Why enroll

This course is essential for civil engineering students, transportation engineers, highway designers, and infrastructure professionals who are directly involved in road planning, design, and safety analysis. Highway geometry plays a critical role in accident prevention, traffic efficiency, and user comfort, making this knowledge fundamental for professional practice.

By enrolling in this course, learners will:

Develop strong conceptual and practical understanding of highway geometry
Learn to design safe, efficient, and economical roadways
Gain confidence in applying design standards and guidelines
Improve skills in road safety and geometric consistency evaluation
Enhance career opportunities in highway design, consultancy, and public works departments
Prepare for competitive exams and professional certifications

Opportunities that awaits you!

Earn a course completion certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review

Career opportunities

Course content

The course is readily available, allowing learners to start and complete it at their own pace.

Geometric Design of Highways

62 Lectures

2019 min

Lecture 01: Introduction & Design Controls - 1
Preview
35 min
Lecture 02: Design Controls - 2
39 min
Lecture 03: Design Controls - 3
32 min
Lecture 04: Design Controls - 4
30 min
Lecture 05: Design Controls and Space Requirements
33 min
Lecture 06: Space and Sight Distance Requirements - 1
30 min
Lecture 07: Sight Distance Requirements - 2
32 min
Lecture 08: Sight Distance Requirements - 3
28 min
Lecture 09 Sight: Distance Requirements - 4
33 min
Lecture 10: Sight Distance Requirements - 5
38 min
Lecture 11: Cross Section Elements - 1
40 min
Lecture 12: Cross-Section Elements- 2
26 min
Lecture 13: Cross-Section Elements - 3
33 min
Lecture 14: Cross-Section Elements - 4
32 min
Lecture 15: Cross-Section Elements - 5
34 min
Lecture 16: Cross-Section Elements - 6
32 min
Lecture 17: Cross-Section Elements - 7
30 min
Lecture 18: Cross-Section Elements - 8
32 min
Lecture 19: Cross-Section Elements- 9
33 min
Lecture 20: Crossing Facility & Road Furniture - 1
32 min
Lecture 21: Road Furniture - 2
35 min
Lecture 22: Road Furniture - 3
32 min
Lecture 23: Road Furniture - 4
32 min
Lecture 24: Road Furniture - 5
28 min
Lecture 25: Road Furniture - 6
29 min
Lecture 26: Road Furniture - 7
33 min
Lecture 27: Alignment Design - 01
34 min
Lecture 28: Alignment Design - 02
33 min
Lecture 29: Alignment Design - 03
34 min
Lecture 30: Alignment Design - 04
28 min
Lecture 31: Alignment Design - 5
30 min
Lecture 32: Alignment Design - 6
30 min
Lecture 33: Alignment Design - 7
33 min
Lecture 34: Alignment Design - 8
34 min
Lecture 35: Alignment Design - 9
29 min
Lecture 36: Alignment Design - 10
31 min
Lecture 37: Alignment Design - 11
30 min
Lecture 38: Alignment Design - 12
29 min
Lecture 39: Alignment Design - 13
33 min
Lecture 40: Alignment Design - 14
31 min
Lecture 41: Alignment Design - 15
32 min
Lecture 42: Alignment Design - 16
27 min
Lecture 43: Intersection Layouts - 1
31 min
Lecture 44: Intersection Layouts - 2
32 min
Lecture 45: Intersection Layouts - 3
33 min
Lecture 46: Intersection Layouts - 4
32 min
Lecture 47: Intersection Layouts - 5
32 min
Lecture 48: Intersection Layouts - 6
30 min
Lecture 49: Intersection Layouts - 7
32 min
Lecture 50: Intersection Layouts - 8
34 min
Lecture 51: Intersection Layouts - 9
38 min
Lecture 52: Intersection Layouts - 10
27 min
Lecture 53: Design of Facilities - 1
33 min
Lecture 54: Design of Facilities - 2
32 min
Lecture 55: Design of Facilities - 3
36 min
Lecture 56: Design of Facilities - 4
35 min
Lecture 57: Design of Facilities - 5
42 min
Lecture 58: Design of Facilities - 6
35 min
Lecture 59: Design of Facilities - 7
35 min
Lecture 60: Design of Facilities - 8
37 min
Lecture 61: Design of Facilities - 9
38 min
Lecture 62: Design of Facilities - 10
34 min

Course details

The Geometric Design of Highways course provides a comprehensive understanding of how roadway geometry influences traffic safety, operational efficiency, driver comfort, and overall transportation performance. The course integrates engineering principles, vehicle dynamics, traffic flow characteristics, human factors, and terrain constraints to design highways that function safely under varying traffic and environmental conditions.

The course begins with an in-depth study of highway classification, functional hierarchy, and design controls, including design speed, traffic volume, vehicle dimensions, and roadway environment. Learners analyze the relationship between driver perception–reaction time, stopping behavior, and roadway geometry. Detailed emphasis is placed on sight distance analysis, covering stopping sight distance, overtaking sight distance, and intersection sight distance under different operating conditions.

A major portion of the course focuses on horizontal and vertical alignment design, including the geometric elements of curves, super-elevation, transition curves, gradients, and vertical curves. The course explains design consistency and coordination of alignments to ensure smooth vehicle operation and reduced accident risk. Cross-sectional design elements such as lane width, shoulders, medians, camber, and roadside features are studied in relation to safety and drainage.

Advanced topics include intersection geometry, roundabouts, interchanges, access management, and grade-separated facilities. Urban and rural design considerations, hill road geometry, and safety evaluation methods are also discussed. Throughout the course, design standards interpretation, numerical design examples, and real-world case studies are used to strengthen practical understanding.

By the end of the course, learners are capable of preparing complete geometric designs for highway projects in compliance with accepted standards and safety principles.

SOURCE- YOUTUBE [NPTEL IIT Roorkee]

Course suitable for

Rail & Transport
Automotive
Civil & Structural
Health, Safety & Environmental

Key topics covered

Highway classification and functional hierarchy
Design controls and design standards
Vehicle characteristics and driver behavior
Design speed and its influence on geometry
Sight distance: stopping, overtaking, and decision sight distance
Horizontal alignment and circular curves
Transition curves and super-elevation
Vertical alignment: gradients and vertical curves
Coordination of horizontal and vertical alignment
Cross-sectional elements: lanes, shoulders, medians, camber
Roadside safety and clear zones
Intersection design and channelization
At-grade intersections and roundabouts
Grade-separated intersections and interchanges
Access control and driveway design
Urban and rural highway geometric design
Safety evaluation and geometric consistency

FREE

Access anytime