We
learn the lessons of traffic control early in life, and
with good reason. There are nearly 300,000 traffic
signals today in the United States. Each traffic signal
performs the task of regulating whose turn it is to go
and who must wait. A traffic signal system at its core
has two major tasks: move as many users through the
intersection as possible and do it with as little
conflict between these users as possible. The first task
relates to efficiency and capacity while the second
relates to safety. Both tasks are performed by first
clearly defining which group of users has the right of
way at a given time and second by determining how long
the group has the right of way.
The
content in this book is targeted at a senior or graduate
level university course in transportation engineering
and focuses on the design and operation of one important
part of the traffic signal control system: the isolated
intersection. Some of the material in this book may also
be appropriate for portions of advanced classes in
transportation engineering.
Educational research points to a hands-on active
learning environment as the best approach to improving
student understanding of important concepts. Unlike many
courses that emphasize an instructor focus (with
lectures presented to students), this book emphasizes a
student focus in which you will learn by doing an
experiment, analyzing data that you collect, and drawing
conclusions about what makes good signal timing
practice. This approach requires a more active
preparation for each class on your part and a readiness
to actively participate in the work of each class. This
focus on you means more work but it
rewards you with the potential for deeper learning and
understanding of this material.
This
book is divided into 10 chapters and includes 63
activities. The first four chapters of the book provide
a base level of knowledge. Chapters 5 through 9 address
specific system components, providing first an
understanding of how these components function and
second how to design them. Finally, Chapter 10
integrates the components together into a final design
in which you prepare a report and make a presentation
covering your work. (See the graphic below.)
Most
chapters have a similar structure. Each chapter begins
with a Reading that provides important information on
the topics covered in the chapter. A series of
activities follow, each providing hands-on experiences
with the chapter topic.
|
Assessment activities give you the chance to test and
apply what you learned in the reading
|
|
Discovery activities provide you with the opportunity to
discover new factors or perspectives about the chapter
topic by observing animations, collecting or analyzing
data, or making calculations
|
|
Field activities allow you to explore traffic flow and
control conditions directly in the field and connect
your field observations with the theory that you learned
in other activities
|
|
Design activities allow you to determine one component
of your design and evaluate its performance
|
|
In Practice activities give you the opportunity to
compare your understanding or design component with
recommended practice from the Traffic Signal Timing
Manual
|
|
|
Authored by Michael Kyte and Tom Urbanik
List Price: $48.00
8.5" x 11"
Full Color on White paper;
350 pages
Published by Pacific Crest Software, Incorporated
ISBN-13: 978-1602634206
BISAC: Technology & Engineering / Civil / Highway &
Traffic |
|
|
Click to buy online at
amazon.com |
|
|