Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate:

• Can describe and explain road and rail traffic’s social significance
• Can describe various engineering solutions for road and railway construction
• Can explain construction concepts and the social costs of road and railway construction
• Has knowledge of road construction equipment and the operation and maintenance of the road system
• Is able to describe the railway system’s special features

Skills

The candidate:

• Is able to interpret and explain the relationship between the different road standards (design classes) and alignment parameters
• Is able to choose parameter values ​​and determine geometric alignment with the requirements in the manuals H017 Road and Street Design and H265 Alignment Theory
• Is able to design culverts and evaluate solutions for road drainage systems
• Has knowledge of the characteristics of the main materials used for road construction and construction underground (H223), and is able to assess stability, masses and masses movement
• Is able to design the road pavement for H018
• Is able to prepare a simple road plan using digital planning tools
• Has basic knowledge of railway substructures, track geometry, track components and the interaction between track and trains

General competence

The candidate:

• Has basic knowledge of the laws and regulations that form the basis for road and railway plans
• Has knowledge of the processing of various land-use plans concerning road and railway construction in accordance with the Planning and Building Act
• Is able to describe the impacts of road and rail on the environment and traffic safety conditions
• Is able to understand the relationship between the various transport modes and their effects on the environment and society
• Is able to place society’s transportation needs in a broader sustainable perspective

Course Description

The course provides a basic introduction to road construction. It covers design principles in road-building with regard to line construction and superstructures, geotechnical concepts, stability, soils and mass calculation. The main terms in the design of drainage and stormwater systems will also be included. In addition, the course focuses on the impact of traffic on the environment and society as a whole and the basic aspects of construction and its social costs. Road construct equipment and operation and the maintenance of road systems will also be covered.

The course also provides an introduction to railway construction systems with a focus on substructures, track geometry, track components and the interactions between tracks and trains.

Road and railway planning provides the premises for other physical land use plans, and the course will also consider the link between the various types of planning for infrastructure projects in the form of land use classification, municipal development plans (or local area plans) and concept studies.

Teaching and Learning Methods

The lectures will be given on the topics roads, traffic and railway construction.

The course includes individual exercises that will provide students with knowledge of key concepts. Students will also complete a minor project in the form of a simple road development plan using digital planning tools.

The project assignment is a compulsory group assignment and must be submitted before the student will be allowed to sit the final examination.

The course includes at least one field trip to a major road and rail installation (Public Roads Administration and/or National Rail).

Assessment Methods

The course grade will be based on:

Continuous assessment: Project with a group grade (weighted 40%)

Final examination: Written examination with individual grade (weighted 60%)

The student must receive a passing grade in the final examination must in order to pass the course.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean