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LECTURE 1
c.l.

shoulder

drainage
Pavement width

shoulder

Pavement, shoulder.
2

Aims of highway and traffic

Engineering
Transportation refers to the movement of people and goods from
one place to another (i.e from an Origin to a Destination).

Mobility is a basic human need

Transportation solution should be safe, rapid, comfortable, convenient,

economical, and ecofriendly for both men and material.

A transportation system may be defined as consisting of the fixed facilities,

the flow entities and the control systems that permit people and goods to
overcome the friction of geographical space efficiently in order to
participate in a timely manner in some desired activity(safely, comfortably
and with least cost).

Primary need: Economic

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Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Diverse characteristics
1. Multi-modal
2. Multi-sector
3. Multi-problem
4. Multi-objective
5. Multi-disciplinary

Land transportation
- Highway- Rail
- Air transportation
- Domestic- International
- Water transportation
- Inland- Coastal- Ocean
- Water transportation
- Inland- Coastal- Ocean

Introduction to Highway Engineering

Role of transportation in society

Transportation is responsible for the development of civilizations from

very old times by meeting travel requirement of people and transport
requirement of goods.

Economic role of transportation

Social role of transportation

Political role of transportation

Environmental role of transportation

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Four critical dimensions:

Change in the demand

Changes in the technology
Change in operational policy
Change in values of the public

Role of transportation engineer

focus on the interaction between the transportation and activity systems of
region.
This approach is to intervene, delicately and deliberately in the complex fabric
of society to use transport effectively in coordination with other public and
private actions to achieve the goals of that society.

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Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Basic foundation of a transportation system

basic premise is the explicit treatment of the total transportation system

of region and the interrelations between the transportation and
socioeconomic context.

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Steps for the analysis of transportation system

Consider all modes of transportation

Consider all elements of transportation like persons, goods, carriers

(vehicles), paths in the network facilities in which vehicles are going, the
terminal, etc.

Consider all movements of passengers and goods for every O-D pair.

Consider the total trip for every flows, for every O-D over all modes and
facilities.

These can be stated as:

The total transportation system must be viewed as a single multi-modal

system.

Considerations of transportation system cannot be separated from

considerations of social, economic, and political system of the region.

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Major disciplines of transportation

1. Transportation Planning
2. Geometric Design
3. Pavement Design
4. Traffic Engineering

Other important disciplines

1. Public transportation
2. Financial and economic analysis
3. Environmental impact assessment
4. Accident analysis and reduction
5. Intelligent transport system

1.

Safety

2.

Speed

3.

Comfort

4.

Convenience

5.

Economy

6.

Environment and social

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Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Facilities
Flow entities
Control systems
Users
Environment

14

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Summary
Transportation engineering is a very diverse and multidisciplinary field,
which deals with the planning, design, operation and maintenance of
transportation systems.

Traffic studies and characteristics

Performance evaluation

Good transportation is that which provides safe, rapid, comfortable,

convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of
both goods and people.

This profession carries a distinct societal responsibility. Transportation

planners and engineers recognize the fact that transportation systems
constitute a potent force in shaping the course of regional development.

Planning and development of transportation facilities generally raises

living standards and enhances the aggregate of community values.

Facility design
Traffic operations
Transportation systems management
Integration of intelligent transportation system

technologies (ITS)
15

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Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Summary
The roles of transportation in society can be classified according to
economic, social, political and environmental roles.
The social role of transport has caused people to live in permanent
settlements and has given chances of sustainable developments.
Regarding political role, large areas can now be very easily governed
with the help of good transportation system.

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Questions
1. Which analysis helps in nding the monetary returns from a
project?
(a) Accident analysis
(b) Financial and economic analysis
(c) Intelligent transport system
(d) Environmental impact assessment

The environmental effects are usually viewed negatively.

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Aims of highway and traffic Engineering

Questions

Questions
2. The study of the transportation system that meets the travel need of
several people by sharing a vehicle is
(a) Mass transportation
(b) Intelligent transport system
(c) Passenger transport
(d) None of the above

3. Safety criteria of transportation is viewed under

(a) Political role of transportation
(b) Environmental role of transportation
(c) Social role of transportation
(d) None of these
4. Which of the following is not a negative impact of transportation?
(a) Safety
(b) Aesthetics
(c) Mobility
(d) Pollution

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Introduction to Highway Engineering

Road transport is one of the most common mode of transport.

Many experiments were going on to make the riding safe and

comfort.

Significant trends include Roman, French, and British roads. British

road construction practice developed by Macadam is the most
scientific and the present day roads follows this pattern.

Introduction to Highway Engineering

Highway Planning
Level 1: Administrative / Political Level

Level 2: Professional planners / engineers

Level 3: Engineering Consultants

Introduction to Highway Engineering

THE TRANSPORT SECTOR