“Transportation Engineering” is the most elite and widely discussed segment that makes a direct impact on the social infrastructure, mobility agendas, and environmental impact. Depending on how robust the transportation infrastructure is available in a city, it significantly impacts the reputation of the governance body of that particular city. Several factors go into consideration while planning to develop a safe and sturdy transportation infrastructure.
Before we dive into that, let’s get to the basics and get introduced to what transportation engineering is about.
What is Transportation Engineering?
Transportation engineering is a branch of civil engineering that requires a perfect blending of modern technology and scientific principles to design, develop, and maintain transportation systems. This includes all the relative structures such as roads, bridges, railways, airports, and other transit mediums that facilitate the seamless flow of people and goods from one place to another. Therefore, the field of transportation engineering requires engineers to perform a thorough analysis of the environment and the periodic impacts it may have, traffic management, and also, integrate the latest technology solutions that accelerate the performance and efficiency of the systems.
Who are Transportation Engineers?
Transportation engineers are specialized professionals who are responsible for developing modern and world-class transportation infrastructure. These professionals require collaboration with civil planners, architects, and government bodies to devise sustainable solutions that meet the demands of the public and regulatory policies. It also requires that transportation engineers take into consideration the population size, market trends, and budgets for which they leverage data analytics, 3D modeling, and simulations to build a prototype. A seasoned transportation engineer looks at all the opportunities and adversities while raising transportation infrastructure and ensures convenient, frictionless, and safe transits.
The Historical Perspective on Road Safety
Until the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the focus on road safety was minimal, and there were good reasons for it. The first being, the low density of automobiles on the roads, rudimentary roads, no formal mandate on motoring guidelines, and traffic signals were also very low. When the adoption of automobiles increased, subsequently led to an increase in road accidents and raised the dire need for traffic regulation mandates. When traffic regulation came into existence, it also became necessary to have roads that are constructed using safety guidelines, the best quality, and accommodate futuristic needs. Transportation engineering then became the talk of the town and gradually led to understanding this concept in a broader landscape. The historic progression of this field has helped in the reduction of road fatalities, and improved connectivity, and transportation safety.
How does advancement in Transportation Engineering contribute to Road Safety?
Since the need to build and retain a robust transportation infrastructure has been acknowledged, there has been substantial improvement in transport systems.
Unlocking the potential of people, processes, and technology, transport engineers have raised massive and secured infrastructures, of which some have earned worldwide reputations. Let’s have a look at the innovation that transport engineers are embracing to build safer roads.
- Advanced Traffic Management Systems: The use of intelligent traffic systems has paved the way in curbing road accidents. Automated traffic signals and real-time traffic monitoring help improve road safety and efficiently manage traffic congestion at peak hours of the day. Advanced technologies such as IoT sensors and AI have dramatically revamped the challenges that came with traffic management, making it a seamless task and ensuring safe transits.
- Improved Road Design & Infrastructure: Safer roads require meticulous planning and creating a layout that accommodates all the adversities that might be prevailing or forecasted. It is crucial that the road designs meet the route planned and approved by the civic bodies and there is a scope for developing safer intersections and roundabouts. Application of modern roadway geometry and construction techniques fosters the development of safe roadways.
- Implementation of Safety Technologies: Technology advancement has changed the way we live today and its contribution in enabling safe transits cannot be ignored. The usage of safety technologies in automobiles has become a mandate when the models are being designed. Similarly, transport engineers also leverage technology and use automated enforcement tools such as speed cameras and red lights, pedestrian and cyclist detection systems, dedicated bike lanes and crosswalks, better lighting and signage, real-time traffic monitoring, and automated traffic signals to improve road transit.
- Leveraging Data Analytics: Integration of data and analytics is a game-changer in constructing safe roads. The captured historical data helps in analyzing traffic patterns and weather conditions, and predictive models help in identifying high-risk areas. After constructing roads, the real-time data plays a key role in evaluating the impact of safety measures and road improvisation initiatives that have been implemented.
Conclusion-
Transportation engineering has evolved big time after road safety has become a priority. Local and Central civil bodies ensure that transport engineers adhere to the laid down road development regulations and policies, thereby enabling a safe travel experience. Technology advancement has given rise to tremendous opportunities in the field of transportation engineering and made a significant contribution to building safer roads and transit infrastructure. The future of transportation engineering looks extremely promising, as collaborative efforts are shaping up and the world is geared up to demonstrate civil excellence that is safe, sustainable, and enduring.
