Transportation and Construction Technologies Overview

Introduction

Transportation and Construction technologies are very intertwined through mutual application. Transportation technologies have to do with the movement of people and goods from one place to another. Construction technologies are required to provide much of the Infrastructure for transportation and people. Both of these industries are responsible for moving people and goods to engage commerce and society.

Transportation systems affect humans in all aspect of our lives. See the following video, Humanity From Space, to understand the significance of transportation within our society and throughout the entire world. Note the relationship of different methods or modes of transportation for successful movement of people and goods. The interconnected nature of this movement is called intermodalism.

Construction engineering provides the infrastructure for transportation systems, buildings, and construction projects. The engineering includes specified construction methods, project elements, stated materials, structural engineering, and collaboration with architectural design. Construction projects and engineering designs are based upon community or organizational need and associated funding.

The importance and impact of transportation systems have resulted in governmental regulation. These regulations affect the design and operation of transportation systems.

In this module students will apply knowledge of transportation and construction infrastructure to design a bridge via free computer based design software.

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

structural engineering and bridge design.jpg moving along.jpg

Chords – main horizontal load carrying members of a truss.

Compression - an internal axial force that tends to shorten (compress) a member.

Footing – the base of an abutment or pier. The part of the foundation that rests on soil and transmits the load of structure to the soil.

Infrastructure – the facilities and organizational structures needed to support a system or structure.

Modulus of Elasticity – a measure of the stiffness of an elastic material used to evaluate columns when stretched or compressed.

Scale Model – a 3D representation of an object which is true to the relative dimensions of the original object.

Structural Model – a mathematical idealization of a real structure, scale model.

Tension – an internal axial force that tends to lengthen (stretch) a member.

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