POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES – CIVIL ENGINEERING
Sta. Mesa, Manila
CIEN 303: HIGHWAY AND RAILWAY ENGINEERING
TAYAMORA, Jamaica Rose T. BSCE 3-5
2022-05552-MN-0 December 08, 2024
CIEN 303: Highway and Railroad Engineering
Quiz #1
The recent webinar on transportation engineering, with the theme "Optimizing
Transportation: Safety, Maintenance, and Innovative Solutions," was insightful. It was
organized by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, which provided a deeper
understanding of transportation systems through the expertise of each speaker. They shared
valuable perspectives that broadened my knowledge on various aspects of transportation
engineering.
Engr. De Jose’s opening remarks really set the tone for the webinar, especially his
connection between transportation and SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities. He
highlighted how important transportation is to create cities that are accessible, safe, and
efficient.
The first speaker, Engr. Neal Lorenzo P. Castillo, introduce the topic about
transportation modeling and simulation was highly informative. He explained the
differences between macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic levels of modeling. The
concept of microsimulation caught my attention because it focuses on individual vehicle
and pedestrian behavior, making it possible to simulate real-world traffic scenarios accurately.
Engineer Castillo stressed the importance of calibration and validation to ensure that the
models are accurate and reflect real-world conditions. I found it interesting how even small
errors in calibration can significantly affect predictions. He also mentioned the
computational demands of running these detailed models, which made me appreciate the
technology and resources required for microsimulation. It gave me a deeper understanding
of the technical side of transportation engineering.
On the other hand, the second speaker, Engr. Charlaine Aloyon discussed
transportation modes and systems was equally enlightening. She introduced several
modes of transportation, including aviation, maritime, road, railway, intermodal, and
pipeline. What struck me was how she mentioned walking as the oldest form of
transportation but still a crucial part of urban mobility. She also explained the components of
a transportation system, which are infrastructure, vehicles, and operations. I learned
that each part of the system must work together for everything to run smoothly. Effective
infrastructure, such as roads and railways, is necessary, but it’s also exciting to think about
how vehicle technologies, like electric and autonomous vehicles, will shape transportation
in the future. Her focus on operations emphasized how important it is to maintain safety and
efficiency in everyday transportation management.
Overall, this webinar was a great opportunity to gain new and brief ideas into the
complexities of transportation engineering. They highlighted the ties of transportation to
global goals, while having knowledge about modeling helped me appreciate the tools used to
improve traffic systems. I also had able to know the ancient modes and systems that provided
me with a broader perspective on how all these different elements come together to create
efficient transportation networks. This session reinforced my understanding of how
interdisciplinary and interconnected transportation engineering is, and I’m motivated to
continue learning more about it. The knowledge shared during the webinar will certainly
influence how I approach my studies and future career in the field.
