Transportation engineering is one of the branches of civil engineering that deals with the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of a safe and efficient transportation system which includes roadways, railways, waterways, and intermodal operations. Transportation engineers also have responsibility for operating and maintaining a good transportation system along with a good understanding of traffic control systems because every travel route relies on them to guide their way.
WHAT DOES TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS DO?
- Transportation engineer takes the transport planning side where they investigate about the movement of people and applies design aspect to design the infrastructure that those people will use to travel on.
- Much of their planning and design work takes place in an office setting, they to create blueprints using drafting table and use computer software to form 3D models.
- In some cases, they may visit the construction site to check on the progress of the project or advise construction workers on the next phase.
- Transportation engineers are required to attend meetings at the government office or city hall meetings to advise on how new transportation system may impact the community.
HOW TO BECOME A TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER?
- A candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field.
- A candidates must pursue an internship with any transportation company or civil engineering firm to get experience in planning and designing of transportation projects, preparing estimates, and evaluating traffic patterns.
- They can use their civil engineering degree and internship experience to get jobs in higher projects.
- Estimate project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials.
- They supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.
- Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration.
- Also Evaluate construction project materials for compliance with environmental standards.
- Transport engineer Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow and safety.
- Direct the team for surveying, staking, and laying-out of construction projects.
- Estimate transportation project costs.
- Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects.
- Review the development plans to determine potential traffic impact.
- Evaluate traffic controlling devices or traffic light systems to determine the need for modification or expansion.
- Prepare the final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
- Check for the errors in construction plans, design calculations, and cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, and conformity to engineering standards.
- Design or engineer drainage systems, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.
SKILLS REQUIRED :
- Complex problem-solving skills
- Confident speaker
- Active listener and critical thinker
- Leadership quality
- Time management skills
- Team working and good communication skills
SCOPE OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER :
As per the increase in daily population, there is a
growing need for public transportation which creates a strong job outlook for
transportation engineers. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects
about 11% growth rate of employment for engineers in this field, higher than
all other jobs monitored in the same time period. It is an attractive career
for those who wish to provide a public service because its function is to
reduce traffic and make communities run smoother.
Here are Some of the job profiles for Transportation Engineers
are:
- Systems Engineer: Systems engineers focus on how to design integrate and manage complex systems over their life cycles. And also deal with work-processes, optimization methods, and risk management tools in projects.
- Transportation Innovation Analyst: Transport analysis collected data to influence future project decisions and planning. Transport analysis also work with current projects to evaluate their efficiency and social impact. These professionals are usually in project management roles, so experience and a college degree preparing them for this position are needed.
- Mechanical Quantity Survey and Bill Checking Engineer: Their role in construction is about preparing bills for payments and performing the estimation of quantities along with an order of materials. So a billing engineer must be well skillful with the areas like planning, monitoring, analysis of all the work related to payments like Analysis of rates of Non-BOQ items.
- Transportation Planner: Transportation planner assess public, private, and commercial transportation needs and analyze and devise new road/transportation schemes. They can work both in the public and also private sectors.
- Electrical Engineer: Electrical engineers in construction field evaluate electrical systems, products, components, and also electrical applications by designing and conducting respective research programs by applying knowledge of electricity and materials.
- Senior Transportation Modeler : Senior Transportation Modeler's work is to design how new road installations link to existing transport systems. Senior Transportation Modeler could be designing one-way systems or diversions, while the other roads are under repairing condition, or planning transport systems ahead of large events, such as festivals or protests.
- Civil Transportation Designer: Civil Transportation Designer focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of transport systems.
SALARY PAID TO TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER :
Transportation engineers can receive a salary of
Rs.4,65,000 per annum in India. Based on the level of education and the projects they deal salary will be varies.