CIVENG 4TA4 Traffic Analysis

Lecture 1
Introduction
Course Information

❑ Course instructor: Mohamed Hussein, Civil Engineering Department

husseinmo@mcmaster.ca

❑ Class Schedule: Tue. Thu & Friday 8:30 AM - 9:20 AM, BSB 119

❑ Tutorial Schedule: Tuesday 10:30 AM - 12:20 PM, JHE 326 H

Tutorial Runs weekly starting January 14, 2020

❑ Lab Schedule: Thursday 3:30 PM – 5:20 PM, KTH B 121&123

5-6 labs throughout the semester.

❑ Teaching Assistants: TBD

❑ Office Hours: Instructor – Monday 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (JHE 228)

TAs – TBD (xxx xxx)

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Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

❑ The course aims at developing basic & intermediate levels of understanding of:
❖ Traffic flow theory
❖ Transportation data collection techniques
❖ Signalized intersection timing and coordination
❖ The analysis of intersection capacity and level of service according to
the Highway capacity manual procedures (HCM 2016)
❖ Principals of road safety

❑ The course involves a group project that aims at achieving the following
objectives:
❖ Apply the theoretical concepts that are covered in the course
❖ Develop engineering judgment and apply critical thinking in
Transportation Engineering and apply
❖ Master basic transportation tools (SYNCHRO and/or VISSIM)
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Course Topics

❑ The course consists of Three main parts:

❖ Part 1 – Traffic Flow Theory

o Macroscopic traffic flow models
o Shockwave analysis
o Microscopic traffic flow models

❖ Part 2 – Traffic surveys and data collection

o Traffic data collection techniques
o Traffic volume studies
o Spot speed studies

❖ Part 3 – Traffic signals’ design and analysis

o Signal timing and coordination
o Signal actuation
o Signalized intersection analysis (Capacity & Level of service)
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Evaluation Criteria

❑ The final mark for this course will be determined as follows:

❖ Assignments (4 assignments) 20%
❖ Mid-term Exam 20%
❖ Course Project 30%
❖ Final Exam 30%

❑ To pass this course, you must:

❖ Score a passing grade in the final exam (40% of the final exam mark)
❖ Submit and present the course project

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Important Dates

❑ Assignments’ Deadlines:
❖ Assignment 1 XXX, XX
❖ Assignment 2 XXX, XX
❖ Assignment 3 XXX, XX
❖ Assignment 4 XXX, XX

❑ Mid-term Exam: XXX, XX

❑ Project Final Presentation: XXX, XX

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Communication and Feedback

❑ All formal communications regarding this course will be through McMaster

email accounts and/or Avenue to Learn.

❑ Students’ email to the instructor should include the course number and a
relevant description in the subject line (e.g. CIVENG 4TA4: Assignment 2
question).

❑ Emails that do not follow this format may not receive a response

❑ The course instructor and the TAs will respond to emails within two days

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Reference Text

❑ There are no mandatory textbooks for the CIVENG 4TA4. However, the
following texts can be used as references:

❖ Traffic Engineering – Roess, Prassas, and McShane, (Fifth Edition,

2019)

❖ Traffic Flow Theory – Daiheng Ni (2015)

❖ An Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory - Lily Elefteriadou (2014)

❖ Highway Capacity Manual: A guide for multimodal mobility analysis

– Transportation Research board (sixth edition, 2016)

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Introduction
Transportation Engineering

❑ Transportation Engineering is the application of technology

and scientific principles to the planning, design, operation and
management of facilities for any mode of transportation in order to
provide for the safe, economical, and environmentally compatible
movement of people and goods

❑ ITE defines Transportation Engineers as professionals who work to

improve mobility and safety for all transportation system users and help
build smart and livable communities

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Transportation Modes

❑ The primary modes of Transportation Engineering are:

❖ Automobile (passenger vehicles)
❖ Automobile (Trucks for freight transportation)
❖ Transit (public transportation)
❖ Rail (passengers and freight)
❖ Active transportation (e.g. walking and biking)
❖ Other modes (Air transportation, Marine transportation, etc.)

❑ The key types of Transportation Facilities (Infrastructure):

❖ Road system
❖ Rail system
❖ Other systems (Airports, ports, etc.)

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Canadian Road System

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Canadian Rail System

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Canadian Marine Transportation System

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Canadian Air Transportation System

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Central Region Transportation System

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Transportation Engineering Major Sub-fields

❑ Transportation planning

❑ Traffic Engineering (CIVENG 4TA4)

❑ Transportation Safety

❑ ITS

❑ Highway Engineering

❑ Railway Engineering

❑ Freight Management

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Traffic Engineering

❑ CIVENG 4TA4 will focus on Traffic Engineering

❑ According to ITE, Traffic Engineering is defined as a branch of

Transportation Engineering that concerns the safe and efficient movement
of people and goods along roadways. Traffic flow, road geometry,
sidewalks, bicycle facilities, marking, signs, and traffic lights must be
considered when designing a public or private sector transportation
solution

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Challenges for Traffic Engineers

❑ Urban Congestion

❑ Growth management and sustainability

❑ Environmental aspects of traffic

❑ Operation and maintenance of existing roadway network

❑ Relationship between economy and Traffic Engineering

❑ Understand the impact of technological advancements on the existing

roadway networks

❑ Design for the future

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