Thesis (M.Eng.(Civil and Biosystems Engineering))--University of Pretoria, 1985. / Summaries in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references.

Master of Science / Civil Engineering / Sunanda Dissanayake / The percentage of gravel roads in rural areas in Kansas is higher than most states. A wide variation of traffic volumes across different regions and variations of local conditions and scenarios present a great challenge for local agencies to determine suitable roadway surface types for local rural roads, especially considering constraints on transportation budgets. The primary objective of this research was developing specific guidelines to identify the most suitable roadway surface for a particular roadway section with given conditions. Surveys were carried out to determine the importance of factors affecting the selection of a roadway surface type, where were later used for guideline development. General guidelines were developed using the multi-criteria assessment method in order to fulfill the main objective. The main important factors in decision-making were identified as agency cost, safety, Vehicle Operating Cost (VOC), traffic volume, purpose of road usage, and public preference. Multi-criteria assessment method involves calculating the weights for the factors important in decision-making, the respective scaled values for each factor for paved surface and gravel surface, and eventually calculating the final score for paved and gravel surface type. Equations were formulated to carry out life cycle cost (LCC) analysis along with the present worth evaluation. The formulas provided flexibility to calculate agency cost by considering local variation. VOC was calculated for paved and gravel roads considering variations in speed of different classes of vehicles, gradient and horizontal curve of the road, and the conversion factor for cost on paved surface versus gravel surface. Safety analysis was carried out for local rural roads in Kansas for five years, from 2010 to 2014, using the Kansas Department of Transportation’s KCARS database. After calculating the EPDO crash rates on paved and gravel roads in Kansas, results showed that paved surfaces were in general safer than gravel surfaces, which was taken into consideration while calculating the scaled values for safety. The final score was calculated by multiplying the weights of each factor and their respective scaled values. Roadway surface type with higher score is the preferred alternative for a road section under consideration. A computer-based program was created as a user interface, using Visual Studio, to carry out all complex calculations for determining LCC and VOC considering local variations. The program also helped determine final total scores for paved and gravel roads by considering scaled values of all-important factors considered for conversion. Another approach using cost versus traffic volume showed that the break-even point for traffic volume decreased with an increased percentage of trucks and increased vehicle speeds. Thus, the developed guideline helps determine the best roadway surface type for any set of local conditions.

M.A. / The accessibility of a region or a country is important for maintaining a strong development rate. Its necessity in research has often been pointed out and especially in research on transportation geography overseas as well as in the Republic of South Africa. This study investigates the spatial variation in the road network link development patterns in Development Region G in order to establish which districts are adequately accessible and which are not, and to establish the relation between the existing accessibility and level of development in the study area. Due to the extent of the problem which had to be investigated, it was not possible to analyse the transport and communication system in the Republic of South-Africa as a whole ...

Accessibility of the forest is a basic requirement for a commercially managed forest. Logging in British Columbia often is carried out in remote areas where log transportation is primarily by truck hauling on forest roads. Forest road construction and particularly earth moving are significant elements in the total cost of forest products. Proper choice of road design elements will determine the optimum economy of any forest road. The derivation of road design elements is shown in detail as an introduction to the earth allocation problem. Minimization of costs of main forest access roads is studied in this thesis and alternate methods of mass allocation are presented. A semi-graphical method of mass allocation (mass diagram) is compared with a method employing the electronic computer and the tools of operations research (linear programming). The theory of linear programming (LP) is shown as the optimization technique used for minimizing the earth moving costs. The LP assumptions and limitations are discussed. The two methods were tested on the forest main haul road C in the University of British Columbia Research Forest. Calculations of volume distribution and the required intermediate calculations are carried out with an electronic computer for comparison with traditional methods. The mass diagram method might be used for a long time due to its simplicity, whilst LP provides a more precise solution. The costs of earthmoving and planning are $84.00 or 0.6% of the total earthwork and planning costs less by using LP rather than the mass diagram in the example calculated. The use of dynamic programming (DP) to determine the optimum road lay-out is suggested as a topic for further research, a preliminary step for optimization in mass allocation. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

This project was initiated to revise the procedures for designation of scenic roads in Arizona. The portions of the procedures which required revision were viewpoint selection and the expert scenic assessment scale. A method for selecting viewpoints was developed based on mapping landscape character types. Three expert scenic assessment scales were evaluated for inclusion in the designation procedure based on the criteria of reliability, validity, generalizability, and utility. Psychology students' global judgements of scenic beauty provided the validity criterion. Three groups of landscape architecture students applied the three expert scales to allow evaluation of the other criteria. All three scales performed well on the selected criteria. The FHWA scale was superior overall. The results suggest that expert scenic assessment scales predict public preferences for a range of landscape types. When the reliability of scenic quality assessment scales is evaluated for the summed dimensions of the scales, reliability is improved substantially compared to previous research.

Considering the condition of the Gauteng provincial road network, it has become critical that all the road maintenance and construction programmes be enhanced. However, the need to have an efficient and effective provincial road network has put a strain on the allocations given to the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) annually. Over the years, there had been sole reliance by GDRT on MTEF funds which, according to the findings of this research, have been reducing every successive year. Based on these factors, it has become imperative for GDRT to explore alternative funding sources to sustain their road maintenance and construction programmes. The possible source of these alternative funds which GDRT could explore is the private sector under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) engagements. This research sought to establish whether the PPP models could be applied effectively within GDRT. / Graduate School for Business Leadership / (M.B.A.)

This thesis examines the physical evidence for ancient bridges and roads in the three most eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Its focus is the two and a half centuries before the Arab invasions when population reached a peak. It uses satellite photographs from Google Earth to place the roads in a geographical context and contains many maps. The thesis describes twenty-four stone bridges in the provinces concerned which are thought to date from the Roman period and contains photographs of these where possible. Field research has included a large number of visits to SE Turkey and two visits to Syria. On the basis of the material evidence and the ancient sources, in particular the Peutinger Table (which are discussed in a specific chapter), the thesis examines the course of the roads and their users; it also addresses the reasons for construction of the roads, together with associated issues such as the disappearance of wheeled vehicles. The thesis describes the ancient cities, the settlement pattern and the fortifications of this region, which lay on a much troubled frontier with frequent warfare between Rome and Persia. It discusses how warfare and the construction of fortifications modified the nature of the region in the sixth century AD and then examines issues arising from the existence of the road network such as defence of the frontier, trade and the impact that commercial and social links, as well as the road network itself, had on relations between the two great empires of Late Antiquity. Annexes short reviews of archaeological work in the area and of medieval and modern travellers who have passed through it. A gazetteer of cities and fortresses mentioned in the text is attached at the end.

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts

No description available.