SCOPE OF HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
The road pavements are generally constructed on small embankments, slightly above the general ground level wherever possible, in order to avoid the difficult drainage and maintenance problems.
The term road or roadway thus constructed is therefore termed ‘highway’ and the science and technology dealing with Road Engineering is generally called ‘Highway Engineering’.
Highway engineering deals with various phases like,
Development
Planning
Alignment
Highway Geometric design and location
Traffic Control
Highway Materials
Pavement design (Flexible & rigid Pavement)
Construction and maintenance
Economic considerations
Financial and administration, etc.
Development, Planning and Locations
Aspects :-
Historical background; Basis for Planning: Master Plan, Engineering surveys and highway alignment.
Highway Design, Geometrics and Structures Aspects :-
Road Geometrics and their Design; Rigid and Flexible Pavements; Design factors and thickness design; Overlay design; Design of drainage system.
Traffic Performance and its Control
Aspects :-
Traffic studies analysis; Need for new road links; Traffic regulation and control; Intersection design and their controls with signs, signals, islands and markings.
Materials, Construction and Maintenance Aspects :-
Highway Materials and mix design; Highway construction: Earth work, construction of different types of pavements; Earthen, soil stabilized, water bound macadam, Bituminous surfaces and cement concrete roads; pavement failures; pavement evaluation, Maintenance of pavements and drainage system.
Economics, Finance and Administration Aspects :-
Road user cost and economic analysis of highway projects, pavement types and maintenance measures; Highway Finance and phasing of expenditures; Administration.
It also deals with other special aspects like,
Problems of hill road construction
Road side development
Landscaping
Legal issues, etc.