Highways Geometric (CE 443)

Prepared by:

Dr. Aslam Al-Omari

Topic No. 1:

Introduction to Traffic Engineering

Topic No. 1:
Introduction to Traffic Engineering
1) Transportation vs. Traffic
2) Nature of Transportation Demand

3) Mobility and Accessibility

4) Roadway Classifications

5) Types of Areas

1) Transportation vs. Traffic

Transportation Engineering: Application of technology and scientific principles to the planning, functional design, operation and management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to provide for the safe, efficient, rapid, comfortable, convenient, economical, and environmentally compatible movement of people and goods. It is a sub-discipline of civil engineering.

1) Transportation vs. Traffic

Traffic Engineering: is the phase of transportation engineering that deals with the: planning, geometric design and traffic operations of roads, streets and highways, their networks,

terminals, abutting lands, and relationships with other modes of transportation

2) Nature of Transportation Demand

Transportation demand is a derived demand. That is, one demands to be transported not because one just wants to move (except for those rare cases when one goes out for a joy ride!) but because one wants to achieve some other purpose like reaching school, or office or a movie theater. In other words, the need for achieving some goal (like reaching office or a shop) creates the need to travel. Hence, travel demand is primarily affected by the population's need to work, entertain (themselves), socialize, study, etc.

2) Nature of Transportation Demand

Hence, it is not surprising that two of the major aspects in travel demand analysis are land use and trip purpose. Land use affects transportation demand through generation and distribution of trips. The effect of land use on transportation demand is not necessarily a one-way effect but is rather a part of cycle in which land use changes transportation needs which in turn change land use, Figure (1).

2) Nature of Transportation Demand

3) Mobility and Accessibility

Mobility: the ability to readily move people or goods from place to another. Mode: How do you get there? Speed: How fast do you get there?
Accessibility: the ease to enter, reach, and use. Where can you go? What can you get to? What is the cost?.

3) Mobility and Accessibility

4) Roadway Classifications

4) Roadway Classifications

i) Freeway (Highway, superhighway, expressway) Description: Usually divided with two lanes in each direction No at-grade intersections, railroad crossings, traffic signals or signs are allowed. Access to and from the freeway to the neighboring properties is limited to the use of interchanges. Characteristics: Designed for safer high-speed operation A high capacity road with high level of service

4) Roadway Classifications

Freeways

4) Roadway Classifications

ii) Arterial: Description:

link up to freeways with interchanges Lack of residential entrances directly onto the road Arterials have intersections with collector and local streets. Commercial areas such as shopping centers, gas stations and other businesses can be located on them.

Characteristics:
A moderate or high-capacity road, immediately below a freeway level of service. Carries large volumes of traffic between areas in urban centers and neighborhoods.

4) Roadway Classifications

Arterials

4) Roadway Classifications

iii) Collector: Description:

Leads traffic from local roads to arterial roads or directly to freeways Urban collectors can be: wide boulevards entering communities residential streets, which are typically wider than local roads Small-scale commercial areas and key community functions (such as schools, mosques, churches and recreational facilities) can be found on residential collector roads

4) Roadway Classifications

iii) Collector:
Characteristics: A low or moderate-capacity road, below an arterial level of service.

4) Roadway Classifications

Collectors

5) Roadway Classifications

iv) Local: Description:

A street that is primarily used to reach the properties bordering it

5) Types of Areas

i.

Metropolitan Area:
A large population center consisting of a large metropolis and its zone of influence, or of more than one central city and their zone of influence. One or more large cities may serve as its hub or hubs, and the metropolitan area is normally named after either the largest or most important central city within it.

5) Types of Areas

i.

Metropolitan Area:

5) Types of Areas

ii. Urban Area:

An area with an increased density of human-created structures in comparison to the areas surrounding it. Created and further developed by the process of urbanization. They may be cities or towns, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.

5) Types of Areas

ii. Urban Area:

Measuring the extent of an urbanized area helps in analyzing population density and urban sprawl (spread), and in determining urban and rural populations Population: > 5,000.

5) Types of Areas

ii. Urban Area:

5) Types of Areas

iii. Suburban Area:

A residential area on the outskirts (suburb) of a city or large town. Most modern suburbs are commuter towns with many single-family homes. With lower population density than inner city neighborhoods. Mechanical transport, including automobiles and high speed trains, enabled the 20th century growth of suburbs.

5) Types of Areas

iii. Suburban Area:

5) Types of Areas

iv. Rural Area:

Can be large and isolated Can be settled place outside towns and cities. Referred to as the country, and/or the countryside. Is distinct from more intensively settled urban and suburban areas, and also from unsettled lands.

5) Types of Areas

iv. Rural Area:

In modern usage, rural areas can have an agricultural character, though many rural areas are characterized by an economy based on logging, mining, petroleum, natural gas exploration, and wind or solar power or tourism

5) Types of Areas

iv. Rural Area: