New highway geometric

design methods for

minimizing vehicular fuel
consumption and improving
safety
About the Paper
◎ This research was jointly carried out at the
Center for Advanced Transportation and
Infrastructure Engineering Design (CATIER)

◎ Morgan University and University of South

Alabama
Introduction

◎ Cumulative Fuel Price Hike of ₱8 - ₱10 per

liter from January 2018.

Construction Costs Fuel Consumption

Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
◎ Vehicle Resistance
Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
◎  Vehicle Resistance

Where:
FP = R R + R G + R A m = vehicle mass
g = gravitational constant, 9.8 m/s2
RR = mg CR cos(δ) Cr = Coefficient of Rolling Resistance
δ = grade angle in degree
RG = mg sin(δ) A = vehicle cross-sectional area
ρ = air density
RA = Ca = air drag coefficient
V = vehicle cruising speed
Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
◎ Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Consumption
Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Efficiency
◎  Evaluating Vehicle Fuel Consumption

where:
FP = total propulsive force WP = total propulsive work
SFUEL = total fuel consumed
rFUEL = fuel consumed rate
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Horizontal Alignments

where:
MSD = Maximum distance that
the driver can see
ASDhor = Available distance the
driver can see with obstruction
placed on the road surface
SSD = Stopping sight distance
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Horizontal Alignments

where:
MSD = Maximum distance that
the driver can see
ASDhor = Available distance the
driver can see with obstruction
placed on the road surface
SSD = Stopping sight distance
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Horizontal Alignments

where:
MSD = Maximum distance that
the driver can see
ASDhor = Available distance the
driver can see with obstruction
placed on the road surface
SSD = Stopping sight distance
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎  Measuring ASD on Horizontal Alignments

where:
V = design speed, km/h
t = break reaction time, 2.5s (AASHTO, 2004)
a = deceleration rate, 3.4m/s2 (AASHTO, 2004)
G = percent grade of tangent divided by 100, decimal
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Vertical Alignments
ASD on graded tangents
 In daytime, drivers’ vision is physically infinity
 In nighttime , drivers’ vision is dependent on
the headlights’ capability
 MSDNIGHT = 200 meters
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Vertical Alignments
ASD on sag vertical curves
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Vertical Alignments
ASD on sag vertical curves
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Vertical Alignments
ASD with overhead structures on sag vertical curves
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Measuring ASD on Vertical Alignments
ASD on crest vertical curves
Evaluating Sight Distance
◎ Sight Distance Evaluation Function
Evaluating Level-Of-Safety
◎ 3 general categories of contributing factors
on crashes:
 Human
 Vehicle
 Roadway Environment

◎ Crash Prediction Model (HSM Model) can

estimate total predicted crash frequencies of
a highway
Evaluating Level-Of-Safety
◎ HSM Model combines:
 Safety Performance Function (SPF)
- predicts crash frequency of a highway
based on normal conditions
 Crash Modification Factors (CMFs)
- represents the relative change in crash
frequency due to a change in geometric
conditions
 Calibration Factors
Evaluating Level-Of-Safety
◎ CMFs for geometric design features
considered in the safety evaluation includes:
 Length and width of the highway
 Horizontal curve radius
 Superelevation
 Spiral transition curve
 Up and down grades of the highway
vertical alignment
Evaluating Level-Of-Safety
◎ Base conditions for rural two-lane, two-way
highway:
 12ft lane width and 6ft shoulder width
 Paved travel lanes and shoulders
 Undivided highway without centerline
rumble stripes and two-way left-turn lane
 Straight alignment on a level terrain
 Total number of roads being crossed by the
highways is less than 5 per mile
Example
Example
 Example

Geometric Specifications and parameters

Roadway Environment
‒ A rural two-lane, two-way, undivided highway
‒ 80kph design speed
‒ 3.6m lane width
‒ 1.8m paved shoulder width
‒ 2891m roadway length
‒ A grade separation with an existing road
‒ Two horizontal curves with 1000m curve radius; 200m long spiral transitions
at both of each curve; 6% superelevation
‒ Two crest and two sag vertical curves
Example
Geometric Specifications and parameters
Vehicle Parameters
‒ Vehicle (passenger car) mass: 1760 kg
‒ Projected frontal area of the vehicle : 2.276 m2
‒ Coefficient of rolling resistance: 0.013
‒ Coefficient of air drag: 0.5
‒ Air density: 1.202
‒ AADT: 10,000 veh/day
‒ Fuel consumption rate: 3.1x10-8 I/J
Conclusion
◎ Proposed methodology for evaluating planned
highway on vehicular fuel consumption, sight
distance deficiency and safety level of that
highway
◎ A fuel consumption model is developed based
on highway geometric characteristics, speed
and road surface type and condition
◎ This model may be useful in searching for fuel
efficient and environmental-friendly highways
Conclusion
◎ Proposed sight distance model automatically
draws graph determining the profiles of all
ASDs on horizontal and vertical alignments
both day and night
◎ It calculates the significance of the sight
distance deficiency of a highway
◎ This model can be used as in the highway
optimization process to eliminate highways
with inadequate sight distance
Conclusion
◎ HSM crash prediction model is adopted to
evaluate the safety of highways
◎ Calibration of the crash prediction model may
not be necessary to just compare alternative
highway alignments with the same parameters
Future Work
◎ Proposed fuel consumption model to be
designed with all types of vehicles and
considering varying speed along the highway
◎ Fuel consumption rate to consider the current
modes of vehicle
◎ Considering of nighttime ASDs on horizontal
curve
◎ Using 3-dimensional model for evaluating
alignments for more realistic results