HIGHWAY DESIGN MODELS
IN APRIL 1970 A QUESTIONNAIRE ON THE USE OF PHYSICAL MODELS IN GEOMETRIC HIGHWAY DESIGN WAS SENT TO 60 HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS, FIRMS IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND PUERTO RICO AND TO 131 CONSULTING ENGINEER FIRMS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. THE RESPONSE WAS EXCELLENT: RETURNS WERE RECEIVED FROM 55 HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS AND 78 CONSULTANTS, OF WHOM ABOUT 10 PERCENT MADE FREQUENT USE OF MODELS AND ABOUT 50% MADE OCCASIONAL USE. THE GREATEST USE OF MODELS WAS FOR DISPLAY OR PUBLIC PRESENTATION PURPOSES. DURING THE RECENT REGIONAL "DYNAMIC DESIGN FOR SAFETY" SEMINARS, SPONSORED BY THE INSTITUTE OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERS AND THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THERE IS RELATIVELY LITTLE USE BEING MADE OF DESIGN MODELS, APPARENTLY FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: (1) BELIEF THAT THE COST IS QUITE HIGH; (2) BELIEF THAT EXPERT MODEL MAKERS ARE NEEDED FOR CONSTRUCTING THE MODELS; (3) LACK OF INFORMATION ON MODELING TECHNIQUES, MATERIALS, AND SCALES; AND (4) LACK OF INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WAYS IN WHICH MODELS CAN AID THE DESIGNER, WAYS IN WHICH ONE CAN VIEW THE MODEL FROM THE DRIVER'S VIEWPOINT, AND WAYS OF PHOTOGRAPHING THE MODEL FROM VARIOUS VIEWPOINTS. THIS CIRCULAR IS AIMED AT PROVIDING INFORMATION ON SOME OF THE ABOVE POINTS OF CONCERN. /NCHRA/
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Supplemental Notes:
- Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
- Publication Date: 1973-3
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; References;
- Pagination: 18p
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Serial:
- Highway Research Circular
- Issue Number: 141
- Publisher: Highway Research Board (HRB)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Highway design; Mathematical models
- Uncontrolled Terms: Models
- Subject Areas: Design; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00203801
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: May 29 1973 12:00AM