Transportation Engineering

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Transportation Engineering is considered to be an interdisciplinary program, encompassing many diverse backgrounds and engineering disciplines. Interested undergraduate and graduate students with various backgrounds are welcome to pursue studies and research in the area of Transportation Engineering.

Transportation engineers and researchers may come from areas such as Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering and Science, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Social Sciences, and Economics. In general, Transportation Engineering involves all aspects of planning, functional design, operation, and management of facilities for any mode of transportation. However, Traffic Engineering, as one of the major areas of Transportation Engineering normally deals with the surface transportation modes, such as highways and arterials, public transit, pedestrians and bicycles.  The Transportation Engineering program is a fast growing program, consisting of renowned faculty, research staff, and a diverse group of graduate students who are pursuing either M.S. or Ph.D. degrees.

Our Mission

Our mission is:  1) To develop operationally efficient and environmentally friendly transportation systems for the state of Nevada, the desert southwest region, and the United States; and (2) To educate the next-generation of transportation professionals equipped with advanced technical skills and strong practical motivations.

Faculty

The transportation engineering program at the University of Nevada, Reno currently has one tenured faculty and two post-doctoral research staff.

Zong Z. TianZong Z. Tian, PE
Assistant Professor

Research/outreach areas: Transportation Engineering, Highway Capacity, Traffic Signal System Control and Operations, Freeway Management, Intelligent Transportation Systems, Transportation Safety, Traffic Simulation.

Relevant past experience: Consultant, Kittelson and Associates, Inc. in Portland, Oregon; Associate Research Scientist, Texas Transportation Institute; Faculty of Department of Transportation Management and Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, China.

 

Recent Projects

  • “Feasibility of of Using Video Cameras for Automated Enforcement on Red-light Running and Managed Lanes,” Nevada Department of Transportation (9/1/2008 – 7/31/2009) ($150,000)
  • “Feasibility of Implementing an Automated Trucking System along the I-80 Freeway,” Nevada Department of Transportation (9/1/2008 – 1/31/2010)
  • "Evaluation of Video Detection Systems and Development of Application Guidelines at Signalized Intersections," Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Department of Transportation (2/1/2008 – 12/31/2009)
  • “Pedestrian Behavior Study at Marked and Unmarked Pedestrian Crosswalks,” Traffic Safety Center, University of California, Berkeley (7/1/2008 – 8/31/2008)
  • "Evaluation of Adaptive Signal Control Systems”, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (4/1/2008 – 12/31/2008)
  • "Nevada Teen Seatbelt Survey", PREUSSER Research Group, Inc (9/1/2007 – 12/31/2008)
  • "Development of Surrogates for Crashes", Sponsored by Nevada Department of Transportation, (1/1/2007 – 12/31/2008).
  • "Safety Analyst Implementation Demonstration", Sponsored by Nevada Department of Transportation, (1/1/2007 – 6/30/2008)
  • "Guidelines and Field Implementation of Left-turn Signal Control for the State of Nevada", Sponsored by Nevada Department of Transportation, (1/1/2006 – 12/31/2007).
  • "Techniques to Improve Safety and Operations at Signalized Diamond Interchanges in Nevada", Sponsored by Nevada Department of Transportation, (3/1/2006 – 12/31/2007).
  • "Development of Roundabout Geometrics Design Guidance", Sponsored by the California Department of Transportation, (1/1/2006 – 6/30/2007)

Graduate Admissions

Graduate Application
Apply online: www.unr.edu/grad/admissions/apply
International students should visit: www.unr.edu/oiss

Admission Requirements
In evaluating a student's application to the transportation engineering graduate program, the faculty will consider all aspects of the student's credentials. This includes academic performance in their respective past programs, scores on entrance examinations (GRE and TOEFL, if applicable), references, and the applicant's stated goals. 

Financial Assistance
Financial aid available to students ranges from full or partial Teaching or Research Assistantships.  Most graduate students are supported by assistantships. Awards are made on the basis of scholarship and promise for outstanding achievement. The applicant's grade point average, score on the GRE and letters of recommendation are the primary means used for selecting new students to receive financial aid.

 

Contact Us

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Transportation Engineering Program
University of Nevada, Reno/0258
Reno, NV 89557-0258

Phone: (775) 784-6937
Fax: (775) 784-1390