Highways

Recommended Prerequisites

Regional and Urban Planning, Cartography and GIS and Technical Design.

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 to use the results as support elements in the design of 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 of priority intersections, as well as to design their geometric characteristics.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Basic Highway Engineering Components

2. The project: Road vs Street

3. Road Geometric Design

4. Earth moving in highways

5. Traffic Analysis and Forecasting

6. Levels of service

7. Intersection Types

8. Geometric design, and capacity and level of service evaluation of Priority junctions

9. Environmental Impacts´evaluation.

Head Lecturer(s)

Álvaro Jorge da Maia Seco

Assessment Methods

Continuous assessment
Mini Tests: 10.0%
Project: 30.0%
Frequency: 60.0%

Final assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

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

 [2] Manual de Planeamento das Acessibilidades e da Gestão Viária (2010), Edição CCRDN

 [3] Capacidade e N.S.: Estradas 1x1 e Multivias (2006), Edição fCTUC

 [4] Norma de Traçado (1994), Junta Autónoma de Estradas, Lisboa

 [5] Norma de Intersecções (1990), Junta Autónoma de Estradas, Lisboa

Complementar/Other

  [6] Highway Capacity Manual (2002); TRB

  [7] Highway Safety Manual (2010): AASHTO-TRB.