TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Planes, Trains, Automobiles and More

Ardrey Kell High School

February 23, 2012

Introductions

Tom Kelly Graduate University of Dayton 2004 BSCE Co-op while in school

1 semester with construction company 1 semester with structures group 2 semesters with traffic group

Senior Transportation Engineer – Traffic Ops 7+ years experience with consulting firm Professional Engineer in NC, SC and VA

Civil Engineering

Civil Engineering Structural Environmental Water Resources Geotechnical TRANSPORTATION

Planning Public Involvement Design Operations Implementation / Construction

Transportation Project Involves Planning

Identify Project Establish guidelines

Public Involvement Need input from community

Design Develop alternatives Evaluate impacts Meet practice standards

Implementation / Construction

So what is Transportation Engineering?

Science of safe and efficient movement of people and goods

Various modes of transportation: Automobile Pedestrian Bicycle Rail Aviation Waterway

US Highway Fatality Rate

Number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Safer VehiclesSafer RoadsImproved Safety

• Asphalt/Concrete Quality

• Clear Zone• Lane Width• Stopping Distance• Signal Timing• Intelligent

Transportation Systems

Efficiency

90 largest US Cities 4.2 billion hrs of delay per year (2007) 41 hrs of delay per person per year (2007)

Causes: Capacity vs. Demand Incidents/Crashes Construction Zone Old Traffic Signal Timing

Traffic Operations

Accommodate all user types on roads Analyze the alternatives considered under design Suggest changes/improvements

Traffic control, signal timing, restriping, widening Simulate alternatives to understand subtle

improvements

Operations

VISSIM simulation video

Intelligent Transportation SystemsITS is Technology to Improve

Transportation Traffic Management Centers Ramp Meters Fiber Optic Communications Weigh Stations CCTV Traffic Cameras Dynamic Message Signs Vehicle Detection

ITS Examples

CCTV Traffic Cameras Monitor traffic conditions at Traffic

Management Center Quickly clear traffic incidents

Vehicle Detection Measure speed and volume Inform users about travel time

Dynamic Message Signs Change message to alert drivers Travel times, detours, accidents

Questions

TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

Planes, Trains, Automobiles and More

South Mecklenburg High School

February 22, 2012

TASK

A new highway is being contemplated to ease congestion in your city. Your assignment is to create a team to decide the route of the highway and where the interchanges will be. Using a community in your neighborhood as a guide, what types of people and/or organizations would you select to be on your team and why?  If a new highway could not be funded entirely or at all, what alternatives should the City consider and why? WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT BRAIN STORMING ALTERNATIVES DEVELOPMENT EVALUATE TO ARRIVE AT BEST ALTERNATIVE DESIGN CHOSEN ALTERNATIVE BEGIN CONSTRUCTION OPEN TO PUBLIC