Automated Calculation of Sight Distance from Horizontal Geometry
Publication: Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 125, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper describes a method for automatic calculation of sight distance, subject only to constraints of horizontal geometry, along an arbitrary alignment of tangent sections, circular curves, and spiral transition curves. A parametric representation is used to describe the alignment and its tangent and normal vectors at all points. From this information, other parametric forms are derived that describe the curve along the center of the traveled lane and the lateral obstruction curve. Finally, an automatic method to determine sight distance is described, which is analogous to the manual “graphical method” often employed in practice. An example alignment is considered for demonstration purposes. The method is accurate, efficient, and consistent with manual calculations. It might be used for situations where detailed information about possible sight distance obstructions is not available, such as planning, preliminary design, or to support passing behavior modules of microscopic simulation models.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Easa S. M. (1998). “Three-arc vertical curve for constrained highway alignments.”J. Transp. Engrg., ASCE, 124(2), 163–171.
2.
Easa, S. M., Abd El Halim, A. O., and Hassan, Y. (1996). “Sight distance evaluation on complex highway vertical alignments.” Can. J. Civ. Engrg., Ottawa, 23, 577–586.
3.
Functional requirements of highway safety features. (1983). Fed. Hwy. Admin., U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.
4.
A guide for selecting, locating and designing traffic barriers. (1977). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C.
5.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd El Halim, A. O. (1995). “Sight distance on horizontal alignments with continuous lateral obstructions.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1500, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 31–42.
6.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd El Halim, A. O. (1996). “Analytical model for sight distance analysis on three-dimensional highway alignments.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1523, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1–10.
7.
Hassan, Y., Easa, S. M., and Abd El Halim, A. O. (1997). “Automation of determining passing and no-passing zones on two-lane highways.” Can. J. Civ. Engrg., Ottawa, 24, 263–275.
8.
Hickerson, T. F. (1964). Route location and design, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York.
9.
Hoban, C. J., Fawcett, G. J., and Robinson, G. K. (1985). A model for simulating traffic on two-lane rural roads: User guide and manual for TRARR version 3.0. Technical Manual ATM 10A, Australian Road Research Board, New South Wales, Australia.
10.
Mak, K. K., Bligh, R. P., and Ross, H. E., Jr. (1995). “Clear zone requirements for suburban highways.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1500, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 119–126.
11.
A policy on geometric design of highways and streets. (1994). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Washington, D.C.
12.
Press, W. H., Teukolsky, S. A., Vetterling, W. T., and Flannery, B. P. (1992). Numerical recipes in C. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, Mass.
13.
Raymond, W. L., Jr. (1972). “Offsets to sight obstructions near the ends of horizontal curves.” Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 42(1), 71–72.
14.
Turner, D. S. (1987). “A primer on the clear zone.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1122, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 86–95.
15.
Waissi, G. R., and Cleveland, D. E. (1987). “Sight distance relationships involving horizontal curves.” Transp. Res. Rec. 1122, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 96–107.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 125 • Issue 4 • July 1999
Pages: 297 - 304
History
Received: Jul 7, 1998
Published online: Jul 1, 1999
Published in print: Jul 1999
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.