Highway Engineering

The field of highway engineering is a vital part of national and international infrastructure development. This unit of study introduces students to the principles of road design and construction which can be applied in various urban and rural contexts. Students learn to perform geometric road design, including route location, superelevation, transition curves, grading and earthwork calculations, as well as pavement design methods for both flexible and rigid pavements, introduction to road drainage methods, surface and subsurface drainage, and road maintenance issues and programs. They work in small teams on real world projects which require consideration of the natural and existing built environment, OH&S compliance and established reporting protocols. Students will also be introduced to a range of hands-on activities and laboratory practices aimed at observing common industry pavement testing equipment and materials, including green alternatives to conventional pavement materials.