History, scope and objectives

Our History

Founded in 1956 as the Department of Roads, Topography, and Transport Economics within the newly established São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC-USP), the Department of Transportation Engineering (STT) initially comprised three disciplines: Roads, Topography, and Transport Technology & Economics. Following the 1972 university reform, the STT was reorganized into research laboratories and groups, adopting a structure similar to its current form—one that continues to drive innovation and excellence across all facets of Transportation Engineering.

Graduate Program in Transportation Engineering (PPG-ET)

The PPG-ET, the sole graduate program hosted by the STT, is one of Brazil’s oldest and most prestigious in its field. Recognized as one of the top three programs in the latest CAPES evaluation, its milestones include:

  • 1973: Launch of the Master’s program.

  • 1976: Introduction of the Doctoral program after natural maturation.

  • 2022 (June): 383 Master’s and 158 Doctoral graduates, now leaders in top universities (Brazil/Latin America), private companies, and government agencies.

Facilities & Mission

The PPG-ET operates within the STT’s 1,700 m² facility, featuring:

  • Two amphitheaters for thesis defenses, lectures, and graduate classes.

  • Dedicated classrooms, faculty offices, and graduate student workspaces.

  • Specialized laboratories:

    • Transportation Systems Simulation

    • Asphalt Materials Rheology

    • Geomatics & Geoprocessing for Transport

    • Computer-Aided Teaching

Our Mission

To serve society by addressing national transportation challenges through:

  1. Education: Training socially responsible, highly skilled professionals in Civil and Transportation Engineering at undergraduate and graduate levels, equipped to adapt to evolving knowledge and technology.

  2. Research: Advancing knowledge while developing practical technological solutions to enhance transport infrastructure and operations.

  3. Outreach: Delivering educational and technological solutions to meet societal demands in Transportation Engineering.