Contextual engineering and community-responsive designs can be applied to make transportation systems safer. But a safety treatment that works exceptionally well in one community may be ineffective or impractical in another. The challenge for engineers isn’t simply knowing which tools are available; it’s knowing which tool belongs in which community.

In her textbook, “Contextual Engineering: Translating User Voice into Design,” Ann-Perry Witmer explains how engineering effectiveness is directly dependent upon the recognition that the technical solution must conform to the context of the user, and not to the engineer’s predispositions.

This approach, according to Witmer, combines technological expertise with a deep understanding of cultural and societal conditions. It takes the perspectives of the stakeholders, residents, local conditions, global influences and the engineering design process into account to develop solutions that are effective and welcomed by the communities they serve.

There are five main factors that influence all communities: political, cultural, economic, educational and mechanical. When working with a community, engineers should assess each of these factors to understand the underlying motives, wants and needs of the community and incorporate them into their designs.

The more an engineer works with a community, the more they increase their understanding of the needs unique to the community. The first level of understanding is awareness. In roadway engineering, this can be an engineer hearing about a dangerous corridor with numerous safety concerns.

Next is attestation; this is usually achieved through a field visit. The designers can see and verify the safety concerns and what the shortcomings of the existing system are. This is often the highest level of understanding achieved by most engineers on roadway projects.

Assimilation, the next level, is where an engineer gains an understanding of the community by being an active member (through living, working or recreation). Integration is the final level, and this is where personal bias is completely removed from design. If integration is generally unattainable, how can practicing engineers reach that level of assimilation?

Engineers have a large toolbox of solutions at their disposal that can make the transportation system safer. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends the Safe System Approach, where a variety of aspects are considered to improve safety. Focusing on safe roads and safe speeds, there is a wealth of literature on how infrastructure like roundabouts, curb bump outs, wider sidewalks, visible warnings, raised crosswalks and cul-de-sacs contribute to safety of the system.

Although there are many solutions in an engineer’s toolbox, it is the job of the practitioner to verify the best for the community they are serving. Just as you would not use a wrench to hammer a nail into a wall, the infrastructure proposed should depend on the context of the project and the community.

For example, while the Florida Department of Transportation reports that roundabouts decrease fatalities by 90% and injuries by 75%, proposing a multi-lane roundabout in downtown Chicago, where right-of-way acquisition is off the table due to adjacent skyscrapers, is probably not the best solution. In this case, other safety measures like bus lanes, bike lanes and curb bump outs may also provide significant safety benefits and work within the context of the community.

Comparing the designs for two styles of roundabouts will also depend on the context of the community. While a high-volume suburban commuter road in Texas may prioritize passenger vehicle throughput along the major road, a roundabout designed in rural Illinois may be dictated by large farm vehicles.

Engineers often fall into proposed designs that are based on their own predispositions and experiences—think about how a design may change based on where you are working.

To apply context to engineering projects, it starts with visiting and understanding the community. If people are walking on the side of the road, it may indicate a need for a sidewalk. Listen to community members and hear what they want out of the project. Spend more time in the community than just a field visit. Go to the local coffee shop, take off your ‘engineering hat,’ sit and observe. Interact with and appreciate the concerns of the community as much as possible, and your designs will reflect a deeper understanding of their needs and desires.

Safe transportation systems are a universally shared value. It is up to engineers to determine the “how” of making these systems reliable, efficient, safe and equitable. Using contextual engineering provides a framework that allows designers to implement effective safety systems that are welcomed by the end users.

Ryan Lake, P.E., is a roadway transportation engineer at AECOM.