About Geometric Design of Highways and factors affecting it

Geometric design of highway is the persistence of layout and features clear on highway; the importance is more on solving the need of the driver as well as to make sure the safety of vehicle, the comfort in the driving time and ability. Besides all this, there are other related things are also planned on the project.

Here are the main landforms which are considered for geometric design of highway is: 1) Cross section elements, 2) The gradient, 3) The intersection and 4) The consideration of sight distance.

Influencers of the geometric design of highway: 1) The characteristics of the vehicle, 2) The behavior of the driver, 3) The psychology of the driver, 4) Traffic characteristics, 5) Traffic Volume and 6) Traffic Speed.

A proper design of road can help to reduce the number of accidents and severity of movement; the main reason of geometric design is to get best efficiency in the traffic operation period and maximum safety. All these features must be achieved with maximum economy in the cost and construction but unlike the construction of pavement, the planned process is conducted in advance.

There are various reasons that manage the geometric design of highways are: the Design Speed, the Topography factors and Other factors. Here are some details about these reasons that help to manage the geometric design of highways:

The Design Speed of Highways: The most important factor affecting the geometric design of the highways is the design speed and this design speed parameter affects the things like Length of the vertical curves, the Horizontal curves and the Sight distances. Speed is generally the main quality that has many variations in the things like the person driving, the type of vehicle, the topography etc. This is main reason why the design speed is considered as a main factor in the geometric design of highways.

The highest continuing speed as per the weather conditions are useful to help in safety travelling of the vehicles is known as the design speed. The design speed is different than Legal Speed; in this Legal Speed the drivers tend to travel under a safe speed; while desired speed is the highest speed at which the driver can travel when they are bound by traffic rules.

? Topography factors: The second important factor is the topography that affects the geometric design. It is easier to make the highway as per standards for a plain terrain; when the terrain and the gradient rises the construction cost will rise for a specific design speed.

? Other factors Affecting Geometric design: Vehicle, Human, Environment and Economy, Traffic and Other Factors.

Article Source: theconstructor.org