For use in Dr. Kockelman's CE377K & CE367 Courses
Copyright © 2009 by Dr. Thomas W. Rioux

Introduction

The following Geometric Design laboratory files are for instruction and hands-on learning of computer-aided design (CAD) software in the context of highway alignments. The roadway-design software used is that favored by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) & many others is GEOPAK. This software runs through MicroStation (a common CAD package).

There are a total of 14 lab lessons provided here, as used in Dr Kockelman's Level II/capstone CE367 course, before 2011. Labs 01 through 09 are designed to give you the tools to complete a Design Project later on, and these are performed individually. The first four are in Microstation, & the latter five are in GEOPAK.  These are required as two separate homeworks in Dr Kockelman's CE377K course (spring 2011 & forward), but without Lab 8 (which relies on spiral designs).

Labs 10 through 14 are the Design Project that was required in CE367. That Project relied on CAD for drafting a partial cloverleaf highway interchange, with ramps and a nearby intersection, and it was performed in teams of two.

The following are links to short videos developed by Dr. Thomas W. Rioux for a general overview of each lab:

Lab01     Lab02     Lab03     Lab04     Lab05     Lab06     Lab07     Lab08     Lab09    Design Project   Lab10     Lab11     Lab12     Lab13     Lab14

Below are the labs themselves.  Please be sure to obtain a properly formatted dgn seed file for Labs 2 & up, from the instructor, so that units do not arbitrarily change when trying to rely on the dgn file that Lab 1 results in. 

Lab 1
Introduction to MicroStation : Learn the basics of MicroStation required to operate GEOPAK.

Lab 2
Leg Centerline and Lanes using MicroStation : Learn the basics of MicroStation required to operate GEOPAK by drawing a simple leg centerline and lanes.

Lab 3
Areas & Dimensioning using MicroStation : Learn the concepts of points, lines, direction, distance, traverse, bearing and distance, Northing and Easting, dimensioning, and area measurement.

Lab 4
Pavement Edge Design with a Simple Arc of a Circle and with a Taper Section & an Arc of a Circle using MicroStation : Learn pavement edge design & vehicle offtracking concepts using IGIDS-created vehicle turn template. Observe the reduction in circular arc radius and area when a taper section is added.

Lab 5
Horizontal Circular Curve using GEOPAK  : Learn how to place a horizontal circular curve using GEOPAK.

Lab 6
Performing Lab 2 using GEOPAK : Learn horizontal alignment design using GEOPAK.

Lab 7
Define Superelevation Runoff using GEOPAK :  Learn superelevation runoff design using GEOPAK.

Lab 8
Define a Spiral Curve using GEOPAK : Learn spiral curve design using GEOPAK.

Lab 9

Define a Vertical Profile using GEOPAK : Learn vertical alignment design using GEOPAK.

CE367 Final Design Project Description

Lab 10

Design Project Part 1 - Define the Vertical Alignment for Road 2000 over the Freeway using GEOPAK

Lab 11
 Design Project Part 2 - Design the Intersection Channelization of the Grade-Separated, Two-Quadrant, Partial Cloverleaf A Interchange using MicroStation

Lab 12
Design Project Part 3 - Design the Freeway Entrance Ramp of the Grade-Separated, Two-Quadrant, Partial Cloverleaf A Interchange using GEOPAK

Lab 13
Design Project Part 4 - Design the Freeway Exit Ramp of the Grade-Separated, Two-Quadrant, Partial Cloverleaf A Interchange using GEOPAK

Lab 14
Design Project Part 5 - Define the Superelevation & Complete the Grade-Separated, Two-Quadrant, Partial Cloverleaf A Interchange using MicroStation and GEOPAK

Latest Update: 17 Feb 2012 04:37 PM