Program overview
This major is not about repairing roads or driving trucks every day. Instead, it uses scientific methods to make the entire road transportation system run smoother, safer, and smarter. You will learn how to design the route of a new highway, optimize traffic light timing in cities, use big data to predict where congestion is likely to occur, and even how to make autonomous vehicles coexist harmoniously with regular vehicles. Core courses include traffic planning (e.g., using models to predict future traffic flow), road design (drawing blueprints with a focus on safety and economy), traffic flow theory (understanding the patterns of traffic like water flow), intelligent transportation systems (ITS, the technology behind electronic eyes and variable message signs), and logistics and supply chain management (how to get packages to you faster). This major is suitable for those who are curious about traffic phenomena, enjoy using math and computers to solve real-world problems, and have an engineering or science background. A practical advantage of Chinese universities in this field is that many professors have been involved in actual domestic projects such as highways, urban expressways, and subway connections, providing vivid case studies, and the labs may have real traffic simulation platforms for you to play with.