Transportation Infrastructures I

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic concepts of Spatial Planning, Topography and Technical Drawing.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical presentations of basic principles and theories relating to the different topics, using audiovisual tools complemented by practical exercises resolution when adequate.

Students are also required to solve real life problems with only limited tutorial support, with most of the work to be carried out in group work during practical classes. This enables the consolidation of concepts and the understanding of how the analysis of real life problems and the search for adequate solutions implies the integrated use of different design rules and models.

Learning Outcomes

The course makes a basic but comprehensive introduction to Highway and Traffic Engineering, enabling the student to acquire the concepts and tools needed to solve standard problems.

He should be able to apply simplified demand models and then design the basic highway infrastructure elements.

Specifically, he should gain the competences enabling him to estimate the capacity and level of service of normal stretches of roads and the most common types of intersections, as well as to design their geometric characteristics.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

The Road System. As part of the transport system. Basic organizing principles.

Road/Street design: basic characterization. Definitions and functionalities; Main functional and physical elements; Project conditioning factors; Design stages and components.

Traffic Streams: Basic concepts; fundamental Volume-Speed-Density relation; Capacity and Level of service concepts.

Traffic analysis and prediction: Traffic flow variability - AADT; Design Horizon; Traffic prediction methods.

Highway Capacity and LS: 1x1 and multiple lane roads - The HCM2000 Methods.

Road geometric design: General road geometry definition; sight distances; horizontal and vertical alignments. Cross-sections; horizontal and vertical alignment coordination; Landscape integration.

Priority and Roundabouts intersections design: geometric design; estimation of capacity and level of service.

Head Lecturer(s)

Álvaro Jorge da Maia Seco

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Continuous assessment: 100.0%

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

Branco, E.F.; Picado-Santos, L.; 2006; “Vias de Comunicação: Vol. I” (Caps. 1 a 8 e 10 a 15)

Manual de Planeamento das Acessibilidades e da Gestão Viária (2010), Edição CCRDN (disponível em http://www.ccdr-n.pt/acessibilidadesegestaoviaria/)

Capacidade e N.S.: Estradas 1x1 e Multivias (2006)

Norma de Traçado (1994), Junta Autónoma de Estradas, Lisboa

Norma de Intersecções (1990), Junta Autónoma de Estradas, Lisboa

Complementar/Other

Highway Capacity Manual (2002); TRB

Highway Safety Manual (2010): AASHTO-TRB