COURSE OUTLINE

Academic Organisation:

Griffith School of Engineering

Faculty:

Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology

Credit point value:

10

Student Contribution Band:

Band 2

Course level:

Postgraduate

Campus/Location/Learning Mode:

Gold Coast / On Campus / In Person

Convenor/s:

Dr Kali Nepal (Gold Coast)

Enrolment Restrictions:

Nil

This document was last updated:

9 December 2009

BRIEF COURSE DESCRIPTION

In this course the design and construction aspects of transportation infrastructures such as bridges,
interchange designs with embankments and retaining walls and pavement engineering will be presented.
The Course will be practical in nature and will involve inter-disciplinary approach to incorporate the
essential elements of theory of structures, geotechnics and pavement engineering as relevant to
transportation infrastructures. The properties and characteristics of major materials involved in
transportation infrastructures will be covered as well. Incorporation of visiting lectures from practising
engineers with expertise in relevant aspects of transportation infrastructures will be a special feature of this
Course.

SECTION A TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT

COURSE AIMS
7306ENG Transportation Infrastructure: The purpose of this course is to provide the students with basic
principles of Transportation Engineering and Pavement Engineering.
This course will introduce the general principles of transport planning and traffic engineering. This course
is to ensure that the students are equipped with a sound understanding of key areas of traffic and transport
and has the ability to put this knowledge into practice. Further, this course will cover the behaviour and
performance of the most widely used construction materials in Transportation Infrastructure. Knowledge
about pavement design is desirable for those who wish to work in the broad area of Transportation
Infrastructure. Therefore, this course is also intended to equip the students with the practical aspects of the
current pavement design methodology. This course covers the design of three basic types of pavements:
bituminous, concrete and interlocking pavements. Both conventional and analytical pavement design
procedures will be discussed. Specialist pavements such as heavy-duty and flag pavements and
Pavement Management Systems are also covered.
During the course, opportunities will be given to develop a range of generic skills including written
communication skills, problem solving skills and analysis and critical evaluation skills. Students will also
have the opportunity to practice and enhance their ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to
assume responsibility and make decisions.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this course, students should:
1. Understand transportation system and engineering
2. Design and detail the elements of road,
3. Plan and model urban transportation system
4. Understand traffic system components and analyse traffic data
5. Design and analyse traffic intersections
6. Apply traffic management principles
7. Understand the fundamental concepts of pavement design principles and methodologies
8. Design flexible and rigid pavements;
9. Understand the pavement management approaches
10. Communicate professionally and develop analytical skills
CONTENT, ORGANISATION AND TEACHING STRATEGIES
The purpose of this course is to teach students fundamentals and philosophies of Transportation
Infrastructure. The contact hours consisting of:
13 hour lecture (Week 1-13)
12 hour tutorial (Week 2-13)
11 hour computer laboratory (Week 3-13)
12 hour laboratory (Week 9-12)
ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
Lecture (13 Weeks)
39
Tutorial (12 Weeks)
24
Laboratory Session (4 Weeks)
8
Computer lab (11 Weeks)
11
Total
82 hours
Lectures are designed to allow time for students to practise current material; tutorials will attempt to
address any problems which students may encounter. A reading list is suggested but students are required
to research other material to successfully complete the design project.

CONTENT SUMMARY
Topic/Week

Lecture Content

Introduction to transportation system and engineering,

road hierarchical classes
Transport planning and modelling, geometric design of
roads
Traffic system components, traffic flow theory and
roadway capacity
Traffic studies: volume, speed, travel time and delay
Traffic intersections: analysis and design
Traffic management procedures
Introduction to pavement engineering and design,
pavement distresses
Pavement design inputs
Pavement design inputs: pavement materials
Pavement design inputs: materials testing
Flexible pavement design, CIRCLY software
Rigid pavement design
Pavement Management Systems, Life Cycle Cost
Analysis

2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Tutorial/Laboratory
Content
Tutorial on Topic 2
Tutorial on Topic 3
Tutorial on Topic 4
Tutorial on Topic 5
Mid-semester Exam
Tutorial on Topic 7
Tutorial on Topic 8
Tutorial on Topic 9
Tutorial on Topic 10
Tutorial on Topic 11
Tutorial on Topic 12
Tutorial on Topic 13

ASSESSMENT
Summary of Assessment
Item Assessment Task
1.
2.
3.
4.

Mid-semester class test (Open Book)

Laboratory reports
Road and pavement design project report
Final Semester Exam (Open Book)

Length
90 mins
3000 words
6000 words
180 mins

Weighting
20%
15%
25%
40%

Topics
1-5
8-10
2, 7-12
1-13

Due Day
and Time
Week 6
Week 12
Week 13
Exam Week

Assessment Details

Mid-semester class test

All students are required to sit for a mid-semester class test that covers topics from week 1 to week 5.

Laboratory reports
Three laboratory reports will be individually assessed. The laboratory reports assess the ability of the
student to understand the material testing procedures they are to perform during the laboratory
sessions. Through the analysis of the activity in the report, students problem solving skills and written
communication skills will be assessed.

Roadway and pavement design project

Each student is expected to work on an individual roadway and pavement design project. The goal of
the project is to generate a set of plans and calculations for a roadway design and a set of alternative
designs for a flexible pavement. To insure timely completion of the project and to keep up to date with
their work, students are to report their progress frequently

Final semester exam

The open-book final examination is to assess the students knowledge and understanding of the
range of topics covered in the course as well as their ability to apply that knowledge to engineering
design problems.

To be eligible to pass the course, students are required to complete all items of assessment and achieve
at least 50 (fifty) percent of total mark. In addition, they must obtain at least 40 (forty) percent in the final
examination in order to achieve a grade of Pass or above.
Return of Assessment Items and Notification of Availability of Feedback on Assessment

The students will be intimated of their assignment and seminar marks through Learning@Griffith resources
immediately after they are finalised.
GRADUATE SKILLS
The Griffith Graduate Statement states the characteristics that the University seeks to engender in its
graduates through its degree programs.
Graduate Skills

Taught

Practised

Assessed

Effective communication (written)

Effective communication (oral)
Effective communication (interpersonal)
Information literacy
Problem solving
Critical evaluation
Work autonomously
Work in teams
Creativity and innovation
Ethical behaviour in social / professional / work environments
Responsible, effective citizenship
Professional Skills
Listed below are the discipline specific graduate skills:
Engineering fundamentals
In-depth technical competence
Problem identification, formulation and solution
Professional responsibilities
TEACHING TEAM
Course Convenor
Convenor Details

Gold Coast

Convenor

Dr Kali Nepal

Email

k.nepal@griffith.edu.au

Office Location

G09 Room 1.17

Phone

07 5552 9724

Fax

07 5552 8065

Consultation times

Will be indicated on Learning @ Griffith

Additional teaching team members

Moderator Details

Gold Coast

Moderator

Dr Sanaul Chowdhury

Email

s.h.chowdhury @griffith.edu.au

Office Location

G09 Room 1.26

Phone

07 5552 8662

Fax

07 5552 8065

Consultation times

Will be indicated on Learning @ Griffith

COURSE COMMUNICATIONS

The Course Convenor is available for consultation at times indicated in the above section. Queries may
also be emailed to the Course Convenor. The students are required to check their email and
Learning@Griffith website on a regular basis.
TEXTS AND SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Specified Texts
1. Hoel, L. A.; Garber, N. J.; Sadek, A. W. (2008). Transportation Infrastructure Engineering, Thomson
nd
2. Austroads (2004). Pavement Design A Guide to the Structural Design of Road Pavements, 2
Revision, Austroads Publication No AP-G17/04
Recommended Readings/References
1.
2.
2.
3.
4.

Austroads Publications (1988-*) Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice- Part 1 to Part 7

Khisty, C. J. and Lall, B. K. (2002), Transportation Engineering- An Introduction, Third Edition,
Prentice Hall
Mannering, F. L., Walter P. K., Washburn, S. S. (2005). Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic
Analysis, Wiley, 3rd Edition
MinCAD Systems (2008), CIRCLY 5- User Manual (view from: www.mincad.com.au/)
Huang Y. H. (2004). Pavement Analysis and Design, Pearson, 2nd Edition.

SECTION B ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION

Students should refer to the Learning@Griffith website for further information about this course.
Administration
Unless otherwise stated, the normal course administration policies and rules of the School of Engineering
apply. See the School of Engineering Notice Board for details.
Assignment Submissions, Extensions and Penalties
For all the assessment items, whereas students may work together in problem solving, the calculations
and writing up should be the sole work of the student submitting.
If the student does not submit their assessment items by the due date, penalties will apply. Students
seeking an extension of time in which to submit their assessment items must apply in writing to the Course
Convenor. Normally, the only ground on which an extension will be granted is the illness of the student.
Course Evaluation
A formal survey of the students in the form of evaluation of course and teaching will be undertaken towards
the end of the semester. The results of survey will be discussed by the teaching team and any necessary
modifications to the course planned for the next offering.

SECTION C KEY UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Students must conduct their studies at the University honestly, ethically and in accordance with accepted
standards of academic conduct. Any form of academic conduct that is contrary to these standards is
academic misconduct, for which the University may penalise a student. Specifically it is academic
misconduct for a student to:
present copied, falsified or improperly obtained data as if it were the result of laboratory
work, field trips or other investigatory work;
include in the student'
s individual work material that is the result of significant assistance
from another person if that assistance was unacceptable according to the instructions or
guidelines for that work;
assist another student in the presentation of that student'
s individual work in a way that is
unacceptable according to the instructions or guidelines for that work;
cheat; (Cheating is dishonest conduct in assessment);
plagiarise (Plagiarism is knowingly presenting the work or property of another person as if
it were one'
s own.)
Visit the Universitys Policy on Academic Misconduct for further details.
KEY STUDENT-RELATED POLICIES
All University policy documents are accessible to students via the Universitys Policy Library website at:
www.griffith.edu.au/policylibrary. Links to key policy documents are included below for easy reference:
Student Charter

Academic Standing, Progression and Exclusion Policy

Student Administration Policy

Policy on Student Grievances and Appeals

Assessment Policy

Examinations Timetabling Policy and Procedures

Academic Calendar

Guideline on Student E-Mail

Health and Safety Policy

UNIVERSITY SUPPORT RESOURCES
The University provides many facilities and support services to assist students in their studies. Links to
information about University support resources available to students are included below for easy
reference:
Learning Centres - the University provides access to common use computing facilities for educational
purposes. For details visit www.griffith.edu.au/cuse
Learning@Griffith - there is a dedicated website for this course via the Learning@Griffith student portal.
Student Services facilitate student access to and success at their academic studies. Student Services
includes: Careers and Employment Service; Chaplaincy; Counselling Service; Health Service; Student
Equity Services (incorporating the Disabilities Service); and the Welfare Office.
Learning Services within the Division of Information Services provides learning support in three skill areas:
computing skills; library skills; and academic skills. The study skills resources on the website include selfhelp tasks focusing on critical thinking, exam skills, note taking, preparing presentations, referencing,
writing, proof reading, and time management.

SECTION C KEY UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT
Students must conduct their studies at the University honestly, ethically and in accordance with accepted
standards of academic conduct. Any form of academic conduct that is contrary to these standards is
academic misconduct and is unacceptable.
Some students engage deliberately in academic misconduct, with intent to deceive. This conscious, premediated form of cheating is one of the worst forms of fraudulent academic behaviour, for which the
University has zero tolerance and for which penalties, including exclusion from the University, will be
applied.
However the University recognises many students commit academic misconduct without intent to deceive.
These students may be required to undertake additional educational activities to remediate their behaviour.
Specifically it is academic misconduct for a student to:
Cheat in examinations and tests by communicating, or attempting to communicate, with a fellow
individual who is neither an invigilator or member of staff; by copying, or attempting to copy from a
fellow candidate; attempting to introduce or consult during the examination, any unauthorised
printed or written material, or electronic calculating or information storage device; or mobile
phones or other communication device, or impersonates another.

Fabricate results by claiming to have carried out tests, experiments or observations that have not
taken place or by presenting results not supported by the evidence with the object of obtaining an
unfair advantage.

Misrepresent themselves by presenting an untrue statement or not disclosing where there is a

duty to disclose in order to create a false appearance or identity.

Plagiarise by representing the work of another as their own original work, without appropriate
acknowledgement of the author or the source. This category of cheating includes the following:
collusion, where a piece of work prepared by a group is represented as if it were the student'
s
own;
acquiring or commissioning a piece of work, which is not his/her own and representing it as if it
were, by
purchasing a paper from a commercial service, including internet sites, whether pre-written
or specially prepared for the student concerned
submitting a paper written by another person, either by a fellow student or a person who is
not a member of the University;
duplication of the same or almost identical work for more than one assessment item;
copying ideas, concepts, research data, images, sounds or text;
paraphrasing a paper from a source text, whether in manuscript, printed or electronic form, without
appropriate acknowledgement;
cutting or pasting statements from multiple sources or piecing together work of others and
representing them as original work;
submitting, as one own work, all or part of another student'
s work, even with the student'
s
knowledge or consent.

1.
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

A student who willingly assists another student to plagiarise (for example by willingly giving them their
own work to copy from) is also breaching academic integrity, and may be subject to disciplinary action.
Visit the following web sites for further details:
Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity among Students
Academic integrity for students
PLAGIARISM DETECTION SOFTWARE
The University uses plagiarism detection software. Students should be aware that your Course Convenor
may use this software to check submitted assignments. If this is the case your Course Convenor will
provide more detailed information about how the detection software will be used for individual assessment
items.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Griffith University is committed to providing a safe work and study environment, however all students, staff
and visitors have an obligation to ensure the safety of themselves and those whose safety may be affected
by their actions. Staff in control of learning activities will ensure as far as reasonably practical, that those
activities are safe and that all safety obligations are being met. Students are required to comply with all
safety instructions and are requested to report safety concerns to the University.
General health and safety information can be obtained from
http://www.griffith.edu.au/hrm/health_and_safety/
Information about Laboratory safety can be obtained from
http://www.griffith.edu.au/ots/secure/health/content_labsafety.html
KEY STUDENT-RELATED POLICIES
All University policy documents are accessible to students via the Universitys Policy Library website at:
www.griffith.edu.au/policylibrary. Links to key policy documents are included below for easy reference:
Academic Calendar
Academic Standing, Progression and Exclusion Policy
Assessment Policy
Examinations Timetabling Policy and Procedures
Guideline on Student E-Mail
Health and Safety Policy
Institutional Framework for Promoting Academic Integrity Among Students
Policy on Student Grievances and Appeals
Student Administration Policy
Student Charter
UNIVERSITY SUPPORT RESOURCES
The University provides many facilities and support services to assist students in their studies. Links to
information about University support resources available to students are included below for easy
reference:
Learning Centres - the University provides access to common use computing facilities for educational
purposes. For details visit https://intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/computing/student-computing/findingavailable-computers
Learning@Griffith - there is a dedicated website for this course via the Learning@Griffith student portal.
Student Services facilitate student access to and success at their academic studies. Student Services
includes: Careers and Employment Service; Chaplaincy; Counselling Service; Health Service; Student
Equity Services (incorporating the Disabilities Service); and the Welfare Office.
Learning Services within the Division of Information Services provides learning support in three skill areas:
computing skills; library skills; and academic skills. The study skills resources on the website include selfhelp tasks focusing on critical thinking, exam skills, note taking, preparing presentations, referencing,
writing, proof reading, and time management.