THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

EXAMINATIONS OF SEMESTER 1 DECEMBER 2016

Code and Name of Course: CVNG 3009 Highway Engineering

Date and Time: December 2016 Duration: 3 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES: This paper has 7 pages and 5 questions

The Use of Programmable Calculators is Not Allowed

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016 / 10/03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 2

1. A bike-racer practices every day at different times. His route includes a ride along a 1km bikeway and
back as shown in the diagram.

Bikeway
______________________________________________________________________________

East Lane A West

____________________________________________________________________________

Since he is a traffic engineer, he counts the number of cars in travelling west in lane A he meets while
travelling eastward Ne, the number of cars in lane A that overtake him while travelling westward Ow
and the number of cars he passes when travelling westward Pw. The table below summarizes the average
measurements that he obtained for each period of the day.

Time of Day Ne Ow Pw
8:00 9:00a.m. 107 10 74
9:00 10:0 a.m. 113 25 41
10:00 11:00a.m. 30 15 5
11:00 12:00 noon 79 18 9

Given that his speed is always 30km/h,:-

(a) Find the traffic stream conditions for each time of day. [10 marks]
(b) Assuming a Speed-density relationship based on Greenshields model, calibrate the parameters using
linear regression. [5 marks]
(c) Find the free flow (mean free) speed, capacity and jam density. [5 marks]

2(a) Discuss the aim of a Traffic Management plan. Include a description of the possible elements of
the plan and the tools available to the Traffic Engineer in the implementation of the plan.
[10 marks]

(b) Describe the travel forecasting models used in the analysis and forecasting phase of the
Transportation Planning process including the functional forms and expected model outputs.
[10 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 3

3 (a) The main road sector of a small Island State, comprising 766 km of paved roads, is in need of
rehabilitation. Three alternative intervention treatments have been developed and the associated annual
agency and user costs for one km of each treatment alternative are given in Table 1. Using the Net
Present Value and another economic indicator of your choice, determine the best performing alternative
for the next 20 years at a discount rate of 12.0 %. [12 marks]

Table 1. Annual Costs per km of Treatment Alternatives ($)

Alternative Construction Maintenance Road User

Cost Cost Cost
1. Do minimum 0 991,100 11753,294

2. Overlay 9481,274 166,132 10105,328

3. Reconstruction 14132,968 109,116 9112,406

3 (b) The alternatives in question 3 (a) above have a ranking and associated measures of effectiveness
according to Table 2. Using the computed NPV for the best performing alternative above as the measure
of effectiveness for economic returns on investment, select the best sustainable alternative for
implementation to service the next 20 years.
[8 marks]

Table 2. Measures of Effectiveness and Rank

Objectives Rank Measures of Effectiveness (for Alternatives)

1. Do minimum 2. Overlay 3. Reconstruction

Service Life, yrs 1 2 9 12

Vehicle Emissions, t/km/yr 2 0.6 0.3 0.3

Economic Returns, NPV 3 (from 3.a) (from 3.a) (from 3.a)

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 4

The reduced level of an intersection of a rising gradient of 1.5% and a falling gradient of 1.0% on a proposed
motorway is 93.60m. Given the K value for this particular road is 55, the through chainage of the intersection is
671.34m and the vertical curve is to have equal tangent lengths, calculate: (a) The start and end chainages of the
tangent points of the vertical curve if the minimum required length is to be used (b) The elevation level of the
start and end of the curve and the elevations at chainage 0+620m.
1.5 2.5 2
Formula Given: K = L/A = 100 200 [20 marks]

(a) Use the AASHTO flexible design nomograph and the layered analysis design concept to design the most
economical flexible pavement section for the following conditions:
R = 90% So = 0.40 po = 4.5 pt = 2.0 ESAL = 20 million
Existing Ground : Mreff = 6,000 psi;
Min AC Thickness = 5 in.; Min Bituminous Treated Base Thickness = 8 in.
The following materials are available
Pavement surface: Dense graded HMA, EHMA = 450,000 psi
Stockpile 1: Bituminous Treated base; Resilient modulus = 100,000 psi; Drainage factor = 0.80
Stockpile 2: Gravel; Resilient modulus = 13,500 psi; Drainage factor = 0.90
[12 marks]

(b) One of the most important tasks of the supervision during the execution of a road contract is technical
quality control, i.e. control as to whether the materials and work supplied by the Contractor meet the
technical requirements in the contract specifications. Describe with examples the 2 types of Quality Control
Employed in Road Construction. [8 marks]

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 5

GRAPH 1

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 6

GRAPH 2

GRAPH 3

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 7

GRAPH 4

GRAPH 5

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//

 Page 8

Appendix I

Linear Regression Analysis

If a dependent variable y and an independent variable x are related by an estimated linear regression
function, then
y = a + bx
The constants a and b could be determined from the following equations:-

1
= =1 =1 = - b

And

1

=1 =1 =1
b = 1 2
2
=1 =1

where n = number of sets of observations

xi = ith observation for x
yi = ith observation for y

The University of the West Indies Course Code CVNG 3009 2016-10-03

DO NOT WRITE OR TYPE ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET: USE ONE SIDE ONLY

INSTRUCTIONS: Each page must be signed by the Examiners and where applicable, the University Examiner and/or the
External Examiner. Where the examination does not require a University Examiner, the form must be signed by the First and
Second Examiners. Completed forms should be handed to the Assistant Registrar (Examinations). The EXTERNAL
EXAMINER is requested to sign the question paper and return it with comments, if any, (on a separate sheet), to the Assistant
Registrar (Examinations).
.. ..
First Examiner University Examiner

.. ..
Second Examiner External Examiner (where applicable)

Date: 2016/10/03 Date: 2016//