72860 - Transport Systems Design M

Learning outcomes

With the achievement of the educational credits, the student has the basic elements for the functional design of transport systems based on road and rail land vehicles. They also acquire a preparation that, integrated with the notions of other courses in the sector, will allow them to plan and organize a transport system.

Course contents

General concepts and definitions:
- Course outline
- General characteristics of road, rail and air traffic.
Road circulation and Highway Capacity Manual (HCM 2000): uninterrupted and interrupted flow infrastructures:
- Concept and evaluation of Level Of Service (LOS)
Uninterrupted flow infrastructures:
- Fundamental variables and flow models
- Theoretical and experimental traffic flow curves
- Measurement of flow variables; flow rate and peak factor
- Capacity in ideal conditions
- LOS of a freeway section
- LOS of two-lane highways
- Continuous flow models and shock waves
- Microscopic flow models in a nutshell
Elements of queuing theory:
- Basic elements of a queue system, theoretical fundamentals
- Poissonian single or multiple servant queues: MM1 and MMn
- Non-Poissonian Queues: MG1, MD1. Herlangian queues
- Examples
Signalized intersections
- Basic definitions: Traffic light cycle and phases, Lane Groups; Saturation Flow
- Real Saturation Flow estimation
- Capacity, Saturation degree and flow ratio of a lane group
- Delay and LOS of a traffic light intersection: estimate according to Webster , Doherty , Robertson-Whiting, HCM
- Webster and HCM methods for cycle and phase definition
- Yellow time estimation
- Traffic light coordination
Unsignalized Intersections
- Type of intersection; allowed manoeuvres and priority rules
- Definition and estimation of critical-gap and follow-up-time
- Critical volume, potential and actual capacity of each manoeuvre
- LOS delay and queue length estimation
Roundabout intersections
- Rules of precedence, design characteristics
- Review of regulatory framework of roundabouts - European classification and FHWH classification
- Italian classification: DM 19/04/2006
- Methods of capacity and LOS estimation: experimental/empirical (Kimber), analytical (HCM, FHWA, ARRB-SIDRA)
Railway circulation and capacity
- Structural and functional characteristics of the railway system
- Speed and braking characteristics of trains
- rail networks: lines and nodes (stations)
- Traffic safety: detection and control equipment
- On-line and station circulation regimes
- Estimation of line capacity: Lehner curve; UIC and RFI methods for line capacity calculation
- Capacity of a railway node: Potthoff method
Management systems and levels; the command - control system (SCC)
- The SCMT system
- High Speed Rail: General features; ERTMS - ETCS operating levels; AV/AC management

Readings/Bibliography

Slides and lecture notes

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures, exercises, in-depth seminars. On the basis of the University's indications regarding the Covid-19 emergency, the lessons can be delivered on-line.

Assessment methods

Oral exams

Office hours

See the website of Luca Mantecchini