A Procedure for 3-D Sight Distance Evaluation Using Thin Plate Splines

This paper demonstrates an algorithm for measuring sight distance along a 3-D description of a roadway environment. The roadway is defined as a mesh of coordinates considering horizontal and vertical design elements, as well as cross-sectional elements including any crown slopes, superelevation, shoulders, clear zone, and lateral sight obstacles such as foliage or buildings. Methods of computational geometry and an analogy to the structural mechanics of thin plates are used to determine the maximum available sight distance from any point on the alignment. The sight distance can be measured with the same resolution as that with which the geometric data were specified. The algorithm could easily be incorporated into software designed to do geometric consistency audits, road safety audits, or automated highway design. The algorithm is tested against some sample alignment data, and the results are compared against traditional 2-dimensional procedures.

• Corporate Authors:

  Polytechnic University of Valencia

  Department of Transportation, Camino de Vera
  Valencia,   Spain  46022
• Authors:
  • Kim, Dae Gun
  • Lovell, David J
• Conference:
  • 4th International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design
  • Location: Valencia , Spain
  • Date: 2010-6-2 to 2010-6-5
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 20p
• Monograph Title: 4th International Symposium on Highway Geometric Design, June 2-5, 2010, Valencia, Spain

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Algorithms; Alignment; Geometric design; Highway design; Mathematical models; Sight distance; Splines; Thin plates
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; I20: Design and Planning of Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01338105
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 28 2011 1:01PM