Nature of work
A transportation engineer is normally involved in the design, development, construction and maintenance of roads or transport systems. He/she spends a lot of his/her time analyzing schematics and data, and making recommendations for traffic and driving policies. He/she also frequently meets with contractors to discuss plans. His/her jobs entail developing new transportation systems or finding alternative routes to relieve overcrowding on existing roads and highways. He/she considers the costs and weigh them against the needs of the town or city. He/she is responsible for determining whether the land is good for building or not. While planning the project, he/she usually considers the impact it has on the environment and addresses any issues should he/she arises. Moreover, he/she is responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time and comply with all the relevant building and safety regulations. He/she focuses on the design, construction and maintenance of roads and transport systems that move people and goods. He/she must be able to evaluate plans and proposals drafted by other engineers and make changes if necessary. Environment of work
The average working is 40 hours per week and may include some social hours, depending on his/her particular specialty and project requirements. He/she may also have to work some weekends and occasionally long hours. While the job involves a lot of office-based activities, it also requires frequent visits to sites, particularly for new graduates. Some roles demand more attendance on site than others. It may be possible to set up his/her own consultancy firm after many years of proven professional experience. Dress is formal with clients, while less formal but smart dress may be worn in the office when not meeting clients. Protective clothing is worn on site. The nature of the working day can vary widely from a heavy workload with many activities to quiet periods. There is a high level of responsibility involved in the work and it can be very demanding. However, the considerable variety in this work means there is a great deal of job satisfaction. Overnight and weekend stays may be required for site inspections. Professional life
A transportation engineer works within the broader field of civil engineering and his/her job is to ensure the safety of public roads and transportation systems. His/her work typically includes the design, contraction and maintenance of various modes of transportation, and he/she can be employed on projects involving roads, railways, seaports and canals. He/she is usually employed in the public sector, but can also work for consulting companies that provide services to the government, or for private firms that supply equipment and materials used in transportation. Some transportation engineers are employed as researchers and lecturers at universities.Range of typical starting salaries: 60000 SYP.
Getting the job
A transportation engineer typically has at least a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or transportation engineering. He/she has good management and organizational skills, as well as the ability to solve complex problems. He/she must be good at communicating the specifics of design to contractors and other staff. Budgeting and time management skills are also essential to his/her work. Advancement in the transportation engineering workplace may require a candidate to get a master's or doctorate degree. Unlike most undergraduate programs, graduate-level studies may offer a specific focus on transportation engineering. Professional courses may include pavement design, municipal infrastructure design or travel demand forecasting. Some schools offer specialized concentrations in highway engineering, traffic safety or urban development. Skills
A successful transportation engineer has to possess computer skills, leadership qualities, analytical abilities and good planning skills. Advanced positions of a job as a transportation engineer may also require more specialized courses and of course, work experience in this field. Possessing all this qualifications and skills will help a transportation engineer in his job. It is important to provide more and more transport ways and by this way to improve traffic flow.A transportation engineer must have good management and organizational skills, as well as the ability to solve complex problems. He/she must be good at communicating the specifics of design to contractors and other staff. Time management skills is also essential to his/her work. He/she has the ability to work in a team.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites:· The Order of Syrian engineers, Damascus, Tel: 6627256
· www.arab-eng.org, Arab Engineers Forum.
· www.ite.org, The Institute of Transportation Engineers
· www.atesb.com, Associated Transportation Engineers
· Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.