TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER By Antowane Chambers

WHAT AN ENGINEER DOES. An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, who applies knowledge, mathematics and science to attain a goal. Engineers design materials, structures and other projects. They are also responsible for considering limitations or capacities of the project, from cost, safety and practicality.

SIMILARITIES BETWEEN A SCIENTIST AND AN ENGINEER. A scientist is a person who explores the physical aspects of life and gather information to find out how certain things function and their purpose while an engineer is the person who basically gathers some information from a scientist and invent things that can assist us and making life easier. Both a scientist and an engineer has to do experiments to find out if their inventions are safe to use. Some scientists invent things like an engineer.

WHAT IS THE DESIGN PROCESS? The engineer design process is a series of step that a scientist take when they are trying to solve a problem or design something. It is a methodical approach toward solving a problem. The steps are as followed:  Identify the problem-State the problem.  Identify Criteria and Constraints-Design requirements and limitations to the project.  Brainstorm possible solutions-Get an idea.  Generate ideas-create more ideas.  Explore Possibilities-share ideas  Select an approach-describe why they choose their solution.  Build a model or Prototype-create an actual project in drawings.  Refine the design-evaluate prototypes.

WHAT IS A CONSTRAINT? A constraint is a degree of limitation or restriction you have when providing a solution. Constraints are sometimes global limitation of resources. Examples of constraints are:  Money  Time  Lack of skills or workers  Lack of resources

HOW ENGINEERS AFFECT OUR EVERYDAY LIVES Computer Engineers- computer engineers are extremely important because without them we wouldn’t have computer or computer related software’s. This type of engineering is the most important because almost everybody interacts with a computer every day. Without those engineers computers wouldn’t exist. Aerospace engineers- aerospace engineers are important also because they are the reason how we have the ability to fly and have airborne transportation. They are also reason why astronauts go to space and study the weather so we on Earth can know the weather in advance for everyday activities. Biomedical engineers-Biomedical engineers are very most important because they are the ones to find out how the human body works and functions. They are also responsible for testing and making medicines for today’s deadly diseases.

WHAT IS AN CIVIL OR TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER? A transportation engineer is an engineer who specializes in safety and efficiency with public roadways and transportation system. This industry involves in designing, constructing and maintaining modes of transportation, such as roads, canals, seaports and railways. They focus on maintenance of highway infrastructure and to not over use roads and others modes of transportation. Engineers in this field will likely work on roads, highways, canals, railways and seaports and some industrial constructions. Transportation engineers need to use modeling to ensure that their projects doesn’t fail and can with stand everyday use and not be destroyed or collapse. To also see if their project fits their problem and is practical.

INFORMATION ON TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERS Transportation Engineers work for a numerous amount of companies for example EBA Engineering (makes roads and bridges), American Bridge Company (renovates and makes bridges), Brookfield Multiplex (builds bridges and roads) and Costain Group (assisted in building the channel tunnel). They can work anywhere, where they build any mode of transportation. Some engineers get a quiet good pay. They are paid based on the amount of experience they have or how long they have been working. An engineer who just left school can get about $45,000 a year or $18.75 an hour. While an engineer with about 20 years’ experience can get from about $90,000-$100,000 per year or about $38.50-$45.00 an hour.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS An associate degree is needed to work in this field. Some colleges that offer this course are Broward College, University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic University and Jacksonville University.

That concludes a little about Transportation Engineers