AASHTO Highway Design Fundamentals

Highway design shapes the safety and efficiency of our daily commutes, requiring precise engineering standards to prevent accidents and optimize traffic flow. This text-based course guides you through the foundational principles of civil engineering design using AASHTO guidelines, equipping you to draft safe, compliant, and modern roadway alignments. What you'll learn: Understand the core terminology, functional classifications, and design controls of modern highway networks; Calculate key geometric design elements, including sight distances, horizontal curves, and vertical alignments; Apply AASHTO cross-section standards for travel lanes, shoulders, medians, and roadside barriers; Integrate active transportation infrastructure, including pedestrian walkways and bicycle lanes, into standard roadway designs; Evaluate environmental impacts and drainage requirements for sustainable infrastructure development. You will start with the fundamental definitions and structural framework of transportation planning before progressing to step-by-step mathematical calculations and design applications. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring civil engineers, and drafting technicians with no prior highway design experience. Start reading today to build a strong foundation in modern transportation engineering.