Spring 2006
CEE 495/CEE 771 – TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS
(SPRING 2006)
Instructor:
Telephone:
Office Hours:
Zong Z. Tian
Office:
SEM 221
775-784-1232
Email:
zongt@unr.edu
Tuesday and Thursday: 10 am to 11 am and 2:00 to 3:00 pm or anytime I am in my office
Time and Day: Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm
Location:
SEM 321
Text (Optional): Roess, R., Prassas, E. and McShane, W., "Traffic Engineering," 3rd Edition, 2004, Prentice Hall,
ISBN 0-13-142471-8
Additional
References
1. Traffic Flow Theory, Adolf May, Princeton, 1999.
2. Handouts.
Goal: The content of the course is designed to provide the students with the knowledge and skills for transportation
system management and operations, including arterial street systems and freeway systems.
Course Objectives:






Familiarize the students with the basic concepts and principles of traffic signal operations (a)
Familiarize the students with the basic principles of developing coordinated traffic signal timing plans for
arterial streets and ramp metering algorithms for freeway systems ()
Familiarize the students with the standard traffic engineering software used by traffic engineering
professionals for signal timing development (b,c,e)
Provide the students with the opportunity of working in a team environment for completing a signal timing
project based on an actual field site (d)
* Provide the students with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of signal-timing optimization
methodologies
* Provide the students with the knowledge and skills of developing advanced control algorithms using the
state-of-the-art traffic engineering tools
* Required for graduate students who are enrolled in CEE 771 level.
What You Will Learn:






Understand the major concepts of traffic signal operations, including cycle, split, offset, and phasing
schemes
Understand the basic principles of traffic progression, signal timing and coordination
Learn and apply at least two popular traffic engineering software, such as SYNCHRO and PASSER II
Have the knowledge and skills for seeking employment in traffic engineering firms or public transportation
agencies
* Understand traffic signal timing principles and major optimization methodologies, such as bandwidth
optimization and delay optimization methodologies
* Develop advanced traffic control algorithms using a programming language associated with standard
traffic engineering simulation models
* Required for graduate students who are enrolled in CEE 771 level.
Prerequisite: CEE 463/663 or instructor permission
Exams, Homeworks and Projects:
1
Spring 2006
There will be two exams, the midterm and final exams. There will be a number of homework assignments, covering
each major topics of the course. You will be working with other members in a team of 2 students on a traffic signal
timing and coordination project. The project is designed to provide you with practical experiences and apply the
necessary traffic analysis tools.
Graduate students who are enrolled in CEE 771 level will have higher requirements and standards in grading the
assignments. Graduate students are required to apply innovative concepts in the final project assignment. In
addition, graduate students will need to complete an additional homework assignment involving signal system
optimization and coordination. Graduate students will also have additional problems to work during the midterm
and final exams.
Course Grading:
Percent Breakdown by Items
CEE 495
CEE 771
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Quizzes
Homework
Project
25%
25%
10%
15%
25%
20%
25%
5%
15%
35%
Grade Scale
A
B
C
D
F
90-100
80-90
70-80
60-70
<60
Assignment Due Dates:
All homework are due the week after they were assigned at the beginning of class, unless otherwise stated. Late
assignments will be accepted with a penalty as shown below
Days Late
Penalty
1
10%
2
50%
>2
No Credit
*Extenuating circumastances will be considered according to university regulations
Make-Up Exams:
Make-up exams will be given according to university regulations regarding excused absences. However, events with
schedules that are within your control do not quality as an excused absence.
Disability Statement:
If you have a disability for which you will need accommodations, please contact me or Mary Zabel at the Disability
Resource Center (Thompson Student Services – 107), as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate
accommodations.
2
Spring 2006
Course Schedule:
Table 1 shows the planned schedule and topic areas for the lectures.
Week
Table 1
Course Schedule – CEE 495/771: Transportation Systems Management and Operations
Date
Topics
Reading
1
1/24(TRB) Overview: Transportation Systems and Engineering
1/26
Lecture 1: Signal Timing Terminologies – I
2
1/31
Lecture 1: Signal Timing Terminologies – II
2/2
Lecture 2: Actuated Signal Operations
3
2/7
Lecture 3: Basic Signal Timing and Coordination – I
2/9
Lecture 3: Basic Signal Timing and Coordination – II
4
2/14
Lecture 4: Offset and Delay – I
2/16
Lecture 4: Offset and Delay – II
5
2/21
Lecture 5: Platoon and Dispersion – I
2/23
Lecture 5: Platoon and Dispersion – II
6
2/28
Lecture 6: Bandwidth Optimization – I
3/2
Lecture 6: Bandwidth Optimization – II
7
3/7
Lecture 7: Signal Timing Software – PASSER II
3/9
Lecture 7: Signal Timing Software – Synchro
8
3/14
Midterm Exam Review
3/16
Midterm Exam
9
3/20~3/26
Spring Break
10
3/28
Lecture 8: Diamond Interchanges – I
3/30
Lecture 8: Diamond Interchanges – II
11
4/4
Lecture 8: Diamond Interchanges – III
4/6
Lecture 9: Freeway Ramp Metering – I
12
4/11
Lecture 9: Freeway Ramp Metering – II
4/13
Lecture 9: Freeway Ramp Metering – III
13
4/18
Lecture 10: Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation – I
4/20
Lecture 10: Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation – II
14
4/25
Open
4/27
Open
15
5/2
Open
5/4
Final Project Presentation
16
5/9
Final Review
??
Final Exam
Note: The course schedule is subject to change depending on student’s performance
3