Links to assignment .pdf documents and helpful tips/hints. Make sure you check the discussion board for more assignment help and information.
Homework Assignments
Homework
1: Road Vehicle Performance (100 points)
I have put together a
sample
of what a completed "additional required work" section might look like. This is definitely not
the only format for this part, but it does represent
the kind of effort and clarity that is expected.
Homework
2: Geometric Design & Pavement Design (100
points)
This assignment covers basic geometric design and pavement design. Note
that pavement design is covered differently in class than it is in the
text.
Homework
3: Traffic & Level of Service (100
points)
This assignment covers some detailed LOS calculations.
The emphasis is on LOS analysis but you should also
know a bit of LOS design in case it is on a test.
Homework 4: Queuing
(100 points)
A brief introduction to queuing.
Homework 5: Travel Demand/Mode Choice/Route
Choice (100 points)
This homework includes a couple of review problems
in the textbook assignment section. The models themselves
are not difficult but keeping track of all the calcuations
can be.
Writing Assignments
Divided
Highways Writing Assignment (DHWA)(100 points)
I have a copy of the tape that I can lend to individuals on an overnight basis
for additional viewing. You may also download a
grading rubric for the assignment if you are curious.
Abstracts 1
Writing Assignment (10 points)
Read the first 5 Other Readings (For
Whom the Road Tolls,
Must a Bridge... ,
Reconsidering the Gas Tax..., Environmental
Justice..., The Road to Hell...)
and write an abstract for 2 of these articles. Each abstract should be 200 words
or less and typed (e.g., using Word). This amounts to a total length of less
than one page. Basically, an abstract concisely conveys the meaning of the paper.
More precise requirements, paraphrased from the Transportation
Research Board's Website, are:
An abstract must be self-contained, and it must not require reference to the paper to be understood. It should present the primary paper topics and relevant conclusions; the techniques or approaches used in the paper should be described only to the extent necessary for comprehension; and conclusions should be presented concisely and informatively. The abstract should not contain unfamiliar terms that are not defined, undefined acronyms, reference citations, or displayed equations or lists.
We will discuss some of these readings in class so it would be a good idea to read them so you can contribute to the discussion. It is also possible that I will include a couple of questions based on these readings in the midterm. The questions will be quite easy to answer if you have done the reading.
Abstracts 2
Writing Assignment (10 points)
Read the second 5 Other Readings (Dispatch from London, Rethinking
Traffic Congestion, WSDOT
Congestion, The
Path to Discreet-Choice Models,
The Physical Internet) and write an abstract for 2 of these articles. Each abstract should be 200
words or less and typed (e.g., using Word). This amounts to a total length
of less than one page. Basically, an abstract concisely conveys the meaning
of the paper.
We will discuss some of these readings in class so it would be a good idea to read them so you can contribute to the discussion. It is also possible that I will include a couple of questions based on these readings in the final. The questions will be quite easy to answer if you have done the reading.
Projects
Project 1: Geometric and Pavement Design (100 points)
This is quite representative of what you could be asked to do as a
transportation design engineer. Of course we're skipping the endless
hours of meetings that are normally involved.
Project 2: Traffic and Queuing (100 points)
A chance to work with actual loop detector data from SR 520 near the
Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. This is actually how we get PHF,
congestion measurements, etc. You will need this file: Data File (right click the file and "Save As...")
Prototype Project Report (guidance for you)
This describes typical features of a project report and what will get
you a better grade. Remember, concise and meaningful is always better
than long and rambling. It is much more difficult to write a concise
report that contains all relevant information than a long, drawn-out
one that rambles around but still contains all relevant information.