Operation, analysis, and design of signalized intersections : a module for the introductory course in transportation engineering.

PDFTech ReportN14-04DTRT12-G-UTC17Signalized intersectionsTransportation engineeringCurriculaHighway operationsHighway traffic control systemsEducation and trainingUnited StatesTranLIVE. University of IdahoKyte, MichaelTribelhorn, MariaNational Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology (U.S.)United States. Dept. of Transportation. Research and Innovative Technology AdministrationUS Transportation CollectionThis report presents materials that can be used as the basis for a module on signalized intersections in the introductorycourse in transportation engineering. The materials were developed based on studies of the work of students who tookthis introductory course, including analysis of examination results, homework assignments, and interviews with studentsto identify concepts that were particularly difficult for them. Existing textbooks commonly used in the introductory coursewere reviewed to identify how concepts and topics related to signalized intersections were treated. Standard guidebooksused by transportation professionals were reviewed to identify concepts that would be appropriate to include in a newcurriculum. The following guidelines were used to develop these materials:\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Understanding the basic operation of a traffic controller is an important foundation for a realistic understanding ofhow a signalized intersection works.\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Focusing on the automobile user and pretimed operation allows the student to learn about fundamental principles ofa signalized intersection.\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Queuing models are presented as a way of learning about the fundamentals of traffic flow at a signalized intersection.\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Only those equations that students can apply with some degree of understanding are presented.\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Learning objectives are clearly stated at the beginning of each section so that the student knows what is to come.\ue2\u20ac\ua2 Graphically illustrating basic concepts is an important way for students to learn