Course Learning Outcome: This course is designed to provide students with an in-depth theoretical understanding of traffic control, traffic flow analysis using applied mathematics, and level-of-service evaluation of highways. It also incorporates the concepts of intelligent transportation systems

Session: Offered in Odd Semesters (July 2023 - December 2023) 

Broad Syllabus (Lecture Plans Updated Every Year)

Unit I: Introduction to Traffic Flow

Component of Traffic Flow System, Traffic variables and parameters, Driver behavior, Simulation, Controlled – Access Concept, Freeway Concept, System performances, Measure of effectiveness. (10 Lectures)

UNIT II: Flow Through Transportation Networks

Flow through transportation networks - various types of graphs, determination of link and chain flows, finding maximum flow values of capacitated networks. Capacity of a roadway, Bottlenecks.         

(10 Lectures)

UNIT III: Traffic Flow Theory                      

Approaches to traffic flow theory, Traffic flow relationships – flow at different densities, Shock wave phenomenon, time – space diagram. Mathematical modeling, Probabilistic and Stochastic models of traffic flow process, Headway modeling, Gaps and process of gap acceptance, Macroscopic models, Car – following model, Queuing models, fundamentals & developments of queuing process, Applications. 

(10 Lectures)

UNIT IV: Level of Service and Capacity Analysis

Indices of Level of Service (LOS) as offered to road users, Freeway capacity, Multilane capacity, Signalized Intersection capacity. 

Course Materials: (Will be updated every year) 

Handout and Lecture Plan

• • L1

  • L2-3

  • L4

  • L4_Appendix (Q-K-V relationship derivation)

  • L5

  • L6-7

  • L8

  • L9

  • L9_Appendix (Textbook Chapter Reference from A.D May's "Traffic Flow Fundamentals")

  • L10-11 (Traffic Shockwaves)

  • L12 (Shockwaves continued)

  • L13-14 (Time-Count Plots and Traffic Data Measurement)

  • L15-19 (Capacity and LOS)

  • L20-22 (LOS Problems #1)

  • L20-22 (LOS Problems #2)

------------------------------------------------ Mid-Term (Sept 11-15) -------------------------------------------------------------------

• L23 Onwards - Intersection and Signal Design

• L30 Onwards - Queueing Theory and Applications

Textbooks and Other Reference Materials:

• T1 - Traffic Engineering by Roger P Roess 

• T2 - (Adolf May) Traffic Flow Theory

• T3 - Clive L. Dym - Principles of mathematical modelling (Second Edition)-Academic Press (2004)

• T4 - Traffic and HighwayEngineering 4th Edition - Garber and Hoel

• T5 - Transportation Engineering - Khisty and Lall