ENTR613-23X (C) General non-calendar-based 2023

Highway Geometric Design

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 7 August 2023
End Date: Sunday, 19 November 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 20 August 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 22 October 2023

Description

Geometric design context; Human and vehicle factors; Sight distance; horizontal and vertical alignment; Cross-section design; Design plans and checking; Land use access; Signs, markings and delineation; Intersection and interchange design; Major design project.

This course reviews and extends the fundamental concepts and principles of good highway geometric design (as taught at undergraduate level) and applies these in a practical design setting. Students will design, evaluate and present a rural two-lane road realignment project (using both manual and computer methods), based on the theory taught in this course.

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the effects of various road environment features and constraints on driver behaviour and highway safety.
  • Be aware of and apply appropriate standards and performance measures for assessing highway geometry.
  • Be able to determine an appropriate road alignment and cross-section to suit the surrounding environment.
  • Demonstrate the ability to systematically review and audit highway designs for consistency and appropriate standards.
  • Be able to prepare clear and accurate highway design plans, with documented design assumptions/calculations.

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Programme Director

Timetable Note

This course will be taught in 2023 in two 2-day blocks:
Thursday 10th of August to Friday 11 of Aug –and Thursday 14th – Friday 15th September
The course will be held at the University of Canterbury campus, Ilam, Christchurch (actual teaching venue to be confirmed later). Students will need to make their own arrangements for travel, meals and accommodation.

Course Coordinator

Mofreh Saleh

Assessment

Course Assessment:

• Assignment 1 Geometric Design Assignment 15%
• Major Design Project (due a week before final exam) 30%
• Assignment 2 15
• Final Exam (Late October; date TBC) 40%

Design Project:
The major part of this course will be an individual design project to prepare a realignment design for a section of sub-standard highway. Students will use the theory and practice presented in the course to develop a suitable horizontal/vertical alignment and cross-sections. This will be based on Austroads highway design standards. A final report will be prepared showing plans/cross-sections and documenting design calculations and assumptions.

Feedback on their draft alignment (prepared manually) will be provided by lecturers and from a design checking exercise by other students. Students will then use the Department’s 12D software or Softree RoadEng in the second block for developing and finalising their design work.

It is expected that all of the necessary computer work will be completed during and after the second block, but part-time students may elect to use other workplace design software of their choice (e.g. MXRoads, CivilCAD) for any further work to complete their project.

The final exam will be a 2 and 1/2-hour closed-book exam designed to test students’ understanding and application of the material presented during the course and covered in the lecture notes. Students from outside of Christchurch will be able to arrange to sit this exam in their home town with a suitable local supervisor.

While a minimum 50% overall grade for the year is the usual benchmark for passing, to guarantee a pass in the course you must also achieve at least 40% in both coursework and examination total marks.

Notes

The course will comprise ~30 lectures and tutorials, covering the following topics:

0. Course Introduction, Outline of Programme, Assessment, References - 1hr
1. Geometric Design Context; Project Development - 2hrs
2. Sight Distance (Stopping/Overtaking) - 2hrs
3. Speed Environment, Design Speed and Design Consistency (Philosophy) - 2hrs
4. Horizontal and Vertical Curve Design (incl. setting out and exercises) - 6hrs
5. Cross-section Design; Drainage, Earthworks - 2hrs
6. Intersection/Rounabout Principles & Design - 4hrs
7. Drainage Design - 3hrs
8. Clear Zone Concept and Traffic Safey - 3hrs
9. Design Plans and Documentation - 1hr
10. Design Checking - 2hrs
11. Overtaking Opportunities - 1hr
12. 12D design software introduction and Design Project lab work - 4hr


Target Audience:
This course is available to full-time and part-time students enrolled in Canterbury’s postgraduate transport programme (i.e. MCIVILENG or ME or PGCertEng; see the website www.met.canterbury.ac.nz for more information).
Other undergraduate or postgraduate students at Canterbury or Auckland (e.g. in engineering, forestry, geography, etc) may also apply to enrol and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The course will also benefit industry professionals and practitioners involved in highway planning/design but with little practical experience. The course can be undertaken for a one-off Certificate of Proficiency (COP) or as part of a larger qualification such as MCIVILENG or PGCERT.
Some previous training in basic traffic engineering and geometric design is desirable (background reading references can be provided if necessary).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,164.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 4 people apply to enrol.

For further information see Civil and Natural Resources Engineering .

All ENTR613 Occurrences

  • ENTR613-23A (C) Any Time Start 2023 - Not Offered
  • ENTR613-23X (C) General non-calendar-based 2023
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