ENCE 304 · Microsyllabus · Year III / Part I
Transportation Engineering I
Transportation Engineering I Microsyllabus – ENCE 304
The Transportation Engineering I microsyllabus (ENCE 304) is a fundamental subject for third-year civil engineering students at the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University. This page provides the complete, unit-wise Transportation Engineering I ENCE 304 microsyllabus covering teaching schedules, depth codes, learning objectives, references, and model questions.
The Transportation Engineering I course introduces students to the broad field of transportation systems, highway engineering, geometric design, drainage, and highway materials. It provides the foundation for understanding how roads are planned, aligned, designed, and constructed — with particular reference to Nepal’s own road standards such as NRS 2070, NRRS 2071, and NURS 2076.
This Transportation Engineering I microsyllabus covers five major units: Transportation System Planning and Engineering, Highway Engineering, Geometric Design of Highway, Highway Drainage, and Highway Materials. Practical sessions reinforce classroom learning with laboratory tests on soil, aggregates, and bituminous materials. Students completing this course gain essential knowledge for careers in road design, traffic engineering, and highway construction in Nepal and beyond.
Teaching Schedule
Lecture · Tutorial · Practical Hours
| L (Lecture) | T (Tutorial) | P (Practical) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
Examination Scheme
Theory & Practical Assessment
| Theory Assessment Marks | Theory Final Marks | Theory Final Duration (Hrs) | Practical Assessment Marks | Practical Final Marks | Practical Final Duration (Hrs) | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 60 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 125 |
Depth Codes
Legend – Teaching Depth Indicators
E Explanation
S State
D Definition
DM Demonstration
DV Derivation
NUM Numerical
P Proof
I Illustration
MP Mini Project
EXP Experiment
REV Review / Recap
PS Problem Solving
QA Question Answer
Q Quiz
ST Surprise Test
MT Mid Term Test
Transportation Engineering I – Unit-wise Microsyllabus
1
Transportation System, Planning and Engineering
Weeks 1–4| Topic / Sub-topic | Description | Depth Code | Hours (L, T, P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 Transportation System | Definition, scope and role of transportation. Components and characteristics of transportation system. Transportation system classification. Modes of transportation. Comparison of different modes of transportation. | D, E, QA | 2 |
| 1.2 Transportation Planning | Need of transportation planning. Classification and system approach in transportation planning. Multimodal transportation planning. Transportation planning and land use transportation model. | E, D | 2 |
| 1.3 Transportation Engineering | Scope of transportation engineering. Highway engineering overview. | D, E | 2 |
| 1.4 Traffic Engineering | Airport engineering (advantages and disadvantages, airport classification based on runway length and use, airport site selection, definition of airport components: runway, taxiway, apron, terminal). Railway engineering (importance, advantages and disadvantages, definition of components – railway track). Definition and scope of traffic engineering. Road user (physical, mental, psychological, environmental) and vehicular characteristics (static, dynamic, kinematic). Perception reaction process, skid resistance and brake efficiency. Stopping sight distance and overtaking sight distance. | D, E, NUM, DV | 4 |
| Evaluation: QA, Q | |||
2
Highway Engineering
Week 5| Topic / Sub-topic | Description | Depth Code | Hours (L, T, P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 Highway Engineering and Scope | Definition of Highway Engineering and its scope. | D, E | 0.5 |
| 2.2 Advantages of Road Transportation | Advantages and disadvantages of road transportation. | E | 0.5 |
| 2.3 History of Road Development | Roman roads, Telford roads, Macadam roads, Modern roads, road development in Nepal. | E | 0.5 |
| 2.4 Classification of Roads in Nepal | Classification criteria; road class based on NRS 2070 (old and new classification), NRRS 2071, NURS 2076. | E | 0.5 |
| 2.5 Highway Alignment | Definition of highway alignment. Requirements of ideal alignment. Factors controlling highway alignment. Engineering survey for highway alignment. Special consideration in hill road alignment. | D, QA, E | 2 |
| Evaluation: QA, Q, ST | |||
3
Geometric Design of Highway
Weeks 5–10| Topic / Sub-topic | Description | Depth Code | Hours (L, T, P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 Factors Controlling Geometric Design | Definition of geometric design, importance, design control factors and relevant linkage to NRS 2070, NRRS 2071, NURS 2076. | D, E | 2 |
| 3.2 Design of Cross-Sectional Elements | Factors controlling cross section; cross sectional elements (traffic lane, carriageway, shoulder, median, side slope, right of way, laybys, footpath, cross walks, kerbs, cycle lane, guard rails, etc.). Camber: definition, purpose, types and design. | E, I, D, DV, NUM | 2 |
| 3.3 Design of Horizontal Alignment | Tangents; definition and types of horizontal curves; design of horizontal curve; design of super elevation; method of providing super elevation. Radius of curve from night visibility requirement; extra widening and method of providing extra widening; design of transition curve. Setback requirements; hairpin bend (design parameter and length of hairpin bend). | D, E, I, DV, NUM | 10 |
| 3.4 Design of Vertical Alignment | Gradients: definition, type, selection, curve resistance and grade compensation. Vertical curve: definition, types, design of summit and valley curves. | D, E, I, NUM | 4 |
| 3.5 Combination of Horizontal and Vertical Alignment | 3-dimensional perspective of road alignment. | E, I | 2 |
| Evaluation: MT, Presentation | |||
4
Highway Drainage
Weeks 11–12| Topic / Sub-topic | Description | Depth Code | Hours (L, T, P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 Highway Drainage and Its Importance | Definition; drainage in rural and urban roads. | D, E, I | 1 |
| 4.2 Requirements of Highway Drainage | Requirements of highway drainage systems. | E | 0.5 |
| 4.3 Causes of Moisture Variation in Subgrade Soil | Causes of moisture variation in subgrade soil and their effects on road performance. | E, I | 0.5 |
| 4.4 Classification of Highway Drainage | Surface drainage; subsurface drainage; cross drainage – classification and application. | E, I | 1 |
| 4.5 Erosion Control and Energy Dissipation Measures | Erosion control measures; energy dissipating measures in highway drainage structures along with special drainage structures in hill roads (gully control measures). | E, I | 1 |
| Evaluation: QA, Visual Presentation | |||
5
Highway Materials
Weeks 12–15| Topic / Sub-topic | Description | Depth Code | Hours (L, T, P) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 Introduction and Classification of Highway Materials | Introduction; classification (mineral materials, binding materials, other materials). | D, E | 1 |
| 5.2 Subgrade Soil | Desirable properties of subgrade soil; CBR test procedure and interpretation. | E, I | 2 |
| 5.3 Road Aggregates | Desirable properties; lab tests (shape, gradation, specific gravity, crushing, impact, abrasion). Gradation analysis (blending of aggregates by mathematical method). | D, E, I, NUM | 3 |
| 5.4 Bituminous Binders | Introduction, types and lab tests (penetration, viscosity, softening point, ductility, specific gravity, flash and fire point). | D, E, I | 2 |
| 5.5 Bituminous Mixes | Definition and types; bituminous concrete mix design; desirable properties; Marshall method mix design; density void analysis. | D, E, I, NUM | 3 |
| Evaluation: Final Assessment (3 hrs Practical) | |||
References
Recommended Books – Transportation Engineering I ENCE 304
- 1 Sharma, S. K. (2014). Principles, Practice and Design of Highway Engineering (4th ed.). S. Chand & Company Ltd.
- 2 Khanna, S. K., Justo, C. E. G. (2021). Highway Engineering (Revised 10th ed.). Nem Chand & Bros.
- 3 Department of Roads, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. (2013). Nepal Road Standard 2070. Government of Nepal.
- 4 Flaherty, C. A. (2002). Highway Engineering. Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd.
- 5 Ministry of Urban Development. (2019). Nepal Urban Road Standard 2076. Government of Nepal.
- 6 Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development. (2014). Nepal Rural Road Standards (2055, 2nd rev. 2071). Government of Nepal.
- 7 Shrestha, D. K., Marsani, A. (2020). Transportation Engineering, 1 (4th ed.). Heritage Publisher and Distributors.
- 8 Khanna, S. K., Justo, C. E. G., Veeraragavan, A. (2013). Highway Materials and Pavement Testing. Nem Chand & Bros.
Model Question Paper – ENCE 304
Subject: Transportation Engineering I | Code: ENCE 304 | Year/Part: III/I | Note: Questions and marks are indicative only.
| Q.N. | Question | Marks | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explain the critical role of road transportation in the context of a multimodal transportation network. | 6 | 1 |
| 2 | The speeds of overtaking and overtaken vehicles are 80 kmph and 65 kmph respectively on a two-way traffic road. If the acceleration of the overtaking vehicle is 3.6 kmph/sec, calculate: a) Safe overtaking sight distance. b) Minimum length of overtaking zone and desirable length of overtaking zone. | 6 | 1 |
| 3 | Why are NRS 2070 and NRRS 2071 not so relevant in classifying roads in the present context of Nepal? Describe the requirements of an ideal highway alignment. | 6 | 2 |
| 4 | What are the limitations of NRS 2070 in the current context of expanding highways to four/six lanes in major national highways of Nepal? | 6 | 3 |
| 5 | A four-lane carriageway has a curve 220 m long and a 400 m radius. The safe stopping sight distance and overtaking sight distance are 152 m and 300 m respectively. Calculate the minimum setback distance from the inner edge of the carriageway to the edge of the obstruction to ensure safe visibility for both cases of sight distance. | 6 | 3 |
| 6 | An upward gradient of 1 in 100 meets a downward gradient of 1 in 100 on a National Highway. Calculate the length of the summit curve if (i) the stopping sight distance is 180 m, (ii) the overtaking sight distance is 640 m. What will be the RL of the highest point on the summit curve if the RL of the tangent point at the start of the curve is 100.000 m? | 6 | 3 |
| 7 | What are the requirements of highway drainage? When and where are causeways used as a cross drainage structure? | 6 | 4 |
| 8 | Describe the desirable properties of soil. Why is the corrected load used in CBR calculation? | 6 | 5 |
| 9 | How do the material properties affect the bituminous mix performance in terms of its desirable properties? | 6 | 5 |
| 10 | Define/explain the following: Grade compensation, moisture variation in subgrade soil, gradation analysis of aggregates. | 6 | 3, 4, 5 |
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