Transportation engineering

UNIT - I

Chapter 1(F)

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

TRANSPORTATION – AN OVERVIEW

Definitions

1. Transportation Engineering is concerned with the planning, design, construction and maintenance of civil engineering aspects of transportation systems of the country.

2. Transportation System includes Highways (roads), Railways, Waterways and Airways.

3. Transportation is the process of transporting passengers or carrying goods from one place to another.

4. Transport is the medium used for transporting passengers and goods.

The three basic media for transportation are Land, Water and Air. There are four major modes or means of communication. They are:

Roadways and Railways - Communication by Land

Waterways - Communication by Water

Airways - Communication by Air

1. IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION

1. For the rapid economic, industrial and cultural growth of any country, a good system oftransportation is very essential.

2. Good transport system helps in the movement of people and goods. Thus, it enables contact between different places. Thereby, it improves considerably the trade and industry.

3. For the basic necessities of people of any region, transportation moves food, clothing, industrial products, medicines, etc., both at the production and distribution stages.

4. An industrialist can transport the raw materials and then market his finished products. He can do so efficiently, only through a good network system of transportation.

5. A farmer can market his products to the nearby market economically, only through a good S system of roads.

6. Export of engineering goods, etc., by ships is very important for earning foreign exchange.

7. The security of a country requires a good transportation network, that is, for Army, Navy and

Air Force. 8. As blood transportation through body arteries is essential for the well-being of the human being, a similar good system of transportation is very essential for the well-being of a nation.

9. Inadequate transportation facilities may impair the socio-economic development of a country.