Transportation Engineering as a Career : Introduction

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The field of engineering is so vast with various disciplines and sub discipline within it. Here we are dealing with Transportation engineering, a sub discipline of civil engineering, one of the oldest engineering disciplines. Its a career field that is expected to experience tremendous growth over the coming years due to urbanization. Transportation engineering is the application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation. Therefore, it has applications in planning and construction of roadways & bridges, ports, airways and railways. In other words it is the engineering branch that is concerned about the development of city roads, interstate highways, railroads, airfields, pavements, canals and urban mass rapid transport systems.

Railway, bus, highway, bridge and airport systems are intricate infrastructures that require considerable planning and development. Transportation engineers are professionals who design these systems. Hence, Transportation engineers meet a vital need in every community. They are specialists within the discipline of civil engineering who work to ensure the safety and efficiency of public transportation systems. They prepare plans, estimates, and specifications to design transportation facilities that ensure the safe, economical and timely movement of people and goods. A transport engineer has to conduct regular safety inspections to ensure that train tracks, roads and waterways are in working order and take care of the repair work if any. Many of the transport engineers specialize in specific areas like traffic, railways, airport etc.

Work conditions vary depending on the company and specific position. Engineers may work in an office setting, though usually they will be required to work at construction sites. An engineer should expect to work in all kinds of weather conditions. They generally work forty hours per week, although overtime may be necessary if construction deadlines are to be met.