Transportation-Role for Civils

The evolvement of the role of the civil engineer in urban transportation has been interesting. Basically, the engineer is a measurer; he is a doer. In this role the position of the civil engineer was never challenged in the design of early transport facilities. He located, designed, and supervised the construction and maintenance of railroads and ports. When engineering attention was directed to roads, the job was given to the civil engineer, and he has always been recognized as the logical designer of major road structures. As air transportation developed, the civil engineer became an essential person in the location, planning, and design of airports, and has since become a dominant figure in the design of major terminal facilities for all transportation modes.