On the right track: A well-planned transportation system is necessary for the development of a nation

Transport provides a vital link between production centres, distribution areas and consumers. It also exercises a unifying and integrating influence upon the economy. Important means of transport are railways, roads, water transport (both inland and overseas) and air transport.

A well-planned and sophisticated transportation system is necessary for the development of a nation. Failure to provide required transportation reflects on the overall economy as well as the quality of living. Especially, in a developing country like ours, which is undergoing rapid urbanisation, the importance of transportation system cannot be ignored.

Transportation engineering aims to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods. It is a sub-discipline of civil engineering. Transportation engineers meet the continued demands caused by increasing numbers of motor vehicles, the need to modernise railways, the mechanisation and automation of building processes and industrial materials.

What do I have to do?

Engineers in this field handle the planning, design, construction, and operation of highways, roads, and other vehicular facilities; estimate the transportation needs of the public and then secure the funding for the project; analyse locations of high traffic volumes for safety and capacity; use civil engineering principles to improve the transportation system.

The design aspects of transportation engineering include the sizing of transportation facilities (how many lanes or how much capacity a facility has), determining the materials used for pavements and their thickness, and the geometry (vertical and horizontal alignment) of roadways or tracks. Operations and management involve traffic engineering for the smooth movement of vehicles on roads or tracks. Older techniques include signs, signals, markings, and tolling. Newer technologies involve intelligent transportation systems, advanced traveller information systems (such as variable message signs), advanced traffic control systems (such as ramp meters), and vehicle infrastructure integration. Human factors such as driver-vehicle interface and user interface of road signs, signals, and markings, are aspects of transportation engineering.

Transportation engineering also includes airport planning, layouts of passenger terminals, air traffic control, planning of harbours and ports, cargo handling, containerisation, navigation aids, inland waterways, and pipeline transportation.

What should I study?

Transportation engineers usually have a civil engineering degree. Some universities and institutes also accept a valid GATE score. The emphasis is on the acquisition of advanced knowledge concerning planning, design, operations, maintenance, rehabilitation, performance, and the evaluation of transportation systems, including their economic and public policy aspects. The programme stresses the development of problem-solving, design, and management skills that are suitable for the public and private sectors.

What next?

There is a great demand for transportation engineering professionals due to the huge investments in transportation-related infrastructure. Both government and private enterprises are involved in the business of transportation. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of flyovers in major cities and new metros have been planned. The National Highway Authority of India has launched the Golden Quadrilateral project in the country which is the largest ever highway project connecting the four corners of the country as well as the four metropolitan cities.

Potential employers include both public and private sector organisations. These include the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), Indian Railways, Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), the Transport Corporation of India, transportation departments of the Union and state governments, city planning and development organisations and transport corporations.

Where to study

• Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Delhi.
• Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Roorkee.
• College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli.
• JNTU, Hyderabad.