CE361: Midterm #1 Study Guide (Fricker & Whitford)
(This will be a closed-book, 120-minute exam at the Testing Center. See the Schedule page of the course website for the dates in this semester.)
(A list of formulas related to the exam problems will be attached to your exam. However, you are required to memorize a few important ones. See below for specific instructions.)
The best way to review for computational problems is to review assignment problems. Review carefully the topics listed below.
Exam problems are a mix of definitions, fill-ins, short essays, and computations (covering the topics listed in the course notes from Chapter 1 to Chapter 5). Bring a calculator and a straight edge as well as pencils and an eraser. No engineering pads are necessary. You must write all your answers on the test sheets. Review the following topics from Chapter 1 to Chapter 5.
· Chapter 1.
o Definition of transportation
o What is transportation engineering?
o Transportation goals and utilities
o Three-legged stool of transportation systems – be sure you know what the components are
· Chapter 2
o Headways: definition and calculation method
o Traffic flow rate and volumes: definitions and calculation methods
o PHF – what it means and how it is computed and how it is used
o Converting traffic counts into design data – AADT, DHV, 30th hour volume, K-factor, etc.
o Speeds – TMS vs. SMS (Memorize how to compute these; their formulas will NOT be provided), sample sizes,
o Density and occupancies – how to determine occupancy and density, apparent vs. actual presence time, etc, from detectors
o Speed-density relationship, speed-flow relationship, density-flow relationship, q = SD implies. (Memorize this relationship and know what the fundamental diagram of traffic flow (q-D relation) tells you about traffic flow conditions)
o The Greenshields model – a linear speed-density relationship (Memorize this relationship)
o Know how to estimate a linear relationship given a scatter plot (Recall the concept of linear regression).
o The Poisson model – know the meaning of P(n) and how to use the formula.
o The time between vehicle arrivals – the Negative exponential model. Know the meaning of P(0) = P(X >= x). Know how to use this formula. (Memorize the negative exponential distribution formula)
· Chapter 3
o Freeway definitions – basic freeway sections, weaving areas, ramp junctions
o Freeway performance measures (Memorize how to compute FFS and vp. Tables will be given if a problem about this is included in the exam).
o Concept of capacity and level of service
o Passenger car equivalency factors; know how to compute the value of fHV factor.
o Necessary tables will be given (because this is a closed-book exam).
o Know how to read Figure 3.9
· Chapter 4
o Transportation – a derived demand – why?
o What’s trip generation?
o Transportation planning – a process that involves the analysis of current travel patters, the forecasting of future travel patterns, the proposal of transportation infrastructure and services, and the evaluation of proposed alternative projects. Note this is slightly different from the transportation planning process described in Chapter 5.
o General 4 steps of travel demand analysis
o The four steps of travel demand forecasting process and the four questions in page 187
o Land use and trip making – a two-way relationship
o Estimating the number of trips that may be generated from a land development
o Traffic analysis zones, definition of
· Chapter 5
o Transportation planning process – a typical structure discussed in the text: note this is different from the four step transportation demand forecasting process. (p.254): system design criteria, Data collection and analysis, Planning and evaluation, Federal planning priorities, Public involvement, and Program/plan and implementation.
o 7 broad areas of consideration required by the TEA-21
o 5 functions of MPOs
o Consensus vs. consent
o Stakeholders, definition