Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS

Abstract

Optimum Highway Design and Site Location Using Spatial GeoinformaticsEngineering

Albattah MMS*

The current road or highway design systems are not conceived for making computer-aided design judgments such as automated generation of alternative grade lines, optimizing the number of curves, land cover and land use consideration, minimizing the volume of cut and fill, optimizing intersection with existing networks and infrastructure, the best fitting vertical alignment for minimizing the total road costs, or consider environmental impact or land cost. Spatial satellite remote sensing data were used to derive a GIS (Geographic Information System) model combined with a three dimensional road design model which was then used as a decision support tool. The combination of different types of data is to compose a product with optimum characteristics that may be valuable in the preliminary route location studies and provides a designer with a quick evaluation of alternative road paths. In the model, initial trial corridors were investigated. Several paths within each corridor were studied to choose the best path within each corridor. The criteria in the methodology section were used in the comparison process. Routes are generated by “tracing” the possible paths using computer cursor on a 3D model of the terrain (DEM). Based on high-resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data generated using ArcGIS package, corridors are selected by integrating in the process, all factors which may affect selecting the optimum route corridor such as land use and land cover, geology, soil, number of crossing with valleys, number of crossing with existing roads, number of vertical alignment, length, optimal slope, with the lowest total costs, while conforming to environmental requirements. The development of the road design model incorporating powerful computer, high resolution spatial remote sensing data, advanced geoinformatics technologies, improved modern optimization techniques, and environmental considerations will improve the design process for highways and roads.