Pavement Design Archives

artificial intelligence traffic engineering

How Artificial Intelligence Is Transforming Transportation Planning and Traffic Engineering

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, […]

Pavement Design, Traffic Engineering, transportation planning, Urban Planning

Highway Design, Traffic Engineering, Transportation Planning

What is PCU (Passenger Car Unit) in Traffic Engineering?

When analyzing roads, intersections, and traffic flow, engineers face a common challenge: vehicles are not all the same. A car, a motorcycle, a truck, and a rickshaw each take up different amounts of road space, move at different speeds, and influence congestion differently. To solve this, transportation engineers use the Passenger Car Unit (PCU) —

esal, mixed traffic flow, passenger car equivalent, passenger car unit, Pavement Design, pce, pcu, road capacity, Traffic Analysis, Traffic Engineering

Highway Design, Pavement, Traffic Engineering

ESAL Cheat Sheet: Quick Reference for Pavement Engineers

What is an ESAL? ESAL Formula Where: Typical Load Equivalency Factors (LEFs) (based on AASHTO & typical LEFs) Vehicle Type Axles Typical Load (kips per axle) Approx. ESAL per Pass Passenger Car (sedan) 2 2–3 0.0004 Pickup / SUV 2 3–4 0.001 Delivery Van (2-axle, light) 2 4–5 0.005 Single-Unit Truck (2-axle, 6-tire) 2 6–9

AASHTO pavement design, equivalent single axle load, ESAL cheat sheet, ESAL conversion, Flexible Pavement, highway design, load equivalency factor, pavement calculator, Pavement Design, rigid pavement, road engineering, traffic loading, traffic to ESALs, Transportation Engineering

Traffic Engineering, Trainings, Transportation Planning

Should You Study Transportation Engineering?

Transportation planning and engineering is one of the most dynamic and impactful career paths available today. It sits at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, sustainability, and public policy. If you’ve ever searched “Should I study transportation engineering?” or “Is traffic engineering a good career?”, this guide will help you understand why the answer is a

AI in transportation, aviation planning, civil engineering careers, freight and logistics, future of transportation jobs, Pavement Design, railway engineering, shipping and ports, smart mobility careers, STEM careers, sustainable mobility, Traffic Engineering, transport analytics, transport planning, Transportation Engineering, Urban Planning

Highway Design, Pavement, Traffic Engineering, Transportation Planning

Flexible vs. Rigid Pavement: Which Is Right for Your Project?

When planning a new road, street, or highway, one of the most important decisions you’ll face is whether to use flexible or rigid pavement. Each has its advantages, costs, and ideal use cases. Choosing the right type of pavement can save millions in construction and maintenance over the project’s lifecycle. In this post, we break

asphalt vs concrete roads, ESALs, Flexible Pavement, highway design, life cycle cost of pavement, Pavement Design, pavement type comparison, rigid pavement, road construction materials

Highway Design, Pavement, Traffic Engineering, Trainings

What Are ESALs? Why They Matter in Road Design

In road design, traffic load isn’t just about how many vehicles pass each day — it’s about how much stress those vehicles place on the pavement over time. That’s where ESALs come in. If you’re involved in pavement design, planning, or construction, understanding Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESALs) is essential. This article explains what ESALs

Asphalt Design, ESAL Calculator, Flexible Pavement, Highway Engineering Tools, Pavement Design, planning, Road Engineering Tools, Traffic Load Analysis

Traffic Engineering, Trainings

How to Design Flexible Pavements (with Free Calculator)

Designing a durable and cost-effective road starts with a strong pavement foundation. In Pakistan, flexible pavement remains the most common choice for urban roads, highways, and access streets. But how do engineers determine the thickness of each pavement layer — from subgrade to asphalt? This article walks you through the basics of flexible pavement design

Asphalt Design, Flexible Pavement, Highway Engineering Tools, Pavement Design, planning, Traffic Load Analysis