land transportation

technology

Also known as: ground transportation

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

Land transportation refers to the movement of people and goods across land. This encompasses various technologies and infrastructure, such as roads, railways, and vehicles. The development of efficient land transportation has been a key indicator of technological progress and the advancement of civilization.1

Modern land transportation technology includes advancements in motive power, like diesel-electric and electric traction for railways, and sophisticated signaling and traffic-control systems. Automation plays a significant role, with applications in urban mass-transit systems like BART, where computers manage train operations to ensure safety and efficiency. Emerging technologies like personal rapid transit (PRT) and automated guideway transit (AGT) aim to offer more personalized and efficient travel options, though they face challenges with high capital costs and maintenance.234

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

airport
Links to local ground transportation
An airport should always be considered an interchange where different modes of transportation connect. Since the airport itself is not a primary destination, consideration must be given to access by surface vehicles. This is as critical a factor in airport layout and design…
Read More
An airport should always be considered an interchange where different modes of transportation connect. Since the airport itself is not a primary destination, consideration must be given to access by surface vehicles. This is as critical a factor in airport layout and design…
Read More

military technology
Land transportation
In antiquity and classical times the transportation technology of land warfare largely amounted to man’s own powers of locomotion. This was due in part to limitations in the size, strength, and stamina of horses and in part to deficiencies in crucial supporting technologies,…
Read More
In antiquity and classical times the transportation technology of land warfare largely amounted to man’s own powers of locomotion. This was due in part to limitations in the size, strength, and stamina of horses and in part to deficiencies in crucial supporting technologies,…
Read More

materials science
Materials for ground transportation
The global effort to improve the efficiency of ground transportation vehicles, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, and trains, and thereby reduce the massive amounts of pollutants they emit, provides an excellent context within which to illustrate how materials science functions to develop new…
Read More
The global effort to improve the efficiency of ground transportation vehicles, such as automobiles, buses, trucks, and trains, and thereby reduce the massive amounts of pollutants they emit, provides an excellent context within which to illustrate how materials science functions to develop new…
Read More