Transportation Engineering

introduction
Volkan Emre UZ, PhD
Outline of The Lecture
 Definition and Importance of Transportation for our Society

 Transportation Modes and Historical Developments

 Functional Classification of Roads

 Geometric Design of Roads

Definition
 WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND FROM ‘‘TRANSPORTATION’’ ?

In dictionary, transportation is defined as;

• the act or process of moving people or things from one place to another
• a way of traveling from one place to another place

• a system for moving passengers or goods from one place to another

In general;

• The movement of people and freight

Definition
Transportation engineering is the 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.

How important is transportation in our society?

• It impacts every facet of our lives—economic, social, recreational, cultural, etc.

• Transportation is utmost important for our quality of life…

 Modes of Transportation
How to ensure the movement of people and freight ?
By vehicles, such as;
• automobiles, bus, motorcycles, bicycle, airplane, ship, train etc.

DO NOT FORGET! Real concern is movement of people and goods. Movement of vehicle is just a way
of accomplishing this

What are the things required to ensure the movement of these vehicles?
◦ Railroad,
◦ Airline,
◦ Highway,
◦ Seaway,
Modes of Transportation
 Is there a need for planning and design of any mode of transportation?
OF COURSE …

 Which discipline is concerned with planning and design transportation structures

and facilities?
 Engineering
 Civil Engineering
Transportation Engineering
 Modes of Transportation
Classification of Transportation Systems
• Land Transportation Systems
◦ Highway transportation
◦ Rail transportation
◦ Continuous flow systems

• Water Transportation Systems

◦ Sea transport
◦ Inland water (River, Lake) transport systems

• Air Transportation Systems

◦ Air carriers

◦ General Aviation
Modes of Transportation
0,00% Airway 6,40%9,60%
Seaway
Airway
0,59%
4,30% RailwaySeaway

1% Railway

89,20%
89% Highway
Highway

Freight Transportation
Passenger Transportation - 2017
Transportation Engineering Field
Transportation engineering can be classified in the following field
◦ Highway Engineering,

◦ Pavement Engineering,

◦ Railroad Engineering,

◦ Port and Harbor Engineering,

◦ Airport Engineering,

In order to continue moving with confidence and order in transport mode,

«Traffic Engineering» has emerged as a branch of transportation engineering.
Transportation Engineering Field
Traffic engineering is that phase of engineering which deals with safe and efficient movement of people and

goods on streets and highways.

Traffic Engineering defined by Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) as «that phase of transportation

engineering which deals with planning, geometric design and traffic operations on roads, streets and highways,

their networks, terminals, abutting lands and relationships with other modes of transportation.»
 Historical Development of Roads
• Traces of early roads have been found since the recorded history of
the man kind.
• The first and oldest mode of travel obviously was foot path.
• Before invention of wheel, people used to move on foot. Men and
material must have been transported either on backs of men or
animals.

The historical road development can be divided in to the following

era :
Early/ Basic roads
Roman roads
Modern roads
 Historical Development of Roads
EARLY / BASICS ROADS
The needs of road started from the invention of wheel in Samaria in 3000 BC. Among the early
road inventions in many parts of the world were :
• China Dynasty – ‘China Silk Route’ was the first road built around 2600 BC. The road was used
to transport silk and elephant tusks between China and India
• Persian Empire – Big trade involving import and export such as silk, porcelain and wood crafts
between China and Europe.
• Britain – ‘Raft Road’ believed was built around 2500 BC
• India – Indus Valley where roads made of bricks with drainage system equipped with pipe
• Mesopotamia and Egypt – Brick road and asphalt road was found in Babylon and
mountainous area of Mesopotamia. In Egypt, the road was built to transport block of rock to
construct pyramid
Silk Road ( 200 B.C to 1800 )
• Played a significant role in the development of the civilizations
• Created long-distance political and economic relations between the civilizations
• China, Korea, Japan, India, Iran, Europe, Africa and Arabia
 Persian Road (Royal Road) ( 500 B.C )
• 2,699 km
• From Susa to Sardis ( Iran-Huzistan to Turkey-Manisa-Salihli)
• 9 days on horse
• 19 days on foot
Historical Development of Roads
ROMANS ROADS
• For the purpose of military movement.

• They were very thick. Total thickness of the road varied from about
0.7 m to as much as 1.2 m.

• They were straight, without any regard for gradient. Probable

reason for straightness may be their main use for army.

• Roads were not built on soft soil formations.

Historical Development of Roads
ROMANS ROADS
 An Important road constructed by Romans in 312 B.C called Appian way is still in existence in Rome.

 Important to remember, so once again;

• Roads are built to serve for many years (long service life)

• For this reason, roads need to be durable against weathering, loads, abrasion

• Requires high initial investment

• Either roads (transportation) made the civilizations great

• Or the great civilizations made great roads (China, Persia, Rome etc.)
• Fast movement
• Economical relations
• Development
Civilization Effective Transportation Great Civilization

• Military, People,Goods,Information APPIAN WAY

 Historical Development of Roads
MODERN ROADS
In eighteenth century, improved construction methods for roads
began to develop.

 Mr. Pierre Tresaquet developed an improved method of

construction in 1764 in France.
• Thickness needs to be only 30 cm.

• Side drainage is provided.

 Mr. John Metcalf constructed about 290 km road in northern

region of England. Since Metcalf was blind, his work was not
recorded and thus got lost.
Historical Development of Roads
MODERN ROADS
Telford and Macadam were the pioneers in road development in England.

• Telford believed in using heavy foundation stones over the soil sub-grade.
Historical Development of Roads
MODERN ROADS
• Macadam advocated the use of compacted crushed aggregate layer at the bottom. Macadam’s method of
road construction is still in use and is named after his name.

• Macadam realized that the stresses due to wheel load is low at lower layers, so it is not necessary to use
thick layer.
 Classification of Roads
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION (for other classifications)
 Highway facilities are classified by the relative amounts of through traffic movement and land access service they
provide.
• Access and mobility are two major considerations in classifying highways and streets.

Very High Mobility / Very Low Access High Mobility / Low Access VeryHigh mobility / Very Low Access
Mobility is how far you can go in a given time.

Accessibility is how much you can get to in that

Mobility / Access
time.
Low Mobility / High Access

Very Low Mobility

Very High Access
Low Mobility / High Access
 Classification of Roads
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
There are several classifications but they are only slightly different.
We can mainly classify roads according to their functionality as below.

• Freeway

• Arterial

• Collector
Local Arterial
• Local

Collector Freeway
 Classification of Roads
FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION
 Regulated limitation of access is necessary on arterials to enhance their primary function of mobility.
 Conversely on the other extreme, the primary function of local roads and streets is to provide access which
consequently causes limitation in mobility.
 The extent of degree of access control is thus a significant factor in defining the functional category of a
street or a highway.

Long Distance Destination

Freeway

Home Work
Local Collector Arterial Local Collector
 Classification of Roads
According to the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) road classification is
« the orderly grouping of roads into systems according to the type and degree of service they
provide to the public »
TAC classify the roads into five groups. These are :
• Local Road
• Collector Road
• Minor Arterial Road
• Major Arterial Road
• Expressway
 Classification of Roads
LOCAL ROAD COLLECTOR ROAD
• Provide access to property and
• Provide access to property
traffic movement

• Less than 2,500 vehicles per day • 2,500 to 8,000 vehicles per day

• Less than 1,500 bus passenger per

• Low traffic speed day

• Generally no bus routes • Signalized intersections at arterial

roads
• Cyclists – special facilities as required • Truck restrictions permitted

• Sidewalks on at least one side of road • Cyclists – special facilities as

required
• Truck restrictions preferred • Sidewalks on both sides of the road

• Low priority for winter maintenance • Medium priority for winter

maintenance
 Classification of Roads
MINOR ARTERIAL ROAD MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD
• Traffic movement is a primary
• Traffic movement is a primary
function function

• Some property access control • Subject to access controls

• 8,000 to 20,000 vehicles per day • Greater than 20,000 vehicles per day

• 1,500 to 5,000 bus passenger per day • Greater than 5,000 bus passengers per
day
• Speed limits 40 to 60 km/h
• Speed limits 50 to 60 km/h
• No “Stop” signs; main intersections
• Cyclists – special facilities desirable
controlled by traffic signals
• Sidewalks on both sides
• No truck restrictions
• High priority of winter maintenance
• Sidewalks on both sides

• High priority of winter maintenance

 Classification of Roads
EXPRESSWAY
• Traffic movement is a primary function

• No property access

• Speed limits 80 to 100 km/h

• Greater than 40,000 vehicles per day

• No local transit service

• Pedestrians and cyclists prohibited

• Grade-separated intersections (no traffic signals)

• Highest priority of winter maintenance

 Classification of Roads
 General Directorate of Turkish Highways ( KGM) is responsible for the planning, maintenance,
construction and operation of motorways, state and provincial roads.
 According to General Directorate of Turkish Highway, The public roads in Turkey classified in
four-tier system.
• Rural roads,
• Provincial roads,
• State roads, and
• Motorways (multi-lane access-controlled highways).
Classification of Roads
RURAL ROADS
RURAL roads are important kind of highways which linking village within a district to each other or to the neighboring districts.
Classification of Roads
PROVINCIAL ROADS
Provincial roads are highways of secondary importance linking districts within a province to each other, provincial center
to the districts in the neighboring provinces.
 Classification of Roads
STATE ROADS
State roads are highways of primary importance connecting provincial centers, seaports, airports and railway stations to
each other.
 Classification of Roads
MOTORWAYS
Motorways are the divided state roads with full control of access and two or more lanes for the exclusive use of traffic in
each direction to provide uninterrupted flow, on which opposing traffic is separated by a median and collection of tolls are
performed at designated points.
Classification of Roads
TUIK → Total Rural roads length (2018) : 179,537 km

Total Lenght of Higways in Turkey - 2020

3,523 km

Motorways
State Roads
34,165 km
31,006 km Provincal Roads
 Geometric Design of Roads
 The geometric design of roads is the branch of highway engineering concerned with the positioning of the physical
elements of the roadway according to standards and constraints.
 The basic objectives in geometric design are;
• To optimize efficiency
• Maintaining safety
• Minimizing cost
• Minimizing environmental damage
 Geometric design also affects an emerging fifth objective called "livability," which means providing access to;

• employment • walking
• schools • bicycling • fuel use,
• businesses Via a range of travel modes • transit With a consideration of • emissions
• automobiles minimizing • environmental damage
• residences
• light/heavy railways
 Geometric Design of Roads
Geometric Design deals with the dimensioning of the elements of highways such as ;

◦ Vertical and Horizontal curves

◦ Cross sections

◦ Truck climbing lanes

◦ Sidewalk, Bicycle paths, and

◦ Parking facilities

◦ Superelevation
 Geometric Design of Roads
Geometric design fulfills the requirements of the driver and the vehicle, such as
◦ Comfort
◦ Horizontal curves are close → short distance between curves → low comfort
◦ Vertical curves are numerous → uncomfortable vehicle movements
◦ Enough lane width → comfortable ride
◦ Enough lateral clearance and median → comfortable ride
1 B C
◦ Efficiency
◦ Horizontal curves are close → speed limitation, long running times
2
◦ Vertical curves are numerous → low speed A D E
◦ Longitudinal slope is high and climbing length is long→ fuel consumption is high 3
4
◦ Short distance, should link main centres, low cost → efficient
◦ Safety
◦ Horizontal curves → proper superelevation for slipping and over turning
◦ Vertical curves → limited sight distance
◦ Enough lane width → safe ride
◦ Enough lateral clearance and median → safe ride
Geometric Design of Roads
 Once again, the goals of geometric design are;

• Maximize the comfort, safety and economy of facilities.

• Provide efficiency in traffic operation.

• Provide maximum safety at reasonable cost.

• Minimize the environmental impacts.

 Geometric Design of Roads
The Factors Influencing Highway Geometric Design;

•Functional classification •Topography of the area

•Design hourly traffic volume and vehicle mix •Level of service
•Design speed •Available funds
•Vehicles properties (dimensions, weight, operating •Safety
characteristics, etc.).
•Social and environmental factors
•Cross section of highway such as shoulder, lanes,
medians •Humans (the physical, mental and psychological
characteristics of the driver and pedestrians like the
•Presence of heavy vehicles on steep grades reaction time).
 Geometric Design of Roads
VEHICLES
Highway systems accommodate a wide variety of sizes and types of vehicle.
Design vehicles:
 weight, dimensions and operating characteristics
Design vehicles are used to determine geometric features of highway;
• lane width,
• extra widening on curves,
• min corner radius, clearance height, etc.
Braking or deceleration performance of vehicles
Time and distance required to stop is a primary consideration in almost
every aspects of traffic system design and operation
Geometric Design of Roads
VEHICLES
Geometric Design of Roads
TOPOGRAPHY
Geometric Design of Roads
TOPOGRAPHY
Geometric Design of Roads
TOPOGRAPHY
Geometric Design of Roads
TOPOGRAPHY
Geometric Design of Roads
ECONOMY

HIGHWAYS
CONSTRUCTION
LOVES
MONEY
Geometric Design of Roads
SAFETY
Geometric Design of Roads
SAFETY
Space Required to Transport
 Summary
 Real concern of Transportation Engineering is movement of people and goods.

 Land, water, and air transportation are the main modes of transportation.

 Access and mobility are two major considerations in classifying highways and streets.

 The geometric design of roads is the branch of highway engineering concerned with the positioning and dimensioning of the
physical elements of the roadway according to standards and constraints.

 The goals of geometric design are to maximize the comfort, safety and economy of facilities while minimizing the environmental
impacts.

There are many factors effecting the Highway Geometric Designs such as design speed, vehicles properties, topography, available
funds, safety…
Classification of Roads
Planning, functional design, operation and
management of facilities
Important ! Transportation infrastructures are build to serve for many years.

• Planning and design is crutial becasue;

• Project cost is high
• Affects the development of cities and countries
• Makes easier or difficult our daily life, etc. The first of the Roman roads, Appian Way
(261 km), constructed in 312 B.C and still in
a good condition.
• Planning;
• What is the current demand to the road?
Hourly Vehicle Counts
• What types of vehicle will the road serve? 450
• How many vehicles will use during the service life of the road? 180
150
60
• What will be the demand after 20/30 years? 50

• Do we need to construct a new road or to improve an existing road? Truck Bus Passenger Two
Car wheeler
Three
wheeler
Safe, Efficient, Comfortable, Rapid, Environmental

Unsafe Rapid and Comfortable Efficient railway network

Highway Engineering

Curves and superelevation

Crest and valley

Pavement Engineering

The world's first bike path made of recycled plastic was revealed in the
Netherlands on 11th September 2018.

Self healing
asphalt
Railroad Engineering

alignment

curve superevelation
Port and Harbor Engineering
Airport Engineering
Technology and Scientific Principles
• Transportation systems and infrastructures evolves with technologic developments.

• Vehicles types increased (truck, bus, bicycle)

• Speed limits increased
• Demand increased

TIME
• Roads/rails need to carry more load
• Road/rails need to be design for high speeds
• New type of transportation modes introduced
• New type of infrastructures

• Technology creates a need for development, transportation engineers uses tecnology and
sciense to satisfy these needs.