CIVE-662: Traffic Engineering

Introduction to Traffic Systems: Part I

January 22, 2020 American University of Beirut

 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Instructor: Dr. Harith Abdulsattar,

Bechtel 410
ha249@aub.edu.lb
Office hours:
Mondays and Wednesday 10:00-11:00 AM or by
appointment via email

Textbook: Traffic Engineering” by Roger P. Roess, E.

S. Prassas and, William R. McShane, 4th Edition
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I
Course Outline:

Introduction to Traffic Systems

Highway Traffic operation Systems

Statistical Applications in Traffic Engineering

Highway Traffic Safety

Design and Analysis of Signalized Int.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I
Course Evaluation:

Midterm Exam 25%

Average of Labs Exercises & Homework 25%

Project/ Oral Presentation 15%

Active Class Participation 5%

Final Exam 30%

Total 100%
Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

• Late 1700s: 95% of the population lived in rural areas

• Now: 0ver 75% lives in urban or suburban areas

Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Critical Contemporary Issues (CCI)

• Mobility
• Energy
• Global Climate Change
• Urban Form
• Population
• Economic Development
• Environmental Issues
• Social Equity
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation System Phases

• Conceptualization

• Planning

• Construction

• Operation/Maintenance

• Decommissioning
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Engineering Systems

Engineering Systems

Engineering
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Complex

• Large-scale

• Interconnected

• Open

• Socio-technical
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Complex
• Structural Complexity
• Number of system components and their interconnecting network
• Behavioral Complexity
• Type of behavior that emerges due to the interaction manner between
components
• Evaluative Complexity
• The competing actions of decision makers in the system (with different
views of good system performance)
• Nested Complexity
• The interactions between complex physical domain and a complex
institutional sphere
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System •Physical system “layer”

• More quantitative principles
• Engineering & economic models
• Complex • Policy system “sphere”
• More qualitative in nature and often
• Structural Complexity more participatory
• Number of system components and•their Stakeholder evaluation
interconnecting and
network
• Behavioral Complexity organizational analysis
• Different methodologies are required
• Type of behavior that emerges due to the interaction manner between
• within the physical system
components
• between the policy system and the
• Evaluative Complexity physical system
• within
• The competing actions of decision makers thesystem
in the policy system
(with different
views of good system performance)
• Nested Complexity
• The interactions between complex physical domain and a complex
institutional sphere
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Large-scale
Nuclear Fuel Transportation Network

• Geographical extent

• Impact
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Interconnected
Nuclear Fuel Transportation Network

• Energy

• Global Climate Change

 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Open
Nuclear Fuel Transportation Network

• Social Factors
• Risk
• Political Factors
• Geopolitics
• Economic Factors
• Development
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS System

• Socio-technical
Nuclear Fuel Transportation Network

• Complex Technology

• Important Social Impacts

 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS Process
Representation

• 3-Stage Design, Evaluation,

Selection
• 12-Steps
Implementation
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

CLIOS Process

Source: Sussman et al. 2014

 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Infrastructure
Era

Transportation
System Era

Transportation
as CLIOS
System Era
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras • Build what “they” want

• Focus of Physical facilities

• Focus on Mobility
Infrastructure
Era • Focus on Economic Growth

• Largely a modal perspective

Transportation
System Era

Transportation
as CLIOS
System Era
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras • Economic-based framework

• Supply
• Demand
• Equilibrium
• Network
Infrastructure • Focus on Economic Development
Era and Environmental Concerns
• Focus on Mobility and Accessibility
• Recognition of unpriced externalities
Transportation
System Era as causing problems (congestion, air
quality, sprawl)
• Intermodal Perspective (largely
Transportation
as CLIOS limited to freight)
System Era
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras Characterized by:

• Advanced Technology and
Mathematics
• Institutional Change: the New
Concept of Enterprise Architecture
Infrastructure • Connection to other Sociotechnical
Era Systems
• Expanded Role of Stakeholders
• Micro-Design Performance
Transportation
System Era Consideration

Transportation
as CLIOS
System Era
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Advanced Technology and Mathematics:

Transportation • Operations Focus

as CLIOS • Tailored Costumer Service
System Era • Advanced and Efficient Level of Intermodalism
• Large-scale Optimization
• Real-time Traffic Control and Provision of
Traveler Information
• Vehicle Automation and Crash-Avoidance
Systems
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Institutional Change: The New Concept of

Enterprise Architecture
Transportation
as CLIOS • Change of Public Sector: Among and within the
System Era levels of the government

• Change of Private Sector: New Business

Models and Players

• Public-Private Partnership
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Expanded Role of Stakeholders

Transportation • Decision-Making
as CLIOS
System Era • Developing Performance Metrics

• Developing Strategic Alternatives

• Implementation of Strategies
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Micro-design Performance Consideration

In addition to the traditional measures (i.e. cost, LOS, price,
Transportation travel-time, reliability, and frequency)
as CLIOS
System Era • Flexibility
• Adaptability
• Robustness
• Resilience
• Scalability
• Modularity
• Stability, and Overarching the 3 Es:
• SUSTAINABILITY Economics,
Environment, and
Social Equity
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Eras

Micro-design Performance Consideration

In addition to the traditional measures (i.e. cost, LOS, price,
Transportation travel-time, reliability, and frequency)
as CLIOS
System Era • Flexibility
• Adaptability
• Robustness
• Resilience
• Scalability
• Modularity
• Stability, and Overarching the 3 Es:
• SUSTAINABILITY Economics,
Environment, and
Social Equity
 Unit A: Traffic Analysis
Lecture 1: Introduction to Traffic Systems Part I

Transportation Key Issues

• Safety

• Mobility

• Global Connectivity

• Environmental Stewardship

• Security