University of Technology Sydney

48370 Road and Transport Engineering

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 48310 Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Description

This is an introductory subject covering the discipline of transport engineering as part of the broad field of civil and environmental engineering. An outline of the discipline and its relationships with other engineering and non-engineering disciplines is provided with particular emphasis on achieving sustainable design and planning outcomes. The subject comprises two strands, transport planning and traffic engineering. The transport planning strand covers the analysis, design and evaluation of transport systems, primarily focusing on public transport provision. In the second strand, students learn about the '4-step transport modelling' approach to determine travel demands at a regional level, a key component of infrastructure feasibility assessments and design to ensure satisfactory operations. Students are also introduced to the fundamentals of traffic flow theory to be equipped with the tools necessary to assess capacity and appraise transport infrastructure. Furthermore, applications of this theory are introduced to students through practical case studies such as the preparation of local area traffic management schemes.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. Analyse and evaluate the relationships between active, public and private transport users, different forms of transport infrastructure, vehicles and different transport modes in planning for a sustainable transport system. (B.1)
2. Apply the basic terminology, empirical data analysis and modelling concepts of transport planning and traffic engineering practice to effectively manage transport systems. (D.1)
3. Examine the interaction between land-use development, transport infrastructure supply and demand as well as overall traffic operations to develop transport management plans for the community. (C.1)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

  • Socially Responsible: FEIT graduates identify, engage, interpret and analyse stakeholder needs and cultural perspectives, establish priorities and goals, and identify constraints, uncertainties and risks (social, ethical, cultural, legislative, environmental, economics etc.) to define the system requirements. (B.1)
  • Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
  • Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies

This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:

  • 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
  • 1.5. Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline.
  • 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.

Teaching and learning strategies

The subject will be delivered as a project-based subject using a combination of online and face-to-face learning activities. Students will learn and apply the fundamentals of transport engineering in groups within a collaborative learning environment. The subject will utilise Microsoft Teams as an online learning platform for discussion, group organisation and presentation of material. The Microsoft Teams platform is also used as a forum for students to ask questions related to teaching material, post ideas and reflect on the current state of transport planning and traffic engineering in practice. Teaching staff will contribute to the Microsoft Teams platform and this will be the primary source of communication and feedback for all students undertaking the subject.

Students will be provided recorded subject material and practice exercises available on Canvas to establish fundamental theory of the subject area. In addition, there will be weekly face-to-face workshops (interactive consultation sessions) held for students to discuss material, solve example problems and collaboratively complete assessment task components. These workshops will include guest lectures from industry professionals and provide a connection for students between theory and application. It is strongly encouraged that all students enrolled in the subject attend these face-to-face sessions to achieve the learning outcomes. Students are recommended to cover the weekly content available on Canvas prior to each workshop session, to effectively participate in discussion sessions, in understanding contextual examples and contributing to group work.

Students will be assessed based on 4 practice oriented real-world assessment tasks that cover concepts and engineering methodologies discussed in the subject material.

Content (topics)

  1. Introduction to Road and Transport Engineering;
  2. Transport and Land-use Systems;
  3. Travel Behaviour;
  4. Mode Dynamics of Urban Environments;
  5. Transport System Performance Measurement;
  6. Transport, Energy and Climate Change Policy Development;
  7. Introduction to Traffic Flow Theory;
  8. Variability in Traffic and Queuing Theory Basics;
  9. Traffic Management Applications;
  10. The 4-Step Transport Modelling Process: Trip Generation and Trip Distribution;
  11. The 4-Step Transport Modelling Process: Mode Choice and Traffic Assignment.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Photo Travel Diary of a Journey

Intent:

To assess a student’s ability to complete a set of divergent thinking activities fundamental to transport planning, by focusing on defining transport systems and relationships, and analysing the impact of operations and behaviour on the performance of these systems.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1 and 2

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1 and D.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 15%
Length:

The photo diary report should be no more than 5 pages in length.

Assessment task 2: Transport Planning Evaluation Report

Intent:

To evaluate a student’s ability to apply the theoretical concepts of traffic engineering and develop solutions to real-world operational problems within a transport network (focused on public transport).
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Length:

The report should be no more than 15 pages in length.

Assessment task 3: Transport Operations Technical Report

Intent:

To evaluate and apply the fundamental aspects of transport engineering with a particular focus on traffic engineering and modelling. Students solve a local traffic problem reflecting the design and decision-making methodologies used by a traffic engineers in practice.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 15%
Length:

The report should be no more than 5 pages in length.

Assessment task 4: Transport Modelling and Operations Report

Intent:

To evaluate and apply the theoretical concepts of traffic engineering and develop solutions to real-world operational problems within a road network.
Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs):

1, 2 and 3

This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):

B.1, C.1 and D.1

Type: Report
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 35%
Length:

The report should be no more than 15 pages in length.

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

References

Principles of Highway Engineering and Traffic Analysis, 5th Edition by Fred Mannering and Scott Washburn

Austroads Guide to Traffic Management (AGTM)

Urban Transit Systems and Technology by Vukan Vuchic

Other resources

All students must access the UTS Canvas site at least weekly for information on the following matters:

  1. Specific instructions relating to attendance at and/or requirements for lectures;
  2. Changes to the subject program, namely lectures and/or lecturers;
  3. Supplementary resources such as lecture, tutorial and assessment materials;
  4. Selected PowerPoint presentations and filmed recordings;
  5. Assessments set by individual lecturers.