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Career Details

17-2051.01 - Transportation Engineers


Develop plans for surface transportation projects, according to established engineering standards and state or federal construction policy. Prepare designs, specifications, or estimates for transportation facilities. Plan modifications of existing streets, highways, or freeways to improve traffic flow.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
281,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
305,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
+23,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+8.4%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Present data, maps, or other information at construction-related public hearings or meetings.
  • Review development plans to determine potential traffic impact.
  • Prepare administrative, technical, or statistical reports on traffic-operation matters, such as accidents, safety measures, or pedestrian volume or practices.
  • Evaluate transportation systems or traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
  • Evaluate traffic control devices or lighting systems to determine need for modification or expansion.
  • Prepare project budgets, schedules, or specifications for labor or materials.
  • Prepare final project layout drawings that include details such as stress calculations.
  • Plan alteration or modification of existing transportation structures to improve safety or function.
  • Participate in contract bidding, negotiation, or administration.
  • Model transportation scenarios to evaluate the impacts of activities such as new development or to identify possible solutions to transportation problems.
  • Investigate traffic problems and recommend methods to improve traffic flow or safety.
  • Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure safety or compliance with applicable standards or regulations.
  • Direct the surveying, staking, or laying-out of construction projects.
  • Estimate transportation project costs.
  • Confer with contractors, utility companies, or government agencies to discuss plans, specifications, or work schedules.
  • Check construction plans, design calculations, or cost estimations to ensure completeness, accuracy, or conformity to engineering standards or practices.
  • Design or prepare plans for new transportation systems or parts of systems, such as airports, commuter trains, highways, streets, bridges, drainage structures, or roadway lighting.
  • Design or engineer drainage, erosion, or sedimentation control systems for transportation projects.
Supplemental
  • Develop or assist in the development of transportation-related computer software or computer processes.
  • Investigate or test specific construction project materials to determine compliance to specifications or standards.
  • Analyze environmental impact statements for transportation projects.
  • Supervise the maintenance or repair of transportation systems or system components.
  • Design transportation systems or structures with sustainable materials or products, such as porous pavement or bioretention structures.
  • Develop plans to deconstruct damaged or obsolete roadways or other transportation structures in a manner that is environmentally sound or prepares the land for sustainable development.
  • Evaluate construction project materials for compliance with environmental standards.
  • Inspect completed transportation projects to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Design
  • 96%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 94%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Mathematics
  • 90%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Building and Construction
  • 88%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Transportation
  • 85%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 English Language
  • 80%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Physics
  • 75%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 74%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Administration and Management
  • 72%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Law and Government
  • 67%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 65%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 64%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Geography
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 55%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Clerical
  • 54%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Communications and Media
  • 51%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Cameras
  • Digital cameras
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Photocopying equipment
 Personal communication devices
  • Mobile radios
  • Multi-line telephone systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DHOT
  • Autodesk Land DesktopHOT
  • Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering SuiteHOT
  • Bentley InRoads SuiteHOT
  • Bentley MicroStationHOT
  • Citilabs Cube
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADDHOT
  • McTrans HCS+
  • McTrans TRANSYT-7F
  • McTrans TSIS-CORSIM
  • SIDRA INTERSECTION
  • Trafficware SimTrafficHOT
  • Trafficware SynchroGreen
  • Transoft Solutions AutoTURNHOT
  • Visual Solutions VisSIM
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
  • Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio ManagementHOT
 Data management and query software
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Product/Equipment
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
George Mason University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Old Dominion University
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College