources to respond to the many situations that can be expected.

The main difficulty will be to live up to the public's expectation that transportation will
be effective, long-lasting, efficient, and safe. It takes substantial knowledge and experience
in human behavior, system performance, and technology to meet this expectation, which is
no easy task. Transportation systems cannot simply be replaced with better ones since they
are not manufactured on an assembly line. When introduced into service, careful integration
within an existing environment is required. Transportation projects are unique and are “one-
of-a-kind” that require many years to complete—for example, 50 years were devoted to the
construction of the Interstate Highway System. A typical highway project requires 5 to 20
years from start to finish.

A related challenge for transportation engineers is to understand how innovation and

new technology can be used to transport people and goods in new and different ways.

Travels grew quicker, more comfortable, and required less energy thanks to this new
invention, the street railway, which was first pulled by horses, then by steam engines and
cables, and finally by electric motors. The "old way" had been successfully challenged by the
new notion.

Being a responsible steward of the money that people invest in transportation is a

significant problem for transportation engineers. To achieve this, consideration must be given
to designs that are acceptable, practical, and affordable. Attention to maintenance is essential.
Civil engineering is a professional discipline that seeks to harness nature in a cost-effective
manner for the benefit of society. In the twenty-first century, with limited budgets and
competition for the use of public funds, the existing system must be man-aged while prudently
adding capacity.

Dealing ethically and fairly with everyone involved in a transportation project, including
contractors, suppliers, real estate developers, financing organizations, construction and
maintenance personnel, and coworkers, is a constant problem for transportation engineers.
To be ethical, one must be honest, reliable, dependable, fair, even-handed, loyal, and
compassionate. Ethics is a large issue that can be summed up simply as "doing what is right
within the context of the situation." Ethical persons refrain from slander, fraud, and malicious
activities. For example, a transportation engineer who withholds an alternate plan/design
concept for inspection by the public because it is not favored by the agency is acting
unethically. Ethics involves sharing credit with others for work done as a team effort and not
taking credit for the work of others. It involves treating subordinates and colleagues with
respect and free of bias.

Increasing traffic congestion, longer commutes, ongoing issues with road safety,
unchecked urban sprawl, limited access to public transportation, systemic disregard for the
needs of pedestrians and cyclists, motorized vehicle emissions and related energy
consumption concerns, and inefficient movement of goods are some of the current
transportation challenges. These challenges create the need for engineers capable of
designing and implementing innovative solutions to address transportation problems.

The task for the transportation engineer is to create network connections and large
terminals to meet transportation demands while taking into consideration the effects these
facilities would have on surrounding land use, the environment, and other factors.

3. How can these challenges be addressed and what are the necessary attributes
and skills that will be needed? (25 points)

Long-term thinking is a prerequisite for transportation engineers. They have to steer

a transportation project to completion while remaining strong, patient, and persistent. The
environment in which the transportation engineer works is one in which change occurs
gradually and occasionally unnoticeably.

To illustrate using an example from history, a major milestone in transportation

occurred when the Wright brothers assembled a heavier than air machine in 1903 and
demonstrated that it could fly under its own power. Almost a quarter of a century transpired
before this “flying machine” trans-ported a single person across the Atlantic from New York
to Paris.

To adequately respond to citizen and political concerns, the transportation engineer

must be a technical expert and have the requisite communication skills to clearly explain ideas
and concepts. Communication involves two elements, speaking and writing. Speaking skills
are gained by preparation, practice, and experience. Writing skills can be improved through
practice in class assignments, personal communications, as well as by reading well-written
books and articles.

Transportation engineers also must learn to be good listeners, especially under trying
and tense conditions. They are often confronted by opponents who voice objections because
of their belief that proposals may negatively impact their lives or property. The key challenge
for transportation engineers is to convincingly and honestly communicate the project’s need,
importance, and design location when challenged.

Transportation engineers are to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century, they
will require technical knowledge and judgment as well as emotional intelligence. Good
technical judgment is based on personal behavior and work experience and includes
persistence, high performance standards, emphasis on quality, a sense of priorities, and
adaptability to change. Emotional intelligence reflects the ability to deal with others by being
supportive and helpful, avoiding malicious behavior, and treating others as we would treat
ourselves.

Roads, airports, port terminals, mass transit systems, trains, and other structures and
systems are just a few of the things that transportation engineers must be able to plan, design,
build, run, and maintain. In the process of performing these tasks, the transportation engineer
combines specialized transportation knowledge with fundamental knowledge from the fields
of mathematics, physics, economics, and computer programming, among others. The use of
technology to develop intelligent transportation systems is an ever-growing area of interest
for transportation engineers. Examples of intelligent transportation systems include the use
of sensors and video cameras to compile live traffic information that is used to manage vehicle
flows on roads. Another important application of intelligent transportation systems is the use
of communication systems to provide real-time information to travelers regarding traffic
conditions or the location of public transport vehicles.