Swept path analysis (also referred to as vehicle tracking) is a core technical component of traffic engineering and site access review. It evaluates whether design vehicles can safely and realistically maneuver through intersections, site accesses, parking areas, and constrained roadway environments. For transportation planners, civil engineers, and approving agencies, swept path analysis provides defensible evidence […]
In engineering, planning, and infrastructure consulting, PDFs are a primary working format. Traffic impact studies, drawings, markups, review comments, and agency redlines are all typically exchanged, reviewed, and approved in PDF form. Yet many firms still rely on generic tools like Adobe Acrobat for highly technical review work. This article compares Bluebeam Revu, Adobe Acrobat,
Designing streets and highways requires careful attention to geometric standards. Lane widths, sidewalk sizes, medians, and other roadway elements affect safety, efficiency, and comfort. This guide provides a comprehensive reference for planners and traffic engineers, including typical dimensions for freeways, arterials, collectors, and local streets. All dimensions are shown in meters and feet, based on
This glossary provides a comprehensive reference of commonly used abbreviations in transportation and traffic engineering. It covers terminology relevant to traffic studies, transportation planning, pavement design, and transit operations. Each entry includes a concise definition, with links to detailed guides or tools on Arterials.co, offering a reliable resource for professionals, planners, and students alike. Transportation
When designing roads, access drives, or service lanes around a development, engineers often focus on long-term operational traffic. However, in many projects, the most damaging traffic occurs during construction, not after completion. Heavy dump trucks, concrete mixers, low-bed trailers, and cranes can impose axle loads far greater than normal service vehicles. If construction traffic is
Signalized intersections are at the heart of urban mobility. To optimize traffic flow, planners and engineers must understand key signal timing concepts—two of the most important being Green Time and Effective Green Time. Although they sound similar, they serve different purposes in capacity analysis and signal design. This post explains both terms, highlights the differences,
In the world of traffic engineering and transportation planning, few resources are as widely recognized (and as frustratingly hard to access) as the ITE Trip Generation Manual. With the release of the 12th Edition, transportation professionals are eager to see what’s new — but also wondering how to actually get their hands on it without
Transportation planning and traffic engineering are rapidly evolving — from traditional road design to smart mobility, AI-driven analytics, and sustainable transport. Yet behind all this progress, there’s one global organization quietly connecting professionals, setting standards, and advancing the field: the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE). Whether you’re a student, engineer, planner, or researcher, understanding ITE
Transportation planning is becoming more complex than ever. Cities are expanding, travel behavior is shifting, and decision-makers are under pressure to deliver data-driven, sustainable solutions. Traditionally, transportation planners relied on manual surveys, static models, and limited datasets to understand how people and vehicles move. But with the explosion of digital data; GPS traces, camera feeds,
Traffic data is essential for city planners, transportation engineers, and traffic management authorities. Traditionally, collecting traffic counts has been a labor-intensive, slow, and sometimes error-prone process. But with advances in artificial intelligence, traffic counting has become faster, more accurate, and more cost-effective. Arterials has developed an AI Traffic Counter —a solution designed to simplify traffic
