LEARNINGS

From the beginning of the semester, we discussed the importance of transportation systems in our daily lives, and during midterm
additional information in relation to transportation systems and highway design were discussed. With all the discussions done during midterm, the
most striking and significant topic is the design of highways. I learned that in the design of highways there are a lot of things to be considered.
First, one must know and be familiar with the components of the physical properties and aspect of highway, these include the pavement
components. These compose of subsurface courses, base course, subbase, and highway surface. But the most important factor that on must
consider in highway design is the structural design of the highway. Wherein, investigation and analysis is done in order to come up with the
maximum and/or minimum design requirements of the highway. In addition, the type of finished pavement is considered in the design; it may
either be asphalt concrete pavement or Portland concrete pavement. However, all of these factors and considerations must conform to the
highway design codes and provisions. Furthermore, aside from the structural aspect of the design of transportation facilities, in general, another
basis of its design is the analysis of traffic flow, which includes the design of transportation system operating system, traffic control system, and
certain physical features of transportation system.
Some issues regarding the analysis of traffic flow involves interaction of traffic events in space and time, analysis of travel times
under various conditions, and relationships among traffic flow states such as flow, speed and density. In response to these issues, some analytical
and graphical solutions are applied to resolve such issues. But the most effective way of dealing with these problems is through Intelligent
Transportation and Information Technology (ITS- Information Technology System). ITS refers to the application of information technologies
such as computer software, hardware, communications technologies, navigational devices, and electronics to improve the efficiency and safety of
the transportation system. It offers a modern approach to meeting the challenges of increasing travel demand that replaces the physical
construction of additional capacity with optimization of existing capacity. Its benefits include improvement in traffic flow, delay reduction,
congestion minimization, level of service and safety improvement, warnings advancement, and efficient commercial vehicle operations. In the
analysis of transportation system especially in the traffic flow, I learned that other traffic data such as the number of accidents occurring at
specified locations during given time periods, accident rates, and fractions of drivers observing a particular traffic control devices.
The proper structural design of the travel way of any transportation mode must be given outmost importance. It is carried out to
ensure that it is structurally sound and can withstand the loads imposed upon it by the vehicles of that mode over its design life. Its performance
depends on the satisfactory performance of each structural component of the travel way. This requires that each of these be properly designed to
ensure that the load applied by the vehicle does not overstress any of the structural components. Wherein, its structural design is based on
stress/strain characteristics for each structural component that limit both the horizontal and vertical stresses/strains below those that will cause
permanent deformations. For example, in the railway system, its travel way (rail track) is designed following the (American Railway Engineering
and Maintenance-of-Way Association, where the first step is the determination of the input load, next, the selection of material for each structural
component, followed by the determination of maximum size and/or minimum thickness for each structural component, and lastly, the carrying out
of Economic analysis of alternative designs and select the best design. All of these must be given importance so that the users and the adjacent
environment of the transportation facility will achieve comfort and safety upon its existence.
Speaking of transportation safety, I was also informed through the classroom discussions that there are different issues involving
transportation safety, where common subjects such as accidents and crashes are involve. Some of the major factors involve in transportation
accidents are drivers action, vehicles condition, travelway geometric characteristics, and physical or climatic environment. According to the
transportation safety studies, there are major findings involve in it. Primarily, it says that: (1) traffic crashes are a major health problem because of
the outcome; (2) injuries and fatalities from traffic crashes are related to age and sex; (3) the use of alcohol and drugs while driving is a major
cause of traffic crashes; (4) vehicle characteristics and technology can affect traffic safety; (5) modest improvements can produce significant
safety results; and (6) drivers responsibility is the key to safety. In response to that there are ways applied in order to improve transportation
safety. First is the public officials implementation of rules and regulations: legislations is needed that authorized officials to regulate and enforce
laws regarding the safe movement of people and goods. Second, the design of the vehicle-travelway system: in such a manner that crash effects
on the occupant would be minimized. Lastly, the publics submission to laws and regulations: some people obey laws when there is a chance of
being caught. Thus, travelers exceed the speed limit, drink and drive, park illegally and many more.
Aside from the design of highways, the discussions on the design of railroads and airways were helpful in a way that further details
and specifics regarding with the topic were given in the class. Other than the design processes and provisions, the environmental impacts of the
implementation of transportation systems were also carried out in the class that involves different forms of bad effects. There is the noise
pollution that could be derived from airports, highways and railroads. Also the encroachment of natural habitats resulting from the construction of
transportation facilities of all types affects not just the people but also the animals. In line with that, it is necessary that one must follow all the
requirements for the implementation of the transportation facilities.