Citation

Hirsh M, Prashker JN, Ben-Akiva M. Transp. Res. Rec. 1986; 1100: 50-57.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

A basic deficiency in the current practice of geometric highway design is a lack of sensitivity to traffic volume, traffic composition, and construction and user cost factors. Current practice is based on a deterministic approach, whereas the factors involved in the geometric design process (e.g., speed, friction, reaction time) are stochastic in nature and vary among road users. The current approach employs only a single value to represent each factor. Criteria that are used to generate these representative values are not made explicit. An alternative approach to geometric design of highways is presented in which sensitivity to the stochastic nature of the various factors involved in the design process and utilization of their distribution are used in calculating design values. The proposed approach also attempts to achieve a cost-effective design by taking into account all the cost elements associated with the highway. An empirical example of a horizontal curve demonstrates the advantages of the probabilistic approach.

Language: en

Keywords

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING; TRANSPORTATION - Research; HIGHWAY SYSTEMS - Costs