• ES Español (Latinoamérica)
• EN English

7.50. Transportation Engineering (Mandatory)

7.50.1. Justification ↑ Back to top

Transportation Engineering is the introductory survey course of the Highway, Geomatics, and Transportation (DAVG) specialization area. It gives students a panoramic view of every major transportation mode – highways, railways, ports, and airports – introducing the planning and economic framework common to all of them, the traffic control devices and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) used to operate road networks, and the fundamental alignment, operations, planning, hydraulic, and geometric design concepts specific to railway, port, and airport facilities. The course does not go in depth into any single mode; each is developed further in a dedicated course later in the specialization (e.g., Transportation Planning, Ports), for which this course lays the conceptual foundation.

7.50.2. Generales Goals ↑ Back to top

1. Describe the fundamentals of multimodal transportation planning and economic evaluation, recognizing how road, rail, port, and air transportation systems integrate within a transportation network.
2. Recognize the function, design principles, and technologies of traffic control devices and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) used to manage road traffic.
3. Identify the fundamental alignment, operations, and capacity concepts of railway transportation systems.
4. Identify the fundamental planning, maritime hydraulics, and structural design concepts applied to port terminals.
5. Identify the fundamental planning and geometric design concepts applied to airports.

7.50.3. Contribution to Outcomes ↑ Back to top

ABET-1) An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. (Usage)

ABET-2) An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. (Usage)

ABET-6) An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. (Usage)

7.50.4. Content ↑ Back to top

7.50.4.1. Transportation Planning and Economics (2 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Mannering and Washburn, 2013)

Topics

1. Transportation planning process and institutional framework
2. Travel demand modeling and forecasting methods
3. Four-step travel demand model
4. Data collection methods for transportation planning
5. Economic evaluation and benefit-cost analysis
6. Activity-based modeling and advanced forecasting techniques
7. Multimodal transportation planning and integration
8. Sustainable transportation and environmental considerations
9. Public participation and stakeholder engagement
10. Performance measures and system monitoring

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the transportation planning process and institutional relationships [Familiarity]
2. Apply travel demand forecasting methods to predict future travel patterns [Assessment]
3. Implement the four-step travel demand model for regional analysis [Usage]
4. Design data collection programs for transportation studies [Assessment]
5. Conduct benefit-cost analysis for transportation projects [Usage]
6. Utilize activity-based models for advanced travel demand analysis [Assessment]
7. Develop integrated multimodal transportation plans [Usage]
8. Incorporate sustainability principles into transportation planning [Assessment]
9. Facilitate public participation processes in transportation planning [Familiarity]
10. Establish performance measures and monitoring systems for transportation networks [Assessment]

7.50.4.2. Traffic Control Devices (2 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Mannering and Washburn, 2013)

Topics

1. Classification and design of regulatory, warning, and guide signs
2. Sign placement, sizing, and retroreflectivity standards
3. Pavement marking types, materials, and placement standards
4. Traffic signal warrant analysis and justification studies
5. Signal phasing, sequencing, and vehicle/pedestrian detection design
6. Signal equipment, controllers, and maintenance considerations

Learning Outcomes

1. Classify traffic signs according to national/MUTCD-equivalent standards and select the appropriate sign for a given condition [Familiarity]
2. Specify sign placement, size, and retroreflectivity per design standards [Usage]
3. Design a pavement marking plan for a given roadway section [Assessment]
4. Conduct a signal warrant analysis to justify installing a traffic signal [Assessment]
5. Design signal phasing and detection layouts for an intersection [Usage]
6. Evaluate signal equipment and controller requirements for an installation [Familiarity]

7.50.4.3. Intelligent Transportation Systems and Connected Vehicles (3 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Sussman, 2005)

Topics

1. ITS architecture and system components
2. Traffic detection and surveillance technologies
3. Advanced traffic management systems
4. Traveler information systems and real-time data
5. Connected vehicle technologies and V2X communication
6. Autonomous vehicle systems and infrastructure requirements
7. Adaptive signal control and traffic-responsive systems
8. Electronic toll collection and congestion pricing
9. Transit signal priority and bus rapid transit systems
10. Data analytics and artificial intelligence in transportation

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain ITS architecture and identify system components [Familiarity]
2. Select appropriate traffic detection technologies for specific applications [Assessment]
3. Design advanced traffic management system deployments [Usage]
4. Implement traveler information systems and dissemination strategies [Assessment]
5. Describe connected vehicle technologies and communication protocols [Familiarity]
6. Evaluate infrastructure requirements for autonomous vehicle deployment [Assessment]
7. Apply adaptive signal control algorithms for traffic optimization [Usage]
8. Analyze electronic toll collection systems and pricing strategies [Assessment]
9. Integrate transit signal priority in multimodal networks [Usage]
10. Utilize data analytics and AI for transportation system optimization [Assessment]

7.50.4.4. Railway Alignment Design (3 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Profillidis, 2014)

Topics

1. Horizontal alignment and curve design for railway track
2. Vertical alignment and grade design for railway track
3. Superelevation (cant) and transition curve design
4. Track gauge and kinematic envelope (clearance) standards
5. Alignment design criteria by service type (freight, passenger, high-speed)

Learning Outcomes

1. Design horizontal alignment and curves for a railway track [Usage]
2. Determine vertical alignment and grades for a railway track [Usage]
3. Compute superelevation and transition curve lengths for a design speed [Assessment]
4. Describe track gauge standards and kinematic envelope requirements [Familiarity]
5. Select alignment design criteria appropriate to the service type [Usage]

7.50.4.5. Railway Capacity and Operations (4 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Profillidis, 2014)

Topics

1. Railway line and network capacity analysis
2. Timetabling methods and conflict resolution
3. Operations planning for freight and passenger service
4. Train dispatching and control center operations

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze railway line and network capacity [Assessment]
2. Develop a conflict-free railway timetable [Usage]
3. Plan freight and passenger railway operations [Usage]
4. Describe train dispatching and control center functions [Familiarity]

7.50.4.6. Port Planning (2 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Thoresen, 2014)

Topics

1. Port master planning process
2. Site selection criteria for port development
3. Port system planning within national and regional logistics networks
4. Cargo and vessel traffic demand forecasting

Learning Outcomes

1. Develop a port master plan [Usage]
2. Evaluate candidate sites for port development [Assessment]
3. Describe how a port fits within a national or regional logistics network [Familiarity]
4. Forecast cargo and vessel traffic demand [Usage]

7.50.4.7. Maritime Hydraulics for Ports (2 hours) [Skills ABET-6] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2002)

Topics

1. Wave generation, propagation, and transformation analysis
2. Tide and current characterization for port design
3. Harbor agitation and resonance (seiche) analysis
4. Design metocean conditions and return-period selection

Learning Outcomes

1. Analyze wave generation, propagation, and transformation at a port site [Usage]
2. Characterize tides and currents relevant to port design [Familiarity]
3. Assess harbor agitation and resonance risk for a proposed layout [Assessment]
4. Select design metocean conditions for a given return period [Usage]

7.50.4.8. Berth and Quay Design (3 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Tsinker, 2004)

Topics

1. Quay wall design (gravity, sheet pile, and piled structures)
2. Berth dimensioning for design vessel classes
3. Mooring systems and bollard layout
4. Fender system selection and energy absorption design

Learning Outcomes

1. Design a quay wall for specified soil and loading conditions [Assessment]
2. Dimension a berth for a design vessel class [Usage]
3. Lay out a mooring system and bollard arrangement [Usage]
4. Specify a fender system based on berthing energy absorption requirements [Assessment]

7.50.4.9. Airport Planning and Demand Forecasting (3 hours) [Skills ABET-1] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Horonjeff et al., 2010)

Topics

1. Airport master planning process and site selection
2. Airport system planning within the regional and national context
3. Aviation demand forecasting methods
4. Airport capacity analysis and level of service

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the airport master planning process and site selection criteria [Familiarity]
2. Integrate an airport within a regional airport system plan [Usage]
3. Forecast aviation demand using established methods [Usage]
4. Conduct airport capacity analysis and evaluate level of service [Assessment]

7.50.4.10. Airside Geometric Design (4 hours) [Skills ABET-2] ↑ Back to top

Bibliography: (Horonjeff et al., 2010)

Topics

1. Aerodrome reference code and airport reference code (ARC) classification
2. Runway orientation analysis and wind rose evaluation
3. Runway and taxiway geometric design standards
4. Safety area separations, runway/taxiway strips, and obstacle-free zones
5. Apron and aircraft holding bay geometric design

Learning Outcomes

1. Classify an aerodrome according to its reference code [Familiarity]
2. Determine runway orientation from wind rose analysis [Usage]
3. Design runway and taxiway geometry following FAA/ICAO standards [Assessment]
4. Verify required safety area separations and obstacle-free zones [Assessment]
5. Lay out aprons and aircraft holding bays [Usage]

7.50.5. Bibliography ↑ Back to top

Mannering, F. L. and Washburn, S. S. (2013). Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic Analysis. Wiley, 5th edition.

Sussman, J. M. (2005). Perspectives on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Springer.

Profillidis, V. A. (2014). Railway Management and Engineering. Ashgate, 4th edition.

Thoresen, C. A. (2014). Port Designer's Handbook. ICE Publishing, 3rd edition.

US Army Corps of Engineers (2002). Coastal engineering manual. Technical Report EM 1110-2-1100, US Army Corps of Engineers.

Tsinker, G. P. (2004). Port Engineering: Planning, Construction, Maintenance, and Security. Wiley.

Horonjeff, R., McKelvey, F. X., Sproule, W. J., and Young, S. B. (2010). Planning and Design of Airports. McGraw-Hill, 5th edition.