CE 550:  Advanced Highway Design (3 Credits)

Iowa State University

Fall, 2010

Meeting Times and Place:  Tuesday – 3:10 to 5:00, Friday 8:00; Town 178

 

 

 

Instructors:

 

Tom Stout

326 Town Engineering

Phone: 515-294-2330 or

Email:  stouttom@iastate.edu

 

Reg Souleyrette

328 Town Engineering

Phone: 515-294-5453 or

Email:  reg@iastate.edu

 

 

Office Hours: TBA and by Appointment

 

Course Description:

C E 550. Advanced Highway Design. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prerequisite: 453. Evaluation of rural and urban street and highway design theory. Establishment of design criteria, application to street and highway systems, and to intersections and interchanges; drainage design, and urban freeway design aspects. Quality assurance procedures. Computer applications.

 

Course Objectives:

·         To provide the student familiarity with concepts and tools that go beyond those learned in a basic highway design course such as CE453, including advanced topics of the AASHTO Policy on Geometric Design (Green Book).

·         To review current literature to explore state of the practice and techniques/issues not covered in the Green Book

·         To investigate the state of the practice and emerging technologies as applied by engineering design firms and transportation agencies

 

Required References:

1.      A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets. Washington, DC. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, 2001. Note that there is a more recent version, but we will use the 2001 version for most of this class. We will learn about the differences between the new and 2001 versions.   ,

 

 

Course Format:

 

In the introduction to the class the instructor will review basic highway design principles. The class will be provided a design problem to work on (urban street intersection).  You will work in teams of 2 and submit your design during the final exam period.  You will also have two midterm written exams. Following the introductory period, the instructor will deliver lectures on a variety of design related issues. Homework may be assigned to cover lecture topics. In addition, readings will be assigned to all students. These will be assigned from the Green Book, DOT Design Manuals, and/or web references. Each student will also prepare a 15 minute presentation on an emerging topic in design and prepare a 1000-1500 word plus figures/illustrations term paper on the subject. 

 

Presentations and papers will be evaluated for organization, content, flow, and the ability to clearly communicate material in the specified time frame/word limit. Participation by other students may count towards class participation.

 

Occasionally, the instructor may invite guest lecturers for special topics.

 

Suggested Journals for advanced topics:

 

Transportation Research Record (available at CTRE)

ITE Journal (available on-line for members at www.ite.org)

ASCE Journal of Transportation Engineering - available through ISU library at http://proxy.lib.iastate.edu:2956/dbt/dbt.jsp?KEY=JTPEDI (you must login to the library using the last 11 digits of your Univ ID and your 4 digit PIN)

 

Grading:

 

Homework 10%

2 mid-term exams (covering reading and presentations): 30% (15% each)

Design project: 20% (teams of 2)

Participation: 10%

Term paper: 20%

Term paper presentation: 10%

 

Special Needs:

Please address any special needs or special accommodations with me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. Those seeking accommodations based on disabilities should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form from the Disability Resources (DR) office (phone 515-294-7220).  DR is located on the main floor of the Student Services Building, Room 1076.  If you have an identified need, DO NOT WAIT to advise me of your need.  In the past students have waited until after doing poorly on a test to ask for assistance.