Transportation Engineering

Transportation and CitiesMark Magalotti P.E. Senior LecturerUniversity of PittsburghSchool of EngineeringDepartment of Civil and Environmental Engineering

2OutlineFuture CitiesWhat is an engineer?Different types of engineersCivil engineersTransportation engineersCities and transportation 3Why Design a city of the future?Why do people live in cities? Closer to jobs, parks, schools, shopping and transportationProblems of cities today include croweded living spaces, air and water pollution, old buildings and poor transportation4Why Design a city of the future?Why solve these problems?Create better living spacesReduce traffic congestion and improve air pollutionBetter transportation connections between where you live, work, shop and playYou can shape the future of cities as an engineer !!!5What is an Engineer?Engineers are problem solverspeople who make things work better, more efficiently, quicker, and less expensivelyEngineers apply math and science to create something of value from our natural resources6Different Types of EngineersChemicalElectrical & ComputerMechanicalIndustrialBio-Medical

And Civil Engineers!

7Civil EngineersStructuresHydraulics/HydrologyWastewater/EnvironmentalGeotechnical

Transportation

The Transportation Profession

Slide 1 - The Transportation Profession9Transportation EngineersWhat do Transportation Engineers do?No reality shows or video games that glamorizes the transportation professionTransportation Engineers are, however, making a difference all around us we solve problems !!!

10Transportation EngineersHeres where I have made a difference!

11What is Transportation?Streets, highways, and transit systems that allow people and goods to move safely and efficientlyBackbone for a strong economyKey contributor in quality of life12What is Transportation?How many types of transportation can you name in Pittsburgh? What is missing?

13Transportation ModesAirPipelineWaterSurface

Slide 4 - Transportation Modes

SurfaceAirWaterPipeline

These are the primary modes of transportation.14Other Surface ModesBicyclePedestrianInclines

Slide 5 - Surface Modes

Highways and StreetsFixed GuidewayBicyclePedestrian

These are the different modes within the surface transportation category.15Transportation Facts Nationwide1.6 million hours per day stuck in traffic Avg. person spends one hour per day in their car160,000 traffic signalsin the USCost of congestion is $40 Billion per year

16Transportation in CitiesWhat is the condition of transportation today?How can we identify the problems?

17Transportation in CitiesWhat will change in the future that effects transportation?What will the future look like?How do we design a future transportation system?

18Transportation in CitiesEngineers Solve Problems by:Collect InformationDefine the ProblemList Potential SolutionsSelect the a Solution for the ProblemCommunicate the Solution

Simtraffic19Transportation in CitiesHow does transportation work in cities?a multi-modal problem ( cars, buses, transit, pedestrian, bicycles and rivers)Travel modes shift under different scenariosThe capacity of streets is limitedSpace is a problem!

20Transportation in CitiesHow does transportation work in cities?There is a focus on transit systemsPedestrian and bicycles interferes with other modesDelivery of goods is a major issue

21Transportation in CitiesHow does transportation work in cities?Parking is a focusTransfer of modes a consideration such as bus terminals, subway stations, park and ride lots

22Transportation in CitiesHow does transportation fit within a city?Land use patternsLand use and transportation are linkedFactors that drive land use patternsGrowth in jobs and populationLocation of jobs relative to housing and shoppingHealth and safety regulations

23Transportation in CitiesFactors to consider when designing a city and its transportation systemStreet layoutClosure of streetsLocation of parking Smart Cities?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUyourDcWzw

24Transportation in CitiesFactors to consider when designing a city and its transportation systemLocation of complimentary usesSeparation of pedestrians/bicycles and vehiclesAccess to public spaces such as parks

25Transportation in CitiesExamples of critical transportation decisions for a cityLocation of highways and transit near employment places and neighborhoodsLocation of transit stations and stopsLocation of mode transfer locations ( bus stations)

26Transportation in CitiesExamples of critical transportation decisions for a cityParking for working and shopping placesWalking and Biking paths for trips to work, shop, transit and recreationAccess to region including suburbs and other citiesAccess to regional transportation such as water ports and airports

27Transportation in CitiesExamples of future ideas in transportation

28Transportation in CitiesExamples of future ideas in transportation

29Transportation in CitiesExamples of future ideas in transportation

30Questions? Flying cars?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHnJwxXsSMk