Transportation Planning and ITS Laboratory

Overview

The Transportation Planning Laboratory is equipped with 25 high-end PCs to provide the platform for running an extensive range of specialized software for traffic analysis and control, simulation, transportation planning and artificial intelligence applications. 

Two computer labs equipped with sets of desktops and laptops. The software packages include Vissum , VISSIM, SPSS, Arc/GIS, Vistro, Viswalk, Synchro, Civil 3D. 

Computing Facility - Application Software

• Planning – Vussum 
• Geometric design – Civil 3D 
• Intersection design – Vistro, Synchro, SIDRA
• Capacity – HCS 2000 
• Traffic Simulation  –, VISSIM, Synchro
• Pedestrian: Viswalk
• Pavement analysis and design – CIRCLY, BISAR
• Statistical/Optimization – SPSS

Course supported includes:

• Transportation Planning and Modelling TTENG 551
• Intelligent Transportation Systems TTENG 522
• Traffic Operation and Management TTENG 422
• Highway Engineering, TTENG 312
• Traffic Operation and management, TTENG 422
• Pavement design, TTENG 452
• Application of GIS in transport engineering, TTENG 442
• Senior design project, TTENG 521 and TTENG 512

Lab. Coordinator:

Eng. Khurram Shahid Minhas

Email: ksminhas@iau.edu.sa

Overview

The Traffic Engineering Laboratory is equipped with advanced hardware to support a wide range of teaching and research activities.

These include portable data loggers, speed measuring devices, advanced multi-lane counters/classifiers and automatic traffic detection system for real-time traffic data collection. 

A wide range of video cameras, recorders, editors, and monitors is available to record various traffic phenomena for later extraction and analysis.

List of Equipment:

Traffic Engineering Laboratory equipment are listed as follows:

• Wide angle high-precision video cameras 
• Radar speedometer 
• JAMAR traffic data recorders
• Automatic Traffic Recorders
• Portable Speed and Volume Data Collection with Radar
• TRAX Apollyon traffic counter
• Manual Classified Turning Movement Counts
• Traffic safety vests 
• Television, CD, LG 
• Measuring wheel 
• Traffic cones 
• Traffic signs
• JAMAR Handheld Traffic counter

Research and consultancy works will be conducted in the traffic engineering Lab. Such as:

• Traffic flow analysis and modelling in urban and highway road networks
• Traffic capacity and level of service estimation in highways, arterials, and intersections
• Analysis and modelling of urban signalized networks
• Analysis and estimation of signalization, delays, queuing, and toll way systems
• Design and implementation of traffic management systems
• Design and operation of parking systems
• Analysis of pedestrian and cyclist traffic
• Traffic safety analysis
• Investigation of hazardous locations
• Traffic counts and surveys
• Intelligent transportation systems for traffic management and road safety
• Statistical analysis, mathematical modelling and computational intelligence for traffic and safety.
• Axle Load Surveys
• Parking Studies
• Queue Length Surveys
• Journey Time Surveys
• Pedestrian/Cyclist Surveys
• Origin Destination Surveys
• Trip Generation Surveys

Course supported includes:

• Traffic Engineering TTENG 441
• Traffic Operation and Management TTENG 422
• Highway Engineering, TTENG 312
• Traffic safety and accident prevention, TTENG 541
• Senior design project, TTENG 521 and TTENG 512

Lab. Coordinator:

Eng. Ahmed Aftab

Email: aaftab@iau.edu.sa

Overview

Surveying Laboratory contributes mainly teaching activities and Senior Design Project activities in the Transportation and Traffic Engineering Department as well as Civil and Construction Engineering Department. It provides support in a wide range of specialized areas of surveying to the students.

Engineering Surveying Lab: includes all necessary instrumentation for conducting ground surveying work. This includes:

Part : I  (Chain Surveying); Open Traverse, Closed Traverse, 

Part II : Levelling; Simple leveling, Differential leveling, Profile leveling, Contouring, Calculation of area and volumes, 

Part III : Study of Total Station and GPS; Measurement of Azimuth, Measurement of heights and Distances using Total stations and GPS receivers sets (handheld, static and RTK). All equipment are at the latest versions and manufactured by the most famous companies known in this field such as Sokkia.

List of Equipment:

The Engineering Survey Lab Equipment include the following:

• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Electronic laser Distometer
• Digital Theodolite, Model DT- 21
• Total Station, Sokkia SET 550RX. Model CX 105
• Automatic Level, Sokkia B30, D10384
• Digital level, Sokkia, SDL50, D11806A
• Telescopic staff
• Ranging Rod
• Field Compass with 360 Degree 
• Fibre Glass tape 30 meter
• Fibre Glass tape 50 meter
• Steel Pin
• Plum bob
• Wheel for measuring distance
• Tripod
• Aluminum Staff 4 m for digital level
• Single Prism with Diaphragm

Course supported includes:

• Engineering surveying ENG 341
• Route Surveying ENG 361
• Application of GIS in transport engineering, TTENG 442
• Traffic safety and accident prevention, TTENG 541

Lab. Coordinator:

Eng. Muhammad Hassan Bakri

Email: mhbakri@iau.edu.sa

Overview

The Pavement Engineering Laboratory has a range of specialized equipment to measure the strength of subgrade soils, the engineering properties of aggregates and the properties of bitumen to design, evaluate and assess asphalt mixtures. There are facilities available for the design of asphalt mixes using marshal and Superpave methods and to conduct performance-based tests that measure susceptibility of asphalt mixes to permanent deformation using wheel tracing machine. In-situ pavement testing for skidding resistance, texture, and roughness can be conducted. As well as core cutting machine to take samples from pavement sites.

List of Equipment:

The equipment facilities belong to Pavement Engineering Materials Laboratory consist of:

Course supported includes:

• Pavement Engineering TTENG 322
• Geotechnical Engineering ENG 362
• Pavement Construction and Maintenance, TTENG 524
• Pavement design, TTENG 452
• Airport planning and design, TTENG 532
• Senior design project, TTENG 521

Lab. Coordinator:

Eng. Khurram Shahid Minhas

Email: ksminhas@iau.edu.sa

Overview

It is used to produce representative sample slabs of several dimensions of bituminous mixtures laid and compacted on site.

The compaction is performed through a segmented roller with alternated operated rotation which simulates the on-site action of a street roller. The compaction cycle can be programmed in accordance with a certain load or deformation value. The flexibility of the program grants the production of samples with uniform density and dimensions, fully meeting Standards specifications and research requirements. Possibility to heat and control temperature of the Segment Roller mounted on the Compactor and Sliding Carriage to keep the mould warm and avoid thermal shocks they might affect specimen’s workability.

Applications:

The sample slabs can be also cored or cut off to obtain cylinders and beams for run test, bending fatigue, indirect tensile, static, and dynamic creep, stiffness and 4-point tests.

Standards: ASTM D8079, EN 12697-33

Overview

This machine is used in laboratory for evaluating the deformation (rut) depth of a bituminous mixture subjected to cycles of passes of a loaded rubber wheel under constant and controlled temperature conditions.

To perform the test, a wheel tracking apparatus is used to simulate the effect of traffic and to measure the deformation susceptibility of the bituminous sample.

Applications:

For measuring the Rutting and moisture sensitivity of asphalt slab.

Standards:

AASHTO T324, EN 12697-22, BS 598:110

Overview

The Marshall test method is widely used for the design and control of asphaltic concrete and hot rolled asphalt materials; it cannot be applied to open textured materials such as bitumen macadam. Materials containing aggregate sizes larger than 20 mm, are liable to give erratic results.

The Marshall Stability Machine is used to determine the load and flow values of bituminous mixtures. The main idea of the Marshall Mix Design method involves the selection of the asphalt binder content with a suitable density which satisfies minimum stability and range of flow values.

Marshall properties Marshall tests were conducted to determine the volumetric properties of mixture. The volumetric properties determined included bulk specific gravity, air voids, voids filled with bitumen (VFB), stability and flow.

Applications:

The Marshall method process uses a series of laboratory tests and evaluation criteria for selecting materials and progressively narrows in on optimum mix design. A suitable mix will resist deformation from traffic loads and damage from climatic conditions and will have adequate skid resistance.

Standards:

ASTM D6926-20, AASHTO R 68, ASTM D6927-22, ASTM D5581-07A(2021)e1, AASHTO - T 245, AASHTO T 331, ASTM D3549/D3549M-18, AASHTO T 269, ASTM D3203-22, ASTM D8044; AASHTO TP124, EN 12697-12; EN 1269-23; EN 12697-34; ASTM D1559

Overview

Gyratory Compactor is used to simulate and reproduce the real compaction conditions under actual road paving operations, hence determining the compaction properties of the asphalt. The Superpave mix design procedure features the Superpave gyratory compactor (SGC) for compacting specimens of hot mix asphalt. Gyratory compaction is considered to be one of the best methods of laboratory compaction for the assessment of compatibility and the manufacture of test specimens.

Results indicate that samples compacted with the gyratory compactor show higher precision in the strength test than the impact hammer. Data show that gyratory compaction results in different engineering properties than those obtained from the impact hammer compaction.

Compaction is achieved by the application of a vertical stress (normally 600KPa) via end platens to a known mass of asphaltic mixture within a 100 or 150mm internal Ø mould. The longitudinal axis of the mould is rotated (gyrated) at a fixed angle to the vertical whilst the platens are kept parallel and horizontal.

Applications:

Gyratory Compactor is used to simulate and reproduce the real compaction conditions under actual road paving operations, hence determining the compaction properties of the asphalt. Superpave gyratory compactor is capable of achieving air void contents much lower than achieved by mechanical Marshall hammer compaction. This prevents additional compaction under traffic, which could result in rutting in the wheel paths.

Standards: 

EN 12697 – 31, ASTM D6925, AASHTO T312, TEX 241-F

Overview

California Bearing Ratio (CBR) test yield relative strengths of soils and base course materials based on penetration resistance. CBR values can be determined under laboratory or field conditions. Automatic CBR Test Machine is designed for performing laboratory evaluation of the CBR value of highway sub-bases and sub-grade, and determination of the strength of cohesive materials which have maximum particle sizes less than 19 mm (3/4”).

The primary purpose of the California Bearing Ratio test is to determine the bearing capacity and the mechanical strength of road sub-bases and subgrades. In this test in the laboratory, the sample is prepared at Proctor's maximum dry density or any other density at which the test is required.

Applications:

CBR testing is undertaken for the design of highways and roads to determine the strength of the subgrade soil and enable appropriate selection of suitable pavement thickness for the anticipated traffic density together with any precautions for frost heave. Also, the results obtained by these tests are used with the empirical curves to determine the thickness of pavement and its component layers

Standards:

EN 13286-47, ASTM D1883, EN 12697-34; ASTM D1559, D5581, EN 12697-23; ASTM D8225; AASHTO T283, ASTM D8044; AASHTO TP124, ASTM D2166; BS 1377:4; ASTM D1883; AASHTO T193

Overview

The basic PAV procedure takes RTFO aged asphalt binder samples, places them in stainless steel pans and then ages them in a heated vessel. The binder is exposed to high pressure 305 psi (2.10 MPa or 20.7 atmospheres) and temperature for 20 or 65 hours (selectable up to 99) to simulate the effect of long-term oxidative aging. Samples are then stored for use in physical property tests.

Many HMA distresses either initiate or become more severe in older pavements. Therefore, a method to simulate aged asphalt binder is important in investigating and predicting these types of distresses. The Superpave PG binder specification calls for long term aged asphalt binder to be tested at intermediate and cold temperatures to determine fatigue and low temperature cracking resistance.

Although many different factors contribute to asphalt binder aging, the key component of concern for the PAV is oxidation. Oxidation increases an asphalt’s viscosity with age up until a point when the asphalt can quench (or halt) oxidation through immobilization of the most chemically reactive elements.

Applications:

The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) has been developed to simulate in-service aging of asphalt binder after 5 to 10 years. 

Standards:

AASHTO R 28

Overview

Used for the measurement of surface friction properties, the apparatus is suitable for both side and laboratory applications and for Polished Stone Value (PSV) using curved specimens from accelerated polishing test with the Acelereted Polishing machine (see link to other product below) conforming to EN 1097-8. It can also be used for testing Paving Stones (EN 1341, EN 1342) and Paving Blocks (EN 1338). The apparatus, originally developed at the Transport and Research Laboratory, U.K., consists of an adjustable pendulum arm, and a spring loaded rubber slider (see accessories) mounted on the end of the arm. During operation the pendulum is raised and then allowed to swing freely, allowing the edge of the rubber slider to skid across the surface of the road or sample.

Applications:

To measure surface friction properties of pavement.

Standards:

EN 13036-4, EN 1097-8, ASTM E303, EN 1338, EN 1341, EN 1342, AASTHO T278