September Additional Post

Here my mentor and I are using a program named synchro 7. Here we are simulating traffic flow. This program covers signal timing software used to perform capacity analysis for signalized intersections. You can increase and decrease the speed of the vehicles and lanes to see how each performs.

Blog #6 Second Interview Questions

Who is your mentor and where does he work?

My mentor is my brother Antonio Salas who currently practices transportation engineering at consulting firm in the city of Irvine,CA.

What five questions will ask them about their background?
1. How did you get interested in transportation engineering?
2. What skills do you think are most important for this career?
3. Do you work more physically or mentally on a day-to-day basis? How did this compare to your college experience?
4. What is your prior job history?
5. Were there any obstacles that you encountered while trying to pursue this career?
6. Do you think transportation engineering is worth doing? Why or why not?

Blog #5 Project Reflection and Working EQ

(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
- After having to read the traffic signal book so many times I finally understand what most of the traffic signals mean and I do not feel lost. I learned how and why the traffic signals are located where they are. I always thought companies would put them where ever they felt like it.

(2) EQ Content:  Pick a piece of research or your interview.  How has it helped you improve your understanding of your topic?  
- A piece of research that has helped me understand this topic more clearly is " Transportation engineers are civil engineers who design highways, airports, and railway and bus systems'. I used to have an understanding that transportation engineers only worked with highways. This has opened my doors to new research.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
- Something that has worked for me so far are the research checks. They have helped me understand my topic more in depth and have helped me understand that there are other branches in Transportation engineering.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?
- My mentors schedule has not helped me so far. I think that if I talk to him and tell him how important this is to me he will take this more serious and actually make time to work with me instead of just telling me what to do.

(5) Finding Value: 

(Working EQ) - How can a transportation engineer design a a comfortable means of public transportation in Los Angeles? 

What do you plan to do for mentor ship?
- I plan to help develop plans and programs for the use of land. I will also help create communities and accommodate growth.