Skip to main content
Home

Transportation Systems Engineering I

Topic outline

  • Introduction to Course

    Collapse all Expand all

  • Topic 1

    Chapter One:

    Introduction to Transportation Systems Engineering  

     

    Introduction:

    The chapter introduces the transportation system, its relevance, and its relation with development and economic growth. The chapter also presents the costs and benefits of transportation. The transportation system characteristics are discussed considering its components within a system analysis approach. The various modes of  transportation are then introduced, including ground, air, and sea based transportation. The chapter illustrates the fields of transportation engineering, and how transportation is related to other disciplines. Finally, the chapter discusses contemporary transportation issues and challenges.

    Objectives:

    1. Identify the importance of transportation, and the general concepts of transportation systems and their characteristics.
    2. Define the various transportation modes, and their characteristics and uses.                                                                   
    3. Recognize the various areas of the transportation engineering profession and their interrelations with other disciplines.
    4. Demonstrate the contemporary issues and challenges related to transportation  systems, including technical, environment, social and economic aspects.
    Chapter Subjects:

    In this chapter we will cover the following subjects :

    1. Introduction to the transportation sector.
    2. Transportation systems characteristics.
    3. Modes of transportation.
    4. Fields of transportation engineering.
    5. Transportation systems issues and challenges.

  • Topic 2

    Chapter two:

    Human, Vehicle and Transportation Environment Characteristics

    Introduction:

    The chapter introduces the main components of the highway transportation system; the driver (and the pedestrian), the vehicle, and the road. To provide efficient and safe highway transportation, a knowledge of the characteristics and limitations of each of these components is essential. It is also important to recognize the interrelationships that exist among these components in order to determine the effects that they have on each other.

    Objectives:

    1. Define the main components of the highway transportation system.
    2. Explain the interaction and interrelations among the main components of the highway transportation system.
    3. Discuss the relevant characteristics of the components of the highway transportation system.
    4. Demonstrate the importance of the main components of the highway transportation system and their use in the design and operation of highway facilities.

    Chapter Subjects:

    In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:

    1. Human-Vehicle-Environment Interaction
    2. Driver Characteristics
    3. Vehicle Characteristics
    4. Road-Vehicle Performance

  • Topic 3

     Chapter Three:
    Highway Location

     

    Introduction:

    The chapter introduces the process of locating a highway and basic requirements for highway design. It discusses basics of survey work required, the factors affecting location of hghway location, and the highway design control and criteria.

    Objectives:
    1. Define the highway design process.
    2. Identify the factors influencing the highway geometric design.
    3. Define principles of design control and criteria and their elements.
    4. Recognize the phases of determining highway location.

    Chapter Subjects:
    In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:
    1.  Highway Design Process.
    2.  Factors influencing Highway Design.
    3.  Highway Surveys and Location.

  • Topic 4

     
    • Chapter Four:
      Geometric Design of Highway Facilities

       

      Introduction:

      The chapter introduces the geometric design of roadways. Geometric design deals with the dimensioning of the elements of roadways, such as horizontal and vertical curves, cross sections, truck climbing lanes, bicycle paths, and parking facilities.
      The characteristics of driver and pedestrian, vehicle, and road, as discussed in Chapter 2, serve as the basis for determining the physical dimensions of these elements.
      Once the location of the roadway is selected, the designed considers the design controls and criteria, as presented in Chapter 3, and the related guidelines and standards developed by highway agencies (such as AASHTO), in roadway geometric design.
       

      Objectives:
      1.  Design the cross section of a roadway, considering the cross sections elements needed, dimensioning them, and selecting the proper types of such elements as applicable.
      2.  Design the horizontal alignment of a roadway, considering the relevant factors in design, dimensioning the needed horizontal curves, and specifying how to deal with transitioning the cross section across the curves.
      3.  Design the vertical alignment of a roadway, considering the relevant factors in design, and dimensioning the needed vertical curves, specifying how to deal with different criteria for design of vertical curves.
      4.  Design the special cases of climbing lanes and the truck escape ramps.
      5.  Design the various types of parking facilities.

      Chapter Subjects:
      In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:

      1. Design of the cross section
      2. Design of the horizontal alignment
      3. Design of the vertical alignment
      4. Design of Parking Facilities

       

    • Plan:

      First:  To design the cross section of a roadway, considering the needed elements for a specific roadway, and dimensioning such elements, study the following multimedia and slides section. Based on this, examine the elements that are resent at a roadway you know, which lies in an urban area and another one, but with different classification, which lies in a rural area. Compare with what you have studies.Forum 1: Design the cross section.

    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 4 Sec 4.1, Highway Geometric Design Cross sections mod File
    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording_Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Cross-Section Elements & Horizontal Curve Design

      Monday 9 October 2023

    • Second: To design the horizontal alignment of a roadway, considering the design controls and criteria for a specific roadway, and dimensioning the curves, study the following multimedia and slides section. Based on material presented, examine a horizontal curve on a road that you travel on frequently, highlighting the presence of superelevation. Is it as expected in terms of direction and general sense of the magnitude? In addition, discuss sight distance limitations on a horizontal curve that you may expect to be inadequate. Analyze and compare with what you have studies. Forum 2 : Design the horizontal alignment of a roadway.

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording by Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Lecture on Horizontal Curves

      Wednesday 11/10/2023

    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 4 Sec 4.2, Design of Horizontal Alignment mod File
    • Third: To design the vertical alignment of a roadway, considering the factors affecting design, the design controls and criteria for a specific roadway, and study the following multimedia and slides section. 
      Based on material presented, examine a vertical curve on a road that you travel on frequently, highlighting the existing/used grades and dimensions for sag or crest curves. Are they as expected in terms of grades and sight distance complying with international standards? In addition, discuss the curve design as related to drainage. Analyze and compare with what you have studied. 

      Forum 3: Design the vertical alignment of a roadway.

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording _ Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Superelevation and Vertical Curves

      Lecture on Monday 16/10/2023

      By Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 4 Sec 4.3, Design of Vertical Alignment mod File

    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 4 Sec 4.4, Design of Special and Parking Facilities File
    • resource icon
      File
      Section on Parking, Guidelines on Roads and Transportation Planning in Urban Areas File
    • url icon
      URL
      Video on Sag and Crest wrt SSD explanation URL
    • url icon
      URL
      superelevation problem Crash Jordan VIDEO URL
    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording _ Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Design of vertical Curves

      Monday 23/10/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording _ Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Examples on Vertical Curves

      Climbing Lanes, Escape Ramps, & Parking

      Wednesday 25/10/2023

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording _ Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili URL

      Lecture on Parking Design examples & Soil Engineering

      Monday 30/10/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • resource icon
      File
      Geometric Design of Highway Facilities File

      Lecture Slides for Geometric Design of Highway Facilities Chapter

      Cross Section Elements and Horizontal Alignment

      Posted by Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • resource icon
      File
      Ch _Geometric Design of Highway Facilities File

      Geometric Design of Highway Facilities - Part II

      Vertical Curves, Special Facilities, and Parking

      Posted by Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

      Fall 2023

  • Topic 6

    Chapter Five:

     Soil Engineering for Highway Design

    Introduction:

    As Highway Engineers are interested in the basic engineering properties of soils, because soils are used extensively in highway construction, the basic soil properties are of significant importance . They are also of importance when high embankments are to be constructed and when the soil is to be strengthened and used as intermediate support for the highway pavement. Several transportation agencies have developed detailed procedures for investigating soil materials used in highway construction.

    This chapter presents a summary of current knowledge of the characteristics and engineering properties of soils that are important to highway engineers, including the origin and formation of soils, soil identification, and soil testing methods. In addition two relevant issues related to soil compaction and strength are discussed.

     

    Objectives:

    1. Identify the relevant characteristics and engineering properties of soils.
    2. Recognize the  methods and practices utilized in Soil investigations.
    3. Apply and conduct testing related to compaction of soil, as well as of other granular material used in pavement courses.
    4. Apply and conduct testing related to soil strength relevant to highway construction, as well as strength of other granular material used in pavement courses.

    Chapter Subjects:

    In this chapter we will cover the following subjects :

    1. Soil characteristics and classification
    2. Soil investigations
    3. Soil compaction
    4. California Bearing Ratio – CBR

     

  • Topic 7

    Chapter Six:
     Bituminous Materials

    Introduction:
    Bituminous materials are used widely all over the world in highway construction. These hydrocarbons are found in natural deposits or are obtained as a productof the distillation of crude petroleum. The bituminous materials used in highway construction are either asphalts or tars.
    All bituminous materials consist primarily of bitumen and have strong adhesive properties with colors ranging from dark brown to black. They vary in consistency from liquid to solid; thus, they are divided into liquids, semisolids, and solids. The solid form is usually hard and brittle at normal temperatures but will flow when subjected to long, continuous loading. The liquid form is obtained from the semisolid or solid forms by heating, dissolving in solvents, or breaking the material into minute particles and dispersing them in water with an emulsifier to form an asphalt emulsion.
    This chapter presents a description of the different types of bituminous materials used in highway construction, the processes by which they are obtained, and the tests required to determine those properties that are pertinent to highway engineering. It also includes a description of methods of mix design to obtain a paving material known as asphalt.
     

    Objectives:

    1.     Identify the sources of asphalt

    2.     Recognize the description and uses of bituminous binders

    3.     Describe the properties and the tests of asphalt materials

    4.     Identify the types of asphalt mixes and design of hot-mix, hot laid asphalt mixtures

    5.     Apply the Marshall mix design method

    6.     Recognize the basics of Superpave System

     

    Chapter Subjects:

    In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:

    1.     Sources of Asphalt

    2.     Description and Uses of Bituminous Materials

    3.     Properties of Asphalt Materials

    4.     Test for Asphalt Materials

    5.     Asphalt Mixtures

    6.     Introduction to Super Pave Systems

  • Topic 10

    • Chapter Seven:
      Pavement Design

      Introduction:

      Highway pavements are divided into two main categories: rigid and flexible. Flexible pavements usually consist of a bituminous surface underlaid with a layer of granular material and a layer of a suitable mixture of coarse and fine materials. Traffic loads are transferred by the wearing surface to the underlying supporting materials through the interlocking of aggregates, the frictional effect of granular materials, and cohesion of fine materials. The wearing surface of a rigid pavement usually is constructed of Portland cement concrete such that it acts like a beam over any irregularities in the underlying supporting material.

      Flexible pavements are further divided into three subgroups: high type, intermediate type, and low type. High-type pavements have wearing surfaces that adequately support the expected traffic load without visible distress due to fatigue and are not susceptible to weather conditions. Intermediate-type pavements have wearing surfaces that range from surface treated to those with qualities just below that of high type pavements. Low-type pavements are used mainly for low-cost roads and have wearing surfaces that range from untreated to loose natural materials to surface treated earth.

      This chapter deals with the design of new high-type flexible pavements as well as rigid pavements.

      Objectives:

      1. Recognize the characteristics of the flexible pavements as well as rigid pavements.

      2. Identify the factors that are considered in the design of pavements.

      3. Design the flexible pavements.

      4. Design the rigid pavements.

      Chapter Subjects:

      In this chapter we will cover the following subjects:

      1. Flexible pavement design

      2. Rigid pavement design

    • Plan:

      First: To be able to design the flexible pavements, it is necessary to recognize the characteristics of the flexible pavements, as well as the factors that influence the design of the of flexible pavement structures. Based on the multimedia and power point material presented, discuss the article on truck traffic influence on damage to pavements. Forum 1: article on truck traffic influence on damage to pavements.
    • resource icon
      File
      Flexible Pavement Design - Lecture Slides File

      Flexible Pavement Design 

      Fall 2023

      Posted by: Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili


    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on the Design of Flexible Pavement - Part II

      Monday 4/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on Flexible Pavement Design - Part I

      Tuesday 28/11/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on Flexible Pavement Design - Part III

      Wednesday 6/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

      (power cut off during the lecture)

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on Flexible Pavement Design - Part 4

      Wednesday 13/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 7, Sec 7.2 Rigid Pavement Design File
    • resource icon
      File
      Chapter 7, Sec 7.1 Flexible Pavement Design mod File
    • Second: To be able to design the rigid pavements, it is necessary to recognize the characteristics of the rigid pavements, as well as the factors that influence the design of the of rigid pavement structures.
    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on the Design of Flexible Pavement - Part 5

      & Rigid Pavement

      18/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • url icon
      URL
      Lecture Recording URL

      Lecture on Rigid Pavement Design

      & Discussion of the project

      Wednesday 20/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • resource icon
      File
      Rigid Pavement Design Chapter File

      Lecture Slides on Rigid Pavement

      Fall 2023

      Posted by Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

    • url icon
      URL
      LECTURE RECORDING URL

      Lecture on Rigid Pavement - Part II

      Tuesday 26/12/2023

      Prof. Khaled Al-Sahili

  • Topic 11

loader image