Skip Navigation (s)

• Home

• UTP University Members
• Transport as a Career
• Why Study at a UK University?
• Masters Courses at UTP Universities
• Course Content
  • Imperial College London and University College London
  • University of Leeds
  • Napier University
  • Newcastle University
  • University of Salford
  • University of Southampton
  • Westminster University
• Continuing Professional Development
• Funding Possibilities
• Employers Forum
• Research
• Links to Other Organisations
• Contacts

Tools

• view as plain text
• site map
• print this page

Transport Policy
Trends in transport demand and an introduction to policy perspectives; economic instruments in transport; road pricing; direct regulation of street space (pedestrianisation, parking traffic calming, bus priority); central and local government structures for the administration of transport and planning; local government re-organisation; Land use planning and the management of transport demand; land use planning in Scotland; evolution of road and rail networks; rural transport policy; parking policy; town-friendly traffic planning; green commuter plans; the mobility impaired in transport policy; rail privatisation; freight transport; traffic impact assessment. Implementation of transport policy. Case studies of transport policy and planning approaches in various European cities

Transport and Traffic Models
Introduction to transport planning and modelling, data collection, network and zoning systems, trip generation, distribution, model choice and assignment, principles and methods. Overview of transport modelling software: strengths and weaknesses. Speeds, flows and densities, macroscopic models, shock wave analysis. Microscopic traffic models, generation, car following, gap acceptance. Examples of traffic flow simulation models. Queuing models: deterministic and random, junction capacity models.

Transport Economics and Appraisal
Costing the ownership and use of a private car, bus, tram and train. Identification of those who bear the costs and who reap the benefits. Cost allocations. Capital structures, ownership and profit. Private and public sectors. Demand measurements and analysis. Elasticity. Marginal revenue and cost. Fare structures and yield management. Generalised costs: elasticities revisited. Demand forecasting: future costs, revenues and benefits. The problem of fixed and variable matrices. Links to NRTF. Investment appraisal in the private and public sectors. Social costs and benefits: the valuation of time, accidents and other non-marketable goods. UK and EU methodologies for measuring and assessing environmental impacts (noise, vibration, pollutions, community severance, etc). DMRB vol. 13, GOMMMS, STAG and other methodologies. The problems of transport integration and the allocation of resources between modes.

Transport Research Methods

Traditionally, transport based research has been of a quantitative nature, however increasingly transport planners and engineers need to have a better appreciation of all forms of research methods and methodologies. The overall aim of this course therefore is to give that general appreciation and to better prepare students to undertake their MSc dissertations. An important aspect of this is the development of a research proposal, which student’s then go on and implement in the course of their dissertation.

The course first considers general research issues, ranging from research philosophies to the uses of theory and the importance of research literature in transport research projects. The course then focuses on the more practical aspects of carrying out a research project in the transport area. This looks at quantitative methods, such as the survey, and qualitative methods, such as focus groups, and considers the uses of these various methods in transport research. An introduction to statistics is also given in this part of the course, however this is from a practical perspective (what does it mean) rather than a theoretical perspective (how do you calculate them). Some basic guidance on the use of relevant statistical software packages, mainly SPSS, is also given

Traffic Management
Human design factors: visual, hearing, psychological, physiological. Vehicle performance, dimensions, turning circles, visibility, headlamps etc. Skidding, street lighting, pedestrian and cyclist facilities, traffic calming and speed control. Principles of signing, road traffic regulations, safety fences. Parking demands, design of on and off street facilities. Accident studies, data collection and analysis, national issues, accident investigations and remedial treatments, safety audits.

Traffic Engineering And Control
Traffic Surveys and Monitoring: speeds, volumes, delays, OD's, Automatic Monitoring, NRTF Forecasts. Traffic Signals: Isolated junction design, Assessing existing designs/new designs, use of current design software, MOVA, ramp metering. UTC: Principles and purposes of area wide co-ordinated design, fixed time linking including TRANSYT applications, traffic responsive-linking (SCOOTS, SCATS and others), benefits and critical review. Intelligent Transport Systems: Advanced transport telematics, automatic incident detection, route guidance systems, auto tolling traffic and travel information systems. IVNS, Auto tolling.

Highway Planning and Design
Highway Planning: public consultation and enquiries, scheme promotion and current legislation; environmental impact aspects of GOMMMS; Transportation Impact Assessment; noise measurement. Link Design: background horizontal and vertical alignment, co-ordinated design, intersection design: at grade, grade separated. Drainage: surface water drainage Computer Aided Design: data collection, digital ground models, review of design suites.

Top of page

Universities Transport Partnership