Intelligent transportation systems in civil engineering education: a case study

Integration of innovative solutions into the transportation sector have led to the emergence of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) to reduce traffic congestion and accidents, provide environmentally friendly, safe and cost-effective infrastructure and increase efficiency. A key prerequisite for public institutions, local authorities and industry stakeholders to benefit from ITS is the availability of qualified technical staff. This study examined the presence of ITS courses within civil engineering departments across universities in Türkiye. The analysis revealed that only four out of 143 undergraduate programmes, 14 out of 111 master’s programmes and seven out of 69 doctoral programmes offer dedicated ITS courses. This demonstrates that only a limited proportion of civil engineering students receive ITS education. Expert interviews emphasised the urgent need to incorporate ITS courses into the civil engineering curriculum. Experts also emphasised the need to supplement theoretical content with field training and simulation studies. Survey results further indicated strong agreement among participants regarding the importance of hands-on ITS applications. Overall, the findings suggest that ITS education and awareness in Türkiye are still at an early developmental stage; however, increasing demand for qualified staff and rising interest in the field indicate strong potential for rapid advancement in the near future.