CIVI474-6411 Syllabus

CIVI 474 Transportation Planning and Design - CIVI 6411 Urban Transportation Planning

Lectures (CIVI474/CIVI6411): Tue (8:30 PM to 11:00 PM); MB – S2.210

Tutorial (CIVI474): Fri (1) (5:45 PM to 7:35 PM); H907
Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering

Concordia University
Course Instructors:
Ciprian Alecsandru (lectures)
Office: EV 6.161 Phone: 514-848-2424 Ext. 8769
Email: [email protected]
Arash Mazaheri (tutorials)
Course Objective:
Students will acquire knowledge of basic urban transportation planning and decision making principles.
These principles will be applied to various problems using methodologies typically encountered in the
professional practice, by using either analytical or simulation-based approaches.
Course Description:
The purpose of the course is to introduce the students to various aspects of urban transportation planning
process. In particular, this course focuses on defining the planning process within the decision-making
framework, and details specific methodologies within the four-step planning process. Also, the course
introduces students to operational and scheduling elements in transit systems.
CEAB Graduate Attributes in CIVI 474:

1) Design: An ability to design solutions for complex, open-ended engineering problems and to
design systems, components or processes that meet specified needs with appropriate attention to
health and safety risks, applicable standards, economic, environmental, cultural and societal
considerations. The students will learn the role of each of the key components in the design of
transportation systems with focus on urban planning. Real-world related applications will be
solved through analytical and simulation tools and students learning will be evaluated through
group projects and exams. The students will also learn the basics of employing one of the
commonly used planning software packages available on the market
2) Problem analysis: An ability to use appropriate knowledge and skills to identify, formulate,
analyze, and solve complex engineering problems in order to reach substantiated conclusions.
Students will learn through practical examples how to conduct planning analysis in terms of
travel demand forecasting using the four-step process.
Assessment of student outcomes:

1. Tests and quizzes will be used to assess the level of understanding of the course contents. All
tests are closed notes/books unless otherwise specified.
2. The instructors will present a variety of problems that will be used as references for course
preparation. The students will organize in groups to work on a class project that will be submitted
at the end of the term. The project topic has to be approved by the instructor based on the
provided guidelines.
Course credit: 3 credits (CIVI 474) / 4 credits (CIVI 6411)

Pre-requisite: CIVI 372 or equivalent.
Office Hours: Mondays: 11:30 AM-2:00 PM or by appointment
CIVI474/CIVI6411 Syllabus Ciprian Alecsandru
Textbooks: 1) Mannering, F. W. Kilareski, and S. Washburn. Principles of Highway Engineering

and Traffic Analysis. 4th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2008 (9780470290750).
2) Urban Transit: Operations, Planning, and Economics, Vukan R. Vuchic, John Wiley
& Sons, Inc., 2007, ISBN: 0471632651
Classroom Procedure: This is an advanced level course and students are expected to consult not just the
textbooks, but any additional several references are available through Concordia Library and other online
sources. The course instructor is available for consultation during regular office hours and via email.
Course Website:
Most of the materials used in the classroom including handouts, assignments, etc. will be
published on the course website (Moodle).
Project Description:
- All students shall form groups of two/three members to submit a project that will account for 20%
of the final grade of each student. A project topic is due by January 23. One copy of the project
title and topic description (abstract) will be uploaded in Moodle. The project abstract should not
exceed 300 words.
- Students may choose any topic that addresses either a transportation planning problem (public
transit) or a transportation policy issue. The graduate students’ teams are required to work on a
project that also includes a numerical/quantitative analysis of a real-world or a simulated
transportation system.
- The project topics will be approved by instructor on a first-come-first-served basis. To facilitate the
approval process and avoid duplicate topics every project abstract entry in Moodle must include the
proposed project title and the abstract.
- Each final project will have no more than 10-12 pages, written clearly. Each paper should define
the scope, describe the methodology, analyze the results, and present the conclusions of the project.
These components are very important in project evaluation. Be aware that plagiarism will be dealt
in accordance with university regulations.
Project Timeline:
- January 23 – submission of the abstract on Moodle (5% of the grade); requires approval
- March 15 – Progress report due on Moodle – do not submit a draft paper. (5% of the project grade)
- April 7 – Final Project due on Moodle
Grading Policy:
In-class tests (30%)
Project (20%)
Final exam (50%)
- Late submissions of projects or assignments will be penalized with 10% for each day.
Submissions more than 2 (two) days late will not be graded.
- There are no make-up tests. If a student cannot take a test due to unforeseen circumstances the
student must communicate with the instructor within a 24-hour period by phone or email.
Otherwise the contribution of the credit corresponding to the missing test in the final percentage
grade will be forfeited.
2
CIVI474/CIVI6411 Syllabus Ciprian Alecsandru
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

Upon successful completion of CIVI474, the students will be able to:
- Identify and propose urban transportation planning solutions to existing and developing urban areas.
They will be able to apply the 4-step urban transportation model. This component is examined trough
quizzes in-class and midterm examination case-studies problems.
- Model the operations and scheduling of urban transit systems (e.g bus, rail, etc.) under various travel
demand scenarios and traffic operation conditions. This component is examined through a case
studies problems in the final exam and short in-class quizzes.
General Policies:
• Class attendance and punctuality are required. Anyone not attending a class for any reason is responsible
for notes, assignments or announcements missed.
• Academic dishonesty will be dealt with in strict accordance with University regulations. It is the student’s
responsibility to read and understand these regulations prior to submitting the first assignment. Plagiarism
will not be tolerated. If plagiarism is found the student will be subject to academic investigation. More
information about academic integrity can be found at http://provost.concordia.ca/academicintegrity.
• Note: Electronic communication devices (including cell-phones) will not be allowed in examination rooms.
Only “Faculty Approved Calculators" will be allowed in examination rooms - SHARP EL-531 or CASIO
FX-300MS
• Due to privacy regulations the instructor will not communicate sensitive information (e.g. grades, student
IDs, etc.) via email.
• Video or audio recording of lectures is strictly prohibited. Students with disabilities need to consult the
instructor before making arrangements.
Tentative Schedule*:
Week Topic Date

1 Introduction, Syllabus, Overview of transportation planning and modeling Jan - 7
2 Trip Generation Modeling: Introduction, Analysis Methods, Forecasting Jan - 14
3 Trip Distribution Modeling: Definitions, Growth-factor methods, Gravity Models (Quiz !) Jan - 21
4 Modal Split: Introduction, Trip-end models, Trip-interchange Models, Synthetic Models Jan - 28
5 Trip Assignment: Basic Concepts (Quiz !) Feb - 4
6 Trip Assignment: Traffic and All-or-nothing Assignment Feb - 11
7 Transit Operations and Service (Quiz !) Feb - 18
(Midterm break) Feb - 25
8 Transit Capacity. Mar - 3
9 Transit Special Operations. Mar - 10
10 Transit Lines and Networks (Quiz !) Mar - 17
11 Transit System Performance. Examples Mar – 24
12 Project Presentations Mar – 31
13 Project Presentations Apr – 7
* Subject to change. Quizzes might be rescheduled, based on the progress through the lectures.

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CIVI 474 Transportation Planning and Design - CIVI 6411 Urban Transportation Planning

Lectures (CIVI474/CIVI6411): Tue (8:30 PM to 11:00 PM); MB – S2.210

Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering

CEAB Graduate Attributes in CIVI 474:

Assessment of student outcomes:

Course credit: 3 credits (CIVI 474) / 4 credits (CIVI 6411)

Textbooks: 1) Mannering, F. W. Kilareski, and S. Washburn. Principles of Highway Engineering

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

Week Topic Date

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