UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES

CEE180 INTRODUCTION TO TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING

SPRING 2003
COURSE SYLLABUS – REV. 2

ERIC C. SHEN, P.E.

Transportation Planning & Development Manager
City of Pasadena, Department of Transportation
eshen@ci.pasadena.ca.us; ericshen@ucla.edu
Work: (626) 744-7208; Fax: (626) 396-7654
Cell: (626) 786-2958
LECTURERS
PATRICK GIBSON, P.E.
Vice President
Kaku Associates, Inc.
pgibson@kakuinc.com
Work: (310) 458-9916; Fax: (310) 394-7663

TUESDAY & THURSDAY 4 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.; NO BREAK

LECTURES
BOELTER 4413
OFFICE HOURS & Thursday 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.; Location: TBD
DISCUSSION Communication via e-mail is strongly encouraged

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed for juniors/seniors as well as for graduate students who are interested in the
general overall view of current practice in surface transportation. Transportation problems are
enormously complex, not only due to the problems themselves, but also the “stakeholders”
involved. The “conflict” between public perception and technical reality often results in the
appearance of professionals (engineers, planners and technicians) against elected officials and
citizens.

Traditional college-level transportation engineering courses focused on “building more roads”, thus
students were taught to proficient skills in geometric design, pavement design, drainage, and
construction engineering. The realization of “can’t build your way out of congestion” in the recent
years redirects the focus to “managing what you already have” and “improving efficiencies”. The
ongoing federal and state budget crises will have severe impacts on our transportation system in the
next few years. Thus, instead of concentrating on just roadway design, this introductory course
covers a broad range of topics related to transportation planning, design and operations. The intent
of the course is to present and discuss all aspects of the transportation system. The course will not

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result in a proficiency in highway design, but rather will introduce the basics of roadway geometric
design, roadway and transit capacity, traffic and transit operations, transportation planning and
neighborhood traffic safety.

The course is made up of lectures and discussion sessions. Students are expected to interact with
the lecturer(s) as well as peer students.

II. TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Introduction to the fundamentals of inter-modal transportation systems and the interactions

between each component (modes, infrastructure, institution, technologies, and policies).
Introduction to fundamental transportation and traffic engineering of:

• Vehicle motion, human factors

• Geometric design of roadway (horizon and vertical curves)
• Traffic flow characteristics (queuing theory, shockwave)
• Capacity Analysis
• Traffic Signal and Timing Design (Time-Space Diagram)
• Transportation Planning and Mitigation
• Advanced technologies in transportation management (ATMS/ATIS etc.)

Students will apply these fundamentals on a design/research project (see Section VI). In addition,
students are encouraged to attend at least one transportation-related professional meeting/official
hearing.

III. TEXT BOOK & READING MATERIALS

1. C.S. Papacostas & P.D. Prevedouros. “Transportation Engineering and Planning”, 3rd
Edition, Prentice Hall, 2001

2. Additional reading materials will be distributed throughout the course.

IV. REQUIREMENTS ON HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

1. Use engineering papers and show your work neatly.

2. Clearly identify each page and make sure all pages are stapled together

3. Discuss with your peers is encouraged, but copy their work won’t do you any good.

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V. STUDENT EVALUATION

Assignments (5) 10%

Quizzes (up to 5) 15%
Midterm exam 20%
Final exam 30%
Design/Research Project
Report 15%
Presentation 10%
TOTAL 100%

VI. COURSE OUTLINE

READING
LECTUR
LEC. #
WEEK

HOMEWORK
DATE ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED ASSIGNMENT/
ASSIGNMENT
EVALUATION
ER

Course Overview & Introduction to

4/1/03 ES/ Intro &
1 Urban Transportation Planning
Tue. PG Background
Process
Road Vehicle Performance HW#1
1 2 ES 2.1 - 2.3
Human Factors 2.1, 2.2,2.5, 2.6
4/3/03
Thu.
D1 ES Discussion: Human Factors

4/8/03 Geometric Design:

3 ES 2.4.7
Tue. Vertical Curves (1)
HW#1 Due
Quiz #1: Week 1
HW#2 (part 1)
Geometric Design: materials
2 4 ES 2.20, 2.21, 2.22 &
Vertical Curves (2)
4/10/03 supplemental
2.4.7
Thu. question(s)

D2 ES Discussion: Human Factors & VC Problems & Solutions

Geometric Design:
HW#2 (part 2) 2.4.4
Horizontal Curves (1)
4/15/03 2.17, 2.19, &
5 ES
Tue. supplemental Quiz #2: Week 2
***Submit a tentative research
question(s) materials
paper topic by the end of class***
3 Geometric Design:
6 ES 3.1 – 3.3
Horizontal Curves (2)
4/17/03
Thu.
D3 ES Discussion: HC Problems & Solutions

3.4.3
4/22/03 Channelization & Traffic Calming HW#2 (both parts)
4 7 ES
Tue. Devices due Quiz #3: Week 3
materials

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 Traffic Stream Flow Models
HW#3
Statistical Analysis
14.2, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9,
8 ES 3.14, 4.11, 4.12 & 14.1 – 14.2.2
4/24/03 Traffic Analysis:
supplemental
Thu. Flow, Speed & Density
question(s)
Queuing Theory (1)
D4 ES Discussion: Speed Studies
Traffic Analysis:
4/29/03 Design/Research
9 ES Flow, Speed & Density 4.9.1, 4.7.1
Tue. topic finalized
5 Queuing Theory (2)
5/1/03 Mid-term exam
10 ES
Thu. HW#3 due at the end of Midterm
Introduction to Traffic Control:
5/6/03 HW#4: HCS
11 PG Signalized vs. Non-signalized 4.6.1 – 4.6.7
Tue. exercise (TBD)
Signal timing, Striping, HCM
Signalized Intersection & Arterial Highway Capacity
6 12 PG Operations: Time-Space Diagrams, Software (HCS) 4.6.1 – 4.6.7
5/8/03 HCM, LOS Analysis (1) exercise
Thu.
D5 PG Discussion: Citywide Comprehensive General Plan

Signalized Intersection & Arterial

5/13/03 Quiz #4: Week 6
13 PG Operations: Time-Space Diagrams, HW#4 Due
Tue. materials
HCM, LOS Analysis (2)
Freeway Analysis: Highway Capacity
7 14 PG Introduction, LOS Analysis, Software (HCS)
5/15/03 Weaving Analysis, etc. exercise
Thu.
D6 PG Discussion: Hawaii Transportation Alternatives

5/20/03
15 PG Transportation Planning TBD 2.4.14 – 2.4.15
Tue.
7.1
8 16 PG Transportation Impacts in Practice TBD Quiz #5: Week 7
5/22/03 materials
Thu.
D7 PG Discussion: Disneyland Transportation Systems

5/27/03
17 PG Traffic Impact & Parking Studies TBD 9.1-9.2.5
Tue.
Intelligent Transportation Systems
9 18 PG vs. Neighborhood Traffic TBD 6.5
5/29/03 Management
Thu.
D8 PG Discussion: Staples Center Traffic & Parking Management

6/3/03 ES
19 Design Project Presentation Group 1-6
Tue. /PG
10
6/5/03 ES
20 Design Project Presentation Group 7-11
Thu. /PG

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 6/10/02
Final Exam
Tuesday 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

VII. DESIGN/RESEARCH PROJECT

Purpose:

This design/research project is intended to apply fundamental design procedures learned

throughout this course onto a real world transportation issue. Students will form design teams
(as if they are consulting engineers) to identify a suitable topic from the following list. Some
topics may allow more design components (i.e., Realignment of a freeway on-ramp or Mitigation study
for a new mega-cinema development in Westwood Village) while others may require in depth lecture
review (i.e. Effectiveness of current UCLA employee rideshare program or Effectiveness of bus preferential
treatment at signalized intersections). Each team will work with the lecturer in determining a suitable
research topic. In order to achieve the maximum benefit for all students, duplicated/similar
topics among teams will be avoided.

The end product shall reflect the team effort. That is, each team will submit a professional
looking report and present its study concisely. Oral presentations will be graded not only by the
lecturer, but also by peer students.

Potential Topics Example(s)

Transportation Systems &
Freeways vs. Toll Roads
Economics
State Gas Tax as the Primary Transportation Funding
Funding & Policies
Mechanism
At-grade Light Rail vs. Heavy Rail Subway for LA
Public Transportation
Corridors
Intelligent Transportation Systems
Effectiveness of Modernized Traffic Signal Systems
(ITS)
Traffic Calming (Neighborhood Procedures for Evaluating Effectiveness of Management
Traffic Management) Strategies
Traffic Congestion & Control Auto-free Zones or Congestion Pricing in LA
Traffic Flow Theory & Queuing
Computer simulation (TRANSYT-7f vs. VISSIM)
Theory
Transportation Planning for a Disneyland Resort Movement of Visitors
Major Development Project Las Vegas Monorail
Application of International
Air, sea vs. rail, highway transport
Transportation Solutions to LA

(Other topics to be approved by the lecturer)

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 Teaming Arrangement

Due to the class size, each working group will have three to four members, to be assigned by the
Lecturer after the close of the first week of class.

Report Format:

1. Minimum 10 pages, maximum 20 pages excluding the cover page and Table of Contents
2. 1" margin on all sides (letter size paper), single space
3. Figures and graphics are encouraged, but shall not be overly used to take up space.
4. No color prints nor oversize inserts necessary
5. Report should contain the following sections:
a. Executive Summary
b. Introduction/Objective of Study
c. Background/Problem Definition(s)
d. Summary of Analysis (Finding)
e. Alternative Analysis
f. Conclusion/Recommendation
g. Reference

Presentation Format:

Each team will have approximately 10 minutes to present the summary of its topic and 5
minutes of Q&A. One or two display boards are encouraged. If you choose to use
PowerPoint or any software, make sure it is rehearsed and pre-configured. Your grade may be
affected if your file doesn’t run properly. Remember, this presentation is intended to emulate
“real world” situation… sometimes you only have one chance to win a million-dollar project!

Presentation shall consist of the following elements:

• Introduction of team members
• Objective/Scope of work
• Summary of analysis (and alternative analysis) or design approaches
• Conclusion & Recommendation
• Q&A

Presentation Evaluation:

Each presentation will be evaluated by the lecturer and peer student teams (excluding the
presenters' team). Three categories will be evaluated on a 1-5 scale (5:best; 1:worst):
• Presentation skills
• Research Contents
• Overall Performance

Final evaluation may be available if time permits.

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