Learn about the skills and competencies that transport engineers need to create more sustainable and efficient transport solutions in the circular economy context.

According to me, key skills for transport engineers in a circular economy include: 🌍 Sustainability Knowledge: Understand sustainability and life cycle assessments. 🔗 Systems Thinking: Design holistic transport solutions. 📊 Data Analysis: Improve operational efficiency. ♻️ Innovative Design: Focus on reuse and resource efficiency. 🗣️ Communication: Collaborate with diverse stakeholders. 📜 Policy Awareness: Know sustainable transportation regulations. 💻 Tech Proficiency: Utilize intelligent transport systems. 📈 Project Management: Oversee circular economy initiatives. 🔄 Adaptability: Stay flexible with evolving technologies. 🤝 Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with urban planners and environmental scientists.

Last updated on Oct 18, 2024

What are the skills and competencies that transport engineers need to thrive in the circular economy context?

The circular economy is a model that aims to reduce waste, reuse resources, and regenerate natural systems. It is increasingly relevant for the transport sector, which faces challenges such as climate change, congestion, pollution, and social equity. Transport engineers are professionals who design, plan, operate, and manage transport systems and infrastructure. They need to adapt to the circular economy context and develop skills and competencies that enable them to create more sustainable and efficient transport solutions. Here are some of the key skills and competencies that transport engineers need to thrive in the circular economy context.

1 Systems thinking

Systems thinking is the ability to understand how different elements of a system interact and influence each other, and how the system relates to its environment. Transport engineers need to apply systems thinking to analyse the impacts and trade-offs of transport decisions, and to identify opportunities for circularity and innovation. For example, they can use systems thinking to design transport networks that optimise the use of existing infrastructure, reduce emissions and energy consumption, and integrate with other sectors such as energy, waste, and land use.

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Neema Sheela Suku

Intelligent Transport System(ITS) | Traffic Engineering | Project Engineer| Transport Planning | Ex-Engineer at Jacobs | Ex-Engineer at ITSPE | MIET
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According to me, key skills for transport engineers in a circular economy include: 🌍 Sustainability Knowledge: Understand sustainability and life cycle assessments. 🔗 Systems Thinking: Design holistic transport solutions. 📊 Data Analysis: Improve operational efficiency. ♻️ Innovative Design: Focus on reuse and resource efficiency. 🗣️ Communication: Collaborate with diverse stakeholders. 📜 Policy Awareness: Know sustainable transportation regulations. 💻 Tech Proficiency: Utilize intelligent transport systems. 📈 Project Management: Oversee circular economy initiatives. 🔄 Adaptability: Stay flexible with evolving technologies. 🤝 Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work with urban planners and environmental scientists.

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ilyaas Adams

Engineering Consultant (Traffic & Transportation) | CEng (MIEI) | PrEng (ECSA) | PSDP | MSAICE |
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As engineering is extremely broad with many disciplines, understanding the linkage and connectivity between fields is crucial to being a good engineer. As professional engineers (once certified) we are tasked to ensure our engineering measures improve and protect people and the environment from poor engineering judgement (before approving works). In my opinion, this applies to systems thinking. Understanding systems by means of first principles allows engineers to know limitations and applicability of their analysis. Understanding full processes allows engineers to thrive by knowing how to not only analyze and optimize networks but to also know the limitations and the purpose (and how it impacts other elements) of their solutions.

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Hussein Falih

Senior Transport Modeller at PTV Group
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1. Knowledge of Sustainable Practices: Familiarity with green materials, energy-efficient technologies, and low-emission transport systems. 2. Holistic Approach: Ability to create transport systems that reduce waste, optimize resource use, and encourage recycling and reuse. 3. Proficiency in Data Analysis: Using big data and IoT to measure environmental impacts and enhance system efficiency. 4. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Engaging with professionals in urban planning, environmental science, and logistics. 5. Policy Knowledge: Understanding regulations that support circular economy principles. 6. Innovative Thinking: Developing new mobility models and integrating renewable energy solutions.

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Pedro Noe Mata Saucedo

Continuous Improvement Manager MAZ at AB InBev | Power BI | Python | SQL | Excel | VBA | ETL | Logistics | Supply Chain | AppSheet | SAP | RPA | Scrum Master | Product Owner | JavaScript | HTML | CSS | Flutter | Firebase
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Estoy de acuerdo con el artículo en que el pensamiento sistémico es fundamental para la ingeniería de transporte en un contexto de economía circular. He visto en mi propia experiencia cómo un enfoque holístico que considera las interacciones entre el transporte, la energía, los materiales y el uso del suelo, nos permite optimizar las soluciones y minimizar los impactos negativos. Ejemplo de ello es la planificación de rutas de transporte público que minimicen la congestión, fomenten el uso de vehículos eléctricos y se integren a las infraestructuras de energía renovable. Esta forma de pensar nos permite diseñar soluciones más sostenibles y eficientes.

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2 Life cycle assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method that evaluates the environmental, social, and economic impacts of a product or service throughout its life cycle, from extraction to disposal. Transport engineers need to use LCA to assess the circularity potential of transport systems and infrastructure, and to compare different alternatives based on their environmental performance. For example, they can use LCA to select materials that have lower embodied carbon, longer durability, and higher recyclability, or to choose transport modes that have lower operational impacts and higher user satisfaction.

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Yves Ribeiro

Mechanical Engineer | MSc | Transportation Specialist at Urbi Mobilidade Urbana | Transport and Urban Mobility
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Currently, several Life cycle assessment (LCA) inventories already contain data on items that are the majority in impact analysis, such as lubricants, diesel and tires. Putting planning aside, comparing only the items mentioned, there are already great possibilities for reducing negative impacts. It is important to join forces with academia and establish good data evaluated in fleet maintenance, allowing an always broad assessment, which allows for real changes. Inventories that can be consulted include open-source initiatives, such as ACV Brasil and OpenLCA.

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3 Circular design

Circular design is a process that applies the principles of the circular economy to the creation of products, services, and systems. Transport engineers need to adopt circular design to develop transport solutions that minimise waste, maximise resource efficiency, and extend the lifespan and value of assets. For example, they can use circular design to create modular and adaptable transport infrastructure that can be easily maintained, repaired, upgraded, or reused, or to develop transport services that promote sharing, leasing, or pooling of vehicles and infrastructure.

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4 Collaboration and communication

Collaboration and communication are essential skills for transport engineers who work in multidisciplinary teams and engage with various stakeholders. Transport engineers need to collaborate and communicate effectively to align their goals and visions with those of other actors in the transport system, such as policy makers, planners, operators, users, and communities. They also need to communicate the benefits and challenges of the circular economy approach to transport, and to inspire and influence others to adopt more sustainable behaviours and practices. For example, they can use collaboration and communication tools to co-create transport solutions with users and stakeholders, or to disseminate best practices and lessons learned from circular transport projects.

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5 Innovation and learning

Innovation and learning are key competencies for transport engineers who face complex and dynamic problems and opportunities in the transport sector. Transport engineers need to foster a culture of innovation and learning that encourages creativity, experimentation, and adaptation. They also need to keep up with the latest trends and developments in the field of circular economy and transport, and to acquire new knowledge and skills that enable them to apply circular solutions. For example, they can use innovation and learning methods to generate new ideas and solutions for transport challenges, or to learn from other sectors and regions that have implemented circular economy strategies.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the skills and competencies that transport engineers need to thrive in the circular economy context?

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1 Systems thinking

2 Life cycle assessment

3 Circular design

4 Collaboration and communication

5 Innovation and learning

6 Here’s what else to consider

Transportation Engineering

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