Spring 2009 CEE 4211/5211 Traffic Engineering

Preliminaries
Instructor: Dr. Henry Liu henryliu@umn.edu
Office Hours: CE 136 MW 2:45 – 3:45 pm
Or by appointment
Classes: CE 205 MW 3:45 – 5:00 pm
TA: Sundeep Bhimireddy bhimi001@umn.edu
Office Hours: CE 175 Tuesday 2-4pm

Course Description
Introduction to fundamentals of urban traffic engineering, including data collection, analysis, and
design. Traffic engineering studies, traffic control devices, capacity and level of service analysis
of freeways and urban streets. Application of traffic operations computer simulation models to
the design of isolated intersection and coordinated traffic signal control systems.

Course Objective
The objective of this course is to introduce students to traffic engineering fundamentals for
highways and freeways. Emphasis is on the safe and efficient operations of roadway
intersections. State-of-the-art computer packages will be used solve traffic engineering problems.
By the end of this course, students should be able to evaluate, analyze, and design timing plans
for signalized intersections.

Course Outcomes
Obtain an understanding of the fundamentals of traffic engineering
Learn both quantitative and computerized techniques for solving basic traffic engineering
problems
Apply the principles of traffic engineering to evaluate, analyze, and design timing plans
for signalized intersections
Demonstrate the capability to write a technical report and communicate the results of
their solution approach to other engineering professionals

Prerequisites and Requirements

CE 3211 Introduction to Transportation Engineering

1
Grading
Homework (5~6) 10%
Labs (5~6) 10%
Mid-term (8th Week Tentatively) 30%
Final Exam 30%
Term paper/project 20%

Textbook:
Roess, R.P., Prassas, E.L., and McShane, W. R., “Traffic Engineering”, Third Edition,
Prentice-Hall, 2004.
Lecture notes and handouts will be distributed throughout the semester, or posted on web.

Labs:
There are lab assignments involving outdoor data collection, processing and analysis.
There are lab assignments utilizing various PC-based traffic engineering software
packages (Synchro, SimTraffic, etc.), which are installed in the CE computer lab.
All lab reports must be prepared professionally. Each submitted lab report would receive
two weighted grades: one for technical content (70%) and one for report quality (30%).

References:

• Highway Capacity Manual (HCM2000) Transportation Research Board, National

Research Council, Washington, D.C.
• Thomas R. Currin (2001) Introduction to Traffic Engineering: A Manual for Data
Collection and Analysis. Brooks/Cole, Thomson Learning.
• Nicholas J. Garber and Lester A. Hoel (2001) Traffic and Highway Engineering (Revised
3rd Edition). PWS Publishing.

Tentative Course Outline

1. Week 1
Basic Concepts
Components of the Traffic System
2. Week 2
Traffic Stream Characteristics
Fundamental Diagram
3. Week 3
Traffic Data Collection
Volume Studies, Speed, Travel Time, and Delay Studies
4. Week 4
Basic Principle of Probability and Statistics
5. Week 5
Statistics and Applications in Traffic Engineering
6. Week 6
Basic Traffic Flow Theory

2
 Shockwave Analysis
7. Week 7
Highway Capacity Analysis
Freeway Weaving Sections/Ramps
8. Week 8
Freeway Management and Control
Midterm
9. Week 9
Spring Break
10. Week 10
Introduction to Intersection Control
11. Week 11
Basic Principles of Intersection Signalization
Webster’s Delay Model
Introduction to Synchro/SimTraffic
12. Week 12
Fundamentals of Signal Design and Timing
Phasing Concepts and Dilemma Zone
13. Week 13
Analysis of Signalized Intersections
Highway Capacity Manual
14. Week 14
Signal Coordination, Green bandwidth Concept
Development of Coordinated Timing Plan
15. Week 15
Actuated Signal Control
Actuated Signal Coordination
Signal Timing parameters and Detector Placement
16. Week 16
Review