Advanced Transportation Engineering

Unit code: NNC6001 | Study level: Postgraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Footscray Park
Prerequisites
N/A
Overview
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Overview

Advanced Transportation Engineering covers the up-to-date knowledge in planning, design and operation analysis of transportation infrastructure such as airports and road systems. Included therein are two major components, being advanced traffic engineering and advanced pavement design. In this unit, current Australian/international guidelines and techniques will be applied in the design and the analysis of the performance of transportation infrastructure.
The traffic engineering component focuses on the demand for transport and the significance of transport to the economy; transport planning techniques including trip generation, trip distribution, mode split and trip assignment models; traffic engineering aspects including flow theory, road capacity, headways, gaps and speed analysis; intersection analysis and the use of the SIDRA program to aid in the design and analysis of signalised intersections; local area traffic management studies; traffic analysis by determination of the level of service of highways and freeways; and sustainable transportation. The pavement engineering components of the unit include, pavement materials and structural layers; determination of number of equivalent standard axles; airport pavement design; highway pavement design for both flexible and rigid pavement systems; interpretation of pavement related laboratory test results such as Repeated Load Triaxial and California Bearing Ratio tests; road drainage systems; and pavement distresses and maintenance programs.
This unit will also apply this knowledge of transportation engineering in the design and analysis of real-world, complex transport networks and vehicle trips using the SIDRA INTERSECTION software package and pavement design and analysis using CIRCLY and airport pavement design software packages at an advanced level.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Determine and implement relevant transport planning techniques, determination of the level of service of highways, and modelling of complex signalised intersections;
  2. Implement a professional design of the pavement profile based on traffic loadings and ground conditions for transport infrastructures such as highways and airport runways;
  3. Demonstrate professional capabilities to collaborate effectively in a small team with responsibilities and accountability for their own learning and development of appropriate technical reports;
  4. Use a systematic approach to design and evaluate engineering solutions taking into account all relevant technical, environmental, economic and social considerations; and
  5. Exhibit knowledge and skills relevant to both their chosen specialisation and the broader discipline of Engineering to new and uncertain professional practice scenarios, exhibiting a high level of personal autonomy and accountability.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Test
|
Grade: 50%
Individual Tests (2)
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 25%
Individual Project
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 25%
Group Assignment

The tests focus upon the individual students’ ability to demonstrate their in-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline, apply established engineering methods to complex engineering problems, and the fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

Required reading

RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology, 2017, Part 2: Pavement Structural Design. Austroads Guide to Traffic Management, 2020, Part 2: Traffic Theory Concepts. Australian Airports Association, 2017, Airfield pavement essentials.

As part of a course

This unit is not compulsory for any specific course. Depending on the course you study, this unit may be taken as an elective.

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