Highway and Traffic Engineering
Overview of Transportation
Engineering
Dr. Wael Awad, Fall 08/09
Source: Professor Jessica Guo, Wisconsin University.
What is TRANSPORTATIO
N?
Transportation
Movement of persons and goods over space
A B
Transportation
InfrastructureVehicle / Service
Users / Content
EducationEnforcement
Engineering
Control System
Environment
Users / Content• People Passenger Transportation• Goods Freight Transportation
Shar
e of
tot
al p
asse
nger
s or
to
ns-k
m
Distance
Passengers
CommutingShoppingRecreation
BusinessTourism
Migration
Waste disposalLocal distribution
TradeEnergy & Raw Materials
Freight
Source: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.
Users / Content
Passengers FreightBoard, get off and transfer without
assistance
Must be loaded, unloaded and
transferredProcess information and
act on it without assistance
The information must be processed through
logistics managersMake choices between
means of transport often irrationally
Logistics managers make choices between
means of transport rationally
Source: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.
Vehicles / Services
Infrastructure
Control System
Evolution of Transportation
2000
Maritime Road Rail Air
1800
1900
1950
Docks
LocksRailsOmnibus
Steam engine
Electric motorBalloons
DirigiblesIronhulls
Internal combustion engineMetro
TramwayAutomobileLiners
Bicycles
PlanesTrucksBuses
Electriccar
Hydrogencar
Airfoils
Supertankers
TGV
Maglev
Jet engine
Jet Plane
Containerships
Helicopters
Bulk ships
Highways
Jumbo Jet
Evolution of Transportation
1500-1840 Average speed of wagon and sail ships: 16 km/hr
1850-1930 Average speed of trains: 100 km/hr.Average speed of steamships: 25 km/hr
1950 Average speed of airplanes: 480-640 km/hr
1970 Average speed of jet planes: 800-1120 km/hr
1990 Numeric transmission: instantaneous
Source: Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.
Evolution of Transportation
100
500
1000
1800 1900 20001850 1950
50
250
750
Stage CoachRail
Automobile
HSTPropeller Plane
Jet Plane
LinerClipper Ship Containership
Road
MaritimeRail
Air
Contemporary Challenges
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
GermanyJapanUnited StatesWorld
Transportation
• Multi-User• Multi-Scale• Multi-Modal• Multi-Impacts
What is TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING
?
Transportation Engineering
• One of the specialty areas of civil engineering – Development of facilities for the
movement of goods and people – Planning, design, operation and
maintenance • Multidisciplinary study
Transportation Engineering
Transportation Engineering
“For millions of Americans, girding for gridlock is a teeth teeth-grinding daily ritual. And with more cars on the road
every day, engineers and other professionals trained to reduce traffic congestion are finding plenty of job
opportunities”“PAY AND PERKS: $45,000 to $150,000. Producing tangible change is a source of
job satisfaction for many.”
U.S. News and World Report, February 18, 2002
Highways and Highway Components
Highway Transportation Characteristics
Outline
Functional classification of roadsRoad functionsHierarchical structure of road networksMobility vs. accessibilityMobility vs. transportation mode
Highway componentsCross-sectionsHighway plan and profileInterchangesRural and urban intersections
Transportation SystemDefinition of Transportation Modes• A transportation system is an
infrastructure that serves to move people and goods efficiently. The transportation system consists of fixed facilities, flow entities, and a control component.
• Efficient = safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, environmentally compatible.
Transportation SystemMajor transportation subsystems• Land transportation: highway, rail• Air transportation: domestic,
international• Water transportation: inland, coastal,
ocean• Pipelines: oil, gas, other
Highway Transportation System
• Fixed facilities: roads, intersections, interchanges, service stations, etc.
• Flow entities: passenger cars, buses, trucks, pedestrians, etc.
• Control component: highway administration, local transportation agencies, transportation engineering.
Highway Transportation Engineering
• DefinitionThe application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation, and management of roads, streets and highways, their networks, terminals, abutting lands, and relationships with other modes of transportation.
• Areas of highway transportation engineering:– Planning of streets and highways– Geometric design of road facilities– Traffic operations and control– Traffic safety– Maintenance of road facilities and controls
Road Functions
Mobility
Accessibility
Rural
Urban
Hierarchical Structure of
Road Networks
Mobility vs. Accessibility
Road Class Road FunctionFreeways Through movement exclusively
Surface Arterials Through movement primary and some land access
Collectors Traffic movement to higher rank roads, access to abutting properties
Local Roads Access to abutting land and local traffic movement
Hierarchical Structure of
Road Networks
Mobility vs. Accessibility
Mobility vs. Transportation Mode
Mobility vs. Transportation ModeCapacity
capacity in veh/h = capacity in veh/h/lane x number of
lanescapacity in persons/h = capacity in veh/h x average vehicle occupancy
Mobility vs. Transportation ModeCapacity
Persons/hrVehicles/hrFacility6,000 x 1.7 =
10,2002,000 x 3 = 6,000Three-lane urban
freeway2,400 x 1.7 = 4,080800 x 3 = 2,400Three-lane urban arterial
100 x 80 = 8,000100 x 1 =100One lane of buses
19,000One track of light rail
40,000One track of heavy rail
Highway Components
Cross-section
Highway Components Highway plan and profile
Highway Component
s Urban
Intersections
Highway Component
s Rural
Intersections
Highway Components Interchanges
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