"Introduction to Civil Engineering - Highlighting the High Speed Rail" is a PowerPoint for primary and secondary students that provides an overview of Civil Engineering and areas of specialization. It also highlights the High Speed Rail and careers associated with the Rail Industry. Additionally, this lesson can be paired with a "High Speed Rail Track Design" activity or "Train Traffic Control" computer simulation game.

1. Roads, Rails and Race Cars
Presents:
Introduction to Civil Engineering -
Highlighting the High Speed Rail

2. What is Engineering?
O The word engineer originates from the Latin
term “ingenerare”
O Meaning to invent, to create or to regulate
O Engineering is the professional art of applying
scientific principles to every day things to help
make life easier

3. What is a Civil Engineer?
O A person who improves the quality of life
through the production of infrastructure
O Buildings, bridges and other structures
O Highways
O Dams and levees
O Water treatment plants, waste disposal
O Infrastructure must be safe, functional, elegant
and economically sound

4. Why We Need Civil Engineers
O To make sure our human habitat is livable
O To make sure we use resources wisely
O Sustainable development
O To help maintain our competitiveness in
the global economy
O Increase productivity

5. Specializations in Civil Engineering
OStructural Engineering
OConstruction Engineering
OGeotechnical Engineering
OWater Resources Engineering
OEnvironmental Engineering
OTransportation Engineering

6. Structural Engineering
Nebraska State Capital
Lincoln, Nebraska
Burg al Arab
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
A self-proclaimed 7-star hotel
Dubai Towers
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

7. Construction Engineering
Dubai’s expansion from
1991 to 2005
Eiffel Tower
Paris, France
Who can name this structure?

8. Geotechnical Engineering
The World Islands

9. Water Resources Engineering
Panama Canal
Isthmus of Panama
Hoover Dam
Clark County Nevada -
Mohave County, Arizona

10. Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineers
turn disease into delicacy!

11. 1956
1936
BP Oil Spill Cleanup
2010

12. Transportation Engineering
Semi trailers
and roadways
Airplanes, Airports and
Air Traffic Controllers

13. Transportation Engineers play a large
role in the Train and Rail Industry

14. High Speed Rail
O One form of passenger train is called the High
Speed Rail:
O It is a form of transportation that uses electric
trains that can travel at very high speeds
O Provides a friendlier alternative than common
transportation methods

15. History
O 1899: German Engineers sought a high speed train
O 1964: Japan capitalized on the High Speed Rail
O Shinkansen …also known as the Bullet Train
O Went 130 mph and carried 100 million people in first 3 years
O 1981: HSR revolution began in Europe starting with
France
O TGV will carry 1 billion people in 20 years

16. Where are High Speed Rails?
• Asia
• Japan
• Europe
• France
• Germany
• Spain
• North America
• United States

17. Size Comparisons

18. USA High Speed Rail Regions

19. Illinois High Speed Rail
O In 2010, Union
Pacific Railroad
(UPRR) got the bid
to create the
railway
O Since, 243 miles of
track has been
installed
O Train will be able to
go 110 mph

20. Geography of Rail Systems
O What could be some things
or conditions that rails could
experience in different parts
of the world?

21. High Speed Rail Infrastructure
Terminals Tracks
Stations
Signals

23. Positives
O Opens more space on highways and interstates
O By 2035, the Midwest Network will create
42,000 jobs and generate $6.1 billion in sales
O Environmentally friendly
O Uses 4-5 times
less carbon than
an airplane
O Cost is minimal

24. Problems?
O Trains cannot travel at
fast speeds within 30
miles of Chicago, St.
Louis and other large
cities
O Costs a lot of money to
build
O Have to be able to
allow trains and other
types of traffic to keep
flowing

25. Careers in the Rail Industry
Transportation Engineer
• $46,000-$53,000
• Bachelor’s Degree
Diesel Mechanic
• $43,000-$49,000
• HS Diploma/GED
Railroad Worker
• $38,000-$44,000
• HS Diploma/GED

26. Activity 1 – Rail Track Design
O Determine where the track will be placed for the
Illinois High Speed Rail
O Have to go from Chicago to St. Louis
O Have to go through at least 2 other cities
O Determine the speed of the train along the final
track (keep the cities and MPH zones in
consideration)
O Find the amount of time it will take to get from
Chicago to St. Louis

27. Activity 2 – Train Traffic
Controller Simulation Game
O Get a laptop when instructed
O Go to the website:
http://alltraingames.com/
O Complete the simulation of “Train
Traffic Control”
O Track the amount of money
you earn
O Write down totals at the end
of each round
O Person with the most money
wins