International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)

www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05

3D Model for Highway Alignment

Ananya Augustine1, Sahimol Eldhose2
1
PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Arakkunnam, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Arakkunnam, Ernakulam, Kerala, India

Abstract: Highway planning is often complex and time consuming because of the multifaceted nature of highway design.
Transportation design and analysis has been conducted mostly in 2D and reported as time consuming, and error-prone manual drafting
updates. When planning for a new highway alignment, the general practice is to identify multiple alignment options and determine the
best option based on multiple factors. This research intends to build a 3D object based intelligent design model of the roadway in which
elements of the design are related to each other dynamically. In order to test the feasibility of the proposed approach, a prototype object
based 3D model was developed and tested on a highway project in Vadakkencherry.

Keywords: Highway planning, 3D Model, Highway Alignment, Multifaceted, Prototype

1. Introduction highway projects as an integral part of the area in which they

are constructed. Ragab Khalil (2013) through GIS programs
Highways provide maximum flexibility for travel with they provided various built-in and add-in tools to perform
reference to route, direction, time and speed of travels. The transformations. Joseph M. Wheaton (2012) have developed
economic growth of a community is dependent upon highway a CHaMP Transformation Tool based on simple ArcGIS.
development to enhance mobility. When a new alignment is Min-Wook Kang (2011) has presented an intelligent
proposed it should be short, easy safe and economical. The optimization tool that assists planners and designers for
factors’ controlling the alignment is obligatory points, traffic, finding the optimum highway alignments, connecting
geometric design, economics, and other considerations. specified endpoints or zones. It integrates genetic algorithms
with a geographic information system (GIS) for optimizing
The paper deals with the proposal of a new alignment to highway alignments and processes massive amounts of
reduce the traffic congestion. This project propose an relevant data associated with highway design and alternative
alignment from NH 47 (Thankam junction) to Mangalam evaluation.
dam road passing through Karunya medical college using 3D
visualization.. Without the use of three-dimensional (3D) 2. Methodology
modelling, highway planning experiences a significant
difficulty. Cut and fill calculation process tends to consume a
significant amount of time. Inaccurate earthwork calculations
lead to increased overall costs for the highway project.
Identifying accurate cut and fill volumes early in the highway
planning phase can help reduce total costs of the project. By
using the object-oriented approach, the process of cut and fill
calculations can be performed automatically and in an
accurate manner.

The studies have explained in detail about the complex

process of highway alignment optimization (HAO).So a
model was developed to solve for the three-dimensional
alignment of a highway segment. It also explained about the
research procedure to improve current highway design and
construction practices by applying a 3D object oriented
modelling approach to solve the problem of time-consuming
highway planning. Hyunjoo Kim (2015) have provided a
technical review between BIM and GIS and measure the
different strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
Sabyasachee Mishra (2014) have considered environmental
emission and proposed two separate approaches in the
highway alignment optimization (HAO) process. Zhenhua
SHEN et al. (2014) have developed the 3D model based on
the STEP (Standard for the Exchange of Product model data),
which is an open standard, and is used as data structures. Koji
Makanae (2014) have developed a virtual model in the design
process. The concept of information propagation was
Figure 1: Methodology of the project
summarized in the construction process and analysed the
information flow in the process of highway design. P.P.A.
Zanen et al. (2013) provided a modelling method that views

Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2016

Paper ID: IJSER15719 63 of 67
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)
www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
3. Study Area Table 1: Traffic volume of Manikyapadam road

Cars/Jeep/Van(n
Mini Bus(nos)

Wheeler(nos)
Motorized 2
Trucks(nos)

Total(nos)
LCV(nos)
The site selected for the project is located near

Bus(nos)
Day
Vadakkencherry in Palakkad district. The area lies on the

os)
geographical coordinates of 10◦46’21’’N, 76◦39’5’’E. The
total area of the site is 185192.78 m2. Majority of the plot is
agriculture land consisting of plain terrain. The area is about 11/09/2015 355 122 994 94 1708 407 3680
1585.08 meters above sea level. The important milestone in 12/09/2015 247 124 1108 105 1706 412 3702
the area is Government higher secondary school, CVM high 13/09/2015 116 107 1101 106 1709 414 3553
school, Kattukulangara Temple, Karumanaserry Temple, Average 239 114 1068 102 1708 409 3645
Ganapathi Temple and Jama Masjid Mosque. Figure 2 shows
the satellite image of the proposed site. Table 2: Traffic volume of Mangalam dam road

Cars/Jeep/Van(n
Mini Bus(nos)

Wheeler(nos)
Motorized 2
Trucks(nos)

Total(nos)
LCV(nos)
Bus(nos)
Day

os)
5/09/2015 356 128 1007 140 1716 406 3753
6/09/2015 244 126 1101 106 1709 414 3700
7/09/2015 408 144 1095 148 1738 413 3946
Average 336 132 1067 131 1721 411 3800

5. Surveying
Before a highway alignment is finalised in highway project,
the engineering survey are to be carried out. The various
stages of engineering surveys are;
Figure 2: Selected site for the project
 Map study (Provisional alignment Identification)
4. Traffic Data Study  Reconnaissance survey
 Preliminary survey
For estimating design traffic the cumulative number of  Final location and detailed surveys
standard axles carried by the pavement during the design life
is considered. This requires the following information: Map study gives a rough guidance of the routes to be further
surveyed in the field. Reconnaissance survey was done to
1. Initial traffic in terms of CVPD confirm features indicated on map. From the reconnaissance
2. Traffic growth rate during the design life survey general character of the area in field for deciding the
3. Design life in number of years most feasible routes for detailed studies was examined. The
4. Vehicle damage factor (VDF) preliminary survey was done to study the various alternative
5. Distribution of commercial traffic over the carriage way. alignments proposed after the reconnaissance and to collect
all the necessary physical information and detail of
Initial traffic is determined in terms of commercial vehicles topography, drainage and soil. Detailed surveying was done
per day (CVPD). Estimate of the initial daily traffic flow, was using Trimble total station. A total station is a combination of
done on the basis of potential land use and traffic on existing electronic theodolite, electronic distance measuring device
routes in the area. Traffic growth rates were estimated by (EDM) and a micro-processor with a memory unit. This
studying the past trends of traffic growth. From adequate data combination makes possible to determine the coordinates of
the average annual growth rate of 7.5 percent was adopted. reflector aligning the instrument cross hairs on the reflector
The design life of SH, NH is taken as 15 years. The vehicle and simultaneously measuring the vertical and horizontal
damage factor for plain terrain as is 4.5. The vehicle angles and slop distance. Figure 3 shows data collection
distribution factor is 50% of the commercial vehicles in both compounds using Trimble total station.
directions. The traffic volume was studied at two locations.
Table 1 shows the traffic volume date on Manikyapadam
road from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm at the intersection to NH 47
for three days and shows total number of commercial
vehicles in a day. Table 2 shows the traffic volume date on
Mangalam dam road from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm at the
intersection to SH 58 for three days and shows total number
of commercial vehicles in a day. The peak time of vehicles in
2 days is between 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2016

Paper ID: IJSER15719 64 of 67
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)
www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
Table 4: Test Result

Plasticity Index (%)

Optimum Moisture
Liquid Limit (%)

Plastic Limit (%)

Max Dry Density

CBR Value (%)

Content (%)
Sample

(g/cc)
1 46 14.56 31.44 2.15 15.1 10.6
2 43 13.41 29.59 2.29 11.34 11.6

From the Casagrandes plasticity chart in the soil is classified

Figure 3: Date collection compounds using total station as low plasticity clay and from the CBR value the sub grade
strength is good and capping is not required.
Using Trimble total station the coordinates from the proposed
site was collected. The total station was first set up on a 7. Design of Pavement
point. Surveying the area of site would require relative
coordinates, therefore, the initial instrument X, Y, Z Total number of commercial vehicles, P = 3800
coordinates was set to 1000, 1000, 100. Then the total station
was oriented with “back- sight azimuth” setup which uses Soaked CBR for sample = 10%
bearing to the backsight point, using assumed bearing for the
line connected the two points. Once the survey is begun on The design traffic, N = {(365 x [1+r]n -1)/r}x A x D x F
this assumed coordinate system, all additional station setups
and all data, including three control points (which acquired N = the cumulative number of standard axles to be catered
during the survey course), collected in a single unprojected for in the design in terms of msa
local assumed coordinate system. The northing easting and A= Initial traffic in the year of completion of construction in
elevation of the ground co-ordinates was found out. Table 3 terms of the number of commercial vehicles per day
shows the sample of the co- ordinates of the ground. D = Lane distribution factor = 0.50
F = Vehicle damage factor = 4.5
Table 3: Co-Ordinates n = Design life in years = 15 years
POINTS X Y Z r = Annual growth rate of commercial vehicles (r = 0.075)
l 1000 1000 100 x = No: of years between the last count and year of
n 1002.035 1000 99.938 completion = 2016-2014 =2
A9 99181.81 99789.98 98.409 A = P (1+r)x
205 99259.3 99848.16 97.257 N= 141 msa
206 99245.82 99825.64 96.626
207 99345.43 99877.37 96.444 The cumulative number of standard axles to be catered for in
208 99225.18 99803.57 97.669 the design in terms of msa,
209 99225.89 99810.11 97.773
210 99240.58 99822.98 96.573 N = 141 msa
211 99216.41 99809.38 96.784
212 99212.99 99812.34 96.668 From the pavement thickness design chart for traffic 10-150
215 99214.47 99814.92 96.769 msa andfrom the Pavement thickness catalogue Plate 1-
recommended design for cumulative traffic (msa) range 10 -
6. Soil Investigation 150msa for CBR value 10% the flexible pavement have a
total thickness of 650mm. The thickness of each layer is
Samples are collected from the location. The soils were taken shown in Table 5.
upto a depth of 50cm from the ground level. The different
works carried out on the samples are consistency test, heavy Table 5: Pavement Thickness
compaction and California bearing ratio test. The test results Pavement Composition Thickness(mm)
are used to design the pavement. Consistency limits test help Asphalt Concrete 50
to get information about the soil to estimate strength and Dense Bituminous Macadam 150
settlement characteristics. From CBR test result the pavement Granular Base Course 250
thickness and from compaction test the optimum water Granular Sub Base Course 200
content of soil can be determined. Samples were collected
from Manikyapadam road (sample 1) and Mangalam dam 8. Alignment Proposing
road (sample 2). The test results are shown in Table 4.
The alignment proposing is done using Auto CAD Civil 3D
software. AutoCAD Civil 3D is engineering software which
provides civil engineering professionals with targeted
solutions for a wide variety of infrastructure projects,
including land development, transportation, and water
projects. This application creates intelligent relationship

Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2016

Paper ID: IJSER15719 65 of 67
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)
www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
between objects so the design changes can be dynamically length, and cut and fill culculation alignment 1 is considered
updated. Using AutoCAD Civil 3D, we can compare the as the optimum alignment. Figure 6 shows the render image
design of road elements against recognized industry of the alignment 1 near the proposed site of the medical
standards or user defined standards. As designers work to lay collage and figure 7 shows infraworks image of the
out designs, the software provides graphic alerts and/or alignment 1.
notification tips to help alert you when standards are not met.
This is made possible using design criteria and design check
sets. Design speed can be assigned to each alignment.

Three alignments are proposed using the software in the area.

The surface is generated in the software from the survey co-
ordinates. Alignment 1, alignment 2 and alignment 3 have a
design speed of 100km/h, 80km/h and 80km/h respectively.
The 3 alignments have a total thickness of 650mm.Figure
4Shows the Highway Construction Project as Represented in
Civil 3d.Thealignment 1, alignment 2, and alignment 3 have
a total length of 5km, 5.7km and 7km respectively.

Figure 6: Render Image

Figure 4: Alignment Represented In Civil 3d Figure 7: Shows Infraworks Image

8.1 Cut and Fill Calculation 9. Conclusion

One of the major factors in highway construction is cut and When a new alignment is proposed in an area multiple
fill calculation. Cut and fill operations account for alignments have to be considered and from this optimum
approximately 25% of the total construction cost in road alignment have to be selected. In this project object-oriented
construction projects. Prior to the use of CAD software in the 3D model is developed using the software Auto CAD Civil
construction industry, manual or basic computer models were 3D. Three alignments is proposed in the area. According to
used for earthwork planning. Identifying accurate earthwork the total length, design speed and cut and fill calculation
quantities during the construction planning phase is such an alignment 1 is selected as the optimum alignment. The new
important area that many researchers have attempted to alignment reduces the traffic congestion and distance to reach
implement many technologies and methods to improve the the nation highway.
process. The Auto CAD Civil 3D software gives a detailed
report of the cut and fill calculation for the alignment. The Reference
net graph displaces the graphical percentage of volume
surface or bounded area shown in figure 5. According to the [1] Hyunjoo Kim and Zhenhua Chen, “Integration of BIM
cut and fill calculation alignments 1 have got more fill value. and GIS: Highway Cut and Fill Earthwork Balancing”,
American Society of Civil Engineer, pp. 468-474., 2015.
[2] Jie Wang and Gary Lawson, “Automatic high-fidelity
3D road network modeling based on 2D GIS data”,
ELSEVIER Journals, Advances in Engineering
Software, pp. 86-96., 2014.
[3] Koji Makanae, “Optimization of Highway Geometric
Design Process for Computer-based Design”, American
Figure 5: Graphical Percentage of Volume Surface or Society of Civil Engineer, pp.13766-1383., 2014.
Bounded Area [4] P.P.A. Zanen c and T. Hartmann, “Using 4D CAD to
visualize the impacts of highway construction onthe
8.2 3D Representation public”,
[5] ELSEVIER Journals, Automation in Construction, pp.
The 3D wireframe model is an edge or skeletal representation 136-144., 2013
of a real-world object. Acording to the design speed, total

Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2016

Paper ID: IJSER15719 66 of 67
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY
 International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research (IJSER)
www.ijser.in
ISSN (Online): 2347-3878, Impact Factor (2014): 3.05
[6] Sabyasachee Mishra1, Min-Wook Kang, and Manoj K.
Jha, “Empirical Model with Environmental
Considerations in Highway Alignment Optimization”,
American Society of Civil Engineer, pp. 1-1., 2014.
[7] Ragab Khali, “Object Based Optimization of Highway
Alignment”, American Society of Civil Engineer, pp.
358-369., 2013.
[8] Zhenhua SHEN and Kevin ORR, “Object Based 3D
Intelligent Model for Construction Planning/Simulation
in a Highway Construction”, American Society of Civil
Engineer, pp. 258-269., 2014

Volume 4 Issue 3, March 2016

Paper ID: IJSER15719 67 of 67
Licensed Under Creative Commons Attribution CC BY