Transportation Engineering I

Er. Prabin Kumar Shrestha Pokhara Engineering College

Couse Content:
Chapter – I: Introduction to Transportation System and
Engineering (10 hrs)
Chapter – 2: Highway Development and Road Alignment
(5 hrs)
Chapter – 3: Geometric Design of Highway (8 hrs)
Chapter – 4: Highway Drainage Systems (7 hrs)
Chapter – 5: Highway material and specification (10 hrs)
Chapter – 6: Sustainability in Transportation Sector (5
hrs)

Tutorials: Tutorial covering the entire course works.

Practical:
1. Test on aggregates : LA abrasion test Crushing Value ,Impact Value, Elongation and
Flakiness Index tests

2. Subgrade soil testing California Bearing Ratio Test

3. Tests on Bitumen binders: Penetration value, Viscosity, Softening Point and Ductility.

4. Test on bituminous mixes, Marshall mix design, Core cutting for bitumen extraction
and aggregate gradation Stability Test.

5. Field observation to the project site and report preparation

Prescribed Books :
 Highway engineering- S.K. Khanna, C.E.G. Justo

 Principles, Practice and Design of Highway Engineering- S.K. Sharma

 A text book of Transportation Engineering – S.P. Chandola

But do not limit yourself to these references only

Course Manual:
 Nepal Road Standard (2070 Revised)
 Nepal Rural Road Standard (2071 Second Revised)
 Standard Specification for Road and Bridge works 2078
 Relevant Publication by DOR
Course Objectives:
 To identify the issues of transportation sector planning and
engineering
 To develop competence on the highway alignment selection,
geometric design and drainage systems.
 To enhance the knowledge on the suitability of the materials
used for the road construction,
 To visualize the emerging issues in the transportation sector.
 Chapter -1: Introduction to Transportation System and
Engineering
1.1 Introduction
Transportation:
The movement of people and goods from one place to another place with safe, easy,
comfort, economical is called transportation.
Transportation = “ Infrastructure of all Infrastructure”
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Transportation Engineering:
The branch of civil engineering that deals with the design, planning, and
maintenance of transportation system.
Role of Transportation in Society
Economic Role:
 Progress follows the line of transportation: health, education, electricity, water
supply & sanitation
 Industrialization: production and consumption
 Increased Land Use Value
 Tourism
Political role:
 The world being divided into different political units for mutual protection,
economic advantages and development of common culture is linked by
transportation of both people and goods through different modes.
Environmental role:
 The environment is highly affected by transportation.
 Air pollution, noise pollution, overuse of non-renewable energy etc. are some
of its impacts on the environment. Transportation safety (mainly road safety) is
of major concern.
Social Role:
 Migration Control
 Enhancement of living standard
 Emergency response and national security
 Inter community connectivity
Characteristics of transportation system:
1. Multi-modal: Covering all modes of transport; air, land, and sea for
both passenger and freight.
2. Multi-sector: Encompassing the problems and viewpoints of
government, private industry, and public.
3. Multi-problem: National and international policy, carrier
management issues, regulatory, institutional and financial policies
4. Multi-objective: Aiming at national and regional economic
development, urban development, environment quality, and social
quality, as well as service to users and financial and economic
feasibility. sciences, management and law.
5. Multi-disciplinary: Drawing on the theories and methods of engineering,
economics, operations research, political science, psychology, other natural, and
social .

1.2 Modes of Transportation

Modes of transport refer to the medium through which passenger and freight are
transported.
A. Primary modes:
i. Land Transportation ( Roadways or Highways , Railways) –Around 92%
ii. Air Transportation (Domestic, International) – Around 8%
iii. Water Transportation (Inland, Coastal, Ocean)
iv. Space Transportation
B. Secondary modes:
i. Ropeways
ii. Canals (Water)
iii. Belt Conveyors (Aggregate in crusher plant)
iv. Pipelines (Water, Gas, Sewer)
A. Primary modes:
i. Land Transportation
a. Highways or Roadways:
 One of the most common modes of transport which were used even from pre-
historic times.
 It may be in the form of track ways, human pathways etc.
Advantages Limitations
• Alternatives like bike/car/bus • Land coverage
• Cost effective • Ineffective in terms of time and comfort for
• Door to door services Long distance travel
• Effective for short distance • Environmental pollution
• Flexibility in terms of time, route, speed • Rate of accident is high
• Independent mode of transportation • Energy consumption
• Low cost packaging • Delay and congestion (Problem of
• Personalized travel and service motorization)
• Overall development of the country • Ineffective cargo transport in terms of cost
and safety
b. Railways:

Advantages
Limitations
• Effective in terms of time and comfort for
• Land coverage
long distance travel
• Highly dependent to roadway
• Mass transit capacity (reduces road
• High capital cost
congestion in urban area)
• Inflexible in terms of routes, time, speed,
• Effective cargo transport in terms of cost
topography
and safety
Department of railways (2068 B.S) under
the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure &
Transport (भौितक पूवाधार तथा यातायात
म ालयक)
• Jaynagar (India) to Bhangha (Dhanusha)
51 km -1937 AD
• Only for Cargo
i. Raxaul to Birjung (6 Km)
ii. Bathaha to Biratnagar (8 km)
ii. Air Transportation Total: 53 ( 3 International, 50 Domestic)

Advantages Limitations
• Fastest mode for long distance • Most expensive mode of passenger and
• Safest mode: 1accident in 2 million flight cargo transportation
• Comfort and luxurious (business/ first class) • Ineffective in terms of time for short
• Highly effective for emergency response distance travel
operation • High capital cost
• Air(Fuel) and Noise pollution
iii. Water Transportation

Advantages Limitations
• Highly effective for mass cargo • Slowest mode of transportation (avg
transportation in terms of cost (cheapest speed 40kmph only)
mode) and safety (Highway packaging • Not applicable for landlocked countries
and insurance) like Nepal for inter country cargo
transportation
 iv. Space Transportation

It is the most fastest method of transport. This

mode of transportation is adopted for the
research which is done outside the
atmosphere. This means of transportation is
adopted when the transport like satellite,
rocket is to be operated.

Constraints on the development of Road Transportation in Nepal

• Unfavorable geographical condition (Hilly and mountainous)
• Poor geological condition ( unstable soil, landslide etc)
• Hydrological (River system)
– number of river crossings
– run-off is very high in monsoon and velocity is high
– Lack of financial resources
– Technological development.
Constraints on the development of other modes of transportation in Nepal
Railways: -
• Initial investment is high
• Geographical condition
• Technological development(lack of experience)

Airways: -
• Transportation cost is very high and not
affordable for each people.
• Only for small aircraft/ helicopters.

Waterways: -
• Nepal is land-lock country so only inland
transportation is possible
• High velocity of water in monsoon period
• Water level in rivers
B. Secondary modes:
i. Ropeways : It is a broad mode where vehicles are pulled by cables instead of an
internal power source. It is most commonly used at steep gradient.
Advantages Limitations
• Suitable for tourism • High capital investment but limited
• Minimal environmental impact capacity and extreme challenges
• Low maintenance cost • expensive for general passenger and
cargo delivery
ii. Canals : Irrigation canal (water)

iii. Belt Conveyors: Belt (Aggregate in crusher plant)

iv. Pipelines: Sends goods through a pipe, most commonly liquid and gases are sent.

Advantages Limitations
• Continuous and fastest mode for petroleum • High capital investment
products transportation • Maintenance challenges
• Low energy consumption • Security concern
Belt Conveyor Ropeways

Pipelines Canals
1.3 Comparison between different Modes
Scope of Highway Engineering
1. Highway Planning, Development and Location
Historical background; Basis for planning; Master plan;
Engineering surveys and highway alignment.
2. Highway Design
Geometric design; Pavement design; Drainage design
3. Traffic performance and its control
Traffic studies and analysis; traffic regulation and control;
intersection design and their controls with signs, signals and
markings.
4. Materials, construction and maintenance
Highway materials and mix design; highway construction;
earth work; construction of different type of pavements;
pavement failures; maintenance of pavements and drainage
system.
5. Economics, Finance and Administration
Road user cost and economic analysis of highway projects;
highway finance and phasing of expenditures.
Components of Transportation system
i. Modes:
• Road vehicles: Cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles
• Rail vehicles: Trains (freight and passenger
• Air vehicles: Aircraft, drones, helicopters
• Watercraft: Ships, boats
• Non-motorized: Bicycles, pedestrian pathways.
ii. Infrastructure:
• Roads and highways , railways and tracks, airports and runways,
stations and terminals, bridge and tunnels.
iii. Regulations and Safety:
Traffic laws and rules, licensing and vehicle regulations
iv. Technology
• GPS navigation system
• Traffic monitoring and management
v. Communication and information
Travel apps and websites, Real time updates and alerts.
vi. Urban planning and design
vii. Energy and fuel
Transport Planning Problem identify Solution Construction

Definition of Transport planning

• Initial but very significant stage of transport
infrastructure development.
• Deals with the study of
existing transportation
system.
• And plans effective and
sustainable transport
facility for plan period
• It is a cyclic process
which deals with safe
and efficient operation
of transportation
Fig: Land Use - Transportation Cycle
modes. Er. Prabin Kumar Shrestha
Objective of Transport planning
• To study the existing transportation system and forecast
future transportation requirement
• To plan the appropriate transportation system for safe,
economic and effective transport facility through out the
plan period
• To workout on the financing system to execute the
planned transportation system
• To prioritize the transport infrastructure development
based on available resources (like budget, national priority,
public demand)
Planning shall consist of the following studies:
a. Economic studies:
- Population trend, economic trend, Agricultural product
pattern , Per capita incomeEr. Prabin Kumar Shrestha
b. Traffic studies:
- Traffic volume study & pattern study, Traffic capacity, Origin
& Destination study
- Parking study, accident study
c. Financial studies:
- Revenue & income, Taxes
- Vehicle registration & fines
- Living standard
d. Engineering & technical studies:
-Bridge site
-Hydrological study
-Soil & its classification, slope stability, geological study
-Topographical study
-Possibility of alternative route
Er. Prabin Kumar Shrestha
Agencies involved in transport planning
• Policy Committee: Elected official
• Technical Committee: Engineer,
Planner
• Citizens Committee: representatives
from citizen like business group,
labor etc.
• Government Agency: NPC, Ministry

Er. Prabin Kumar Shrestha

Types of Transport planning
Short term planning: Plan period upto 1years
eg. Yearly Budget, local transport plan
Medium term planning: Plan period 1-5years
eg. 3 Years rolling plan, regional transport plan
Short/Medium term planning is less complex and puts no
great demand on construction activities & requires less
capital expenditure.
Long term planning: Plan period > 5years
eg.15thplan, 20 years road plan , national transport
plan.
Long term planning is very complex problem. It requires huge
financial expenditure and involves large and extensive
construction programs which affect the economic, social and
natural environments. Er. Prabin Kumar Shrestha