Abstract:
The scarcity of books on transportation, especially those particularly relevant and
appropriate to Philippine setting, has been a legitimate complaint of students, educators, and
practitioners. While it is true that transportation engineering is a young field relative to other
civil engineering disciplines, the demand for good education and training on the field escalates
due to fast urbanization. As cities and towns grow and develop, the problems related to transport
and traffic intensifies in geometric proportions. To avoid costly and, at times, irreversible
mistakes, a solid foundation in traffic engineering is a must. We cannot continue to rely on
reactionary or trial-and-error approach to our road and traffic woes. Only through a firm grasp
and systematic application of basic knowledge and theories could we truly come up with credible
and effective solutions. Only through systematic evaluation and research could we discard
ineffective designs, improve our skills, and upgrade our systems.
The book includes basic concepts that a senior civil engineering student is expected to
thoroughly understand. Topics like queuing and shock wave theories are rather advanced, but the
basic formulations are presented and conceptualized in simplified manner that even
undergraduate students can easily comprehend. It is likewise written to be a handy self-contained
reference or easy guide for practicing traffic engineers.
A notable recurring theme woven into all discussions is road order and safety. In the quest for
efficiency, sophistication, or cost effectiveness, basic safety and orderliness must never be
compromised. Accident prevention should always be the first and foremost concern in every
design. Preservation of human life remains the most vital aim of a good traffic engineer. We are
faced with myriads of transportation and traffic problems: congestion, pollution, energy,
