2023-2024 / GCIV2174-1

Design and execution of road infrastructures

Duration

20h Th, 10h Pr, 2d FW

Number of credits

 Master of Science (MSc) in Civil Engineering3 crédits 

Lecturer

Bertrand François

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course concerns the conception and the design of road infrastructure. The course adresses the following aspects:

  • Road infrastructure: Definitions, classifications and characteristics
  • Locations and geometrics of roads and intersections
  • Road geotechnics: Geotechnical investigations
  • Structural design of pavements
  • Environmental impact of pavements
  • Monitoring and maintenance of pavements
Those facets are introduced through theoretical lectures and combined with resolved exercises to bring a integrated approach in the field of interest. In addition, a case study related to the improvement of a crossroad (usuallty a roundabout) will be considered as a student project leading to the delivery of a report and a final presentation.  

Some invited lectures, related to the field of road infrastructure, will be also delivered.

A visit of the Belgian Road Researches Center (BRRC) is potentially planned, depending on the availabilities of the CRR.  

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to:

  • Innovate based on recent scientific outcomes and technological progresses
  • Elaborate conceptual, mathematical or computational models to design road infrastructure
  • Quantify the effects of deterministic or probablistic, natural or man-made, actions on road infrastructures
  • Design, size and execute efficient constructions with appropraite materials
  • Integrate social, economical and environmental aspects for the design of technical solutions
  • Manage civil engineering constructions all along their life, by preserving the safety, the energy and the ressources
  • Work in a team, lead multidisciplinary projects and integrate opinions and advices from experts in the field
  • Communicate scientific results and technical solutions, through reports, oral presentation or posters, in French or another foreign language
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.1, III.2, III.3, III.4, IV.1, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, V.1, V.2, VI.1, VI.2, VI.3, VI.4, VII.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5, VII.6 of the MSc in civil engineering.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic notions in Soil Mechanics / Geotechnics

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

A mix of:

  • face-to-face courses
  • exercice sessions
  • case study exercices
  • personnal readings
  • invited lectures
A report and a presentation by group of students on the case study addressed as a student project. 

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

The powerpoints of the course are the main support.
Some additional documents, aiming at a clarification or a deeper learning of some concepts will be uploaded on MyULiège.

Written work / report

Out-of-session test(s)


Additional information:

The final mark will be linked on the case study (improvement of a crossroad) carried out by group. 

The global mark will be based on the report (2/3 of the mark) and on the final presentation (1/3 of the mark). 

In addition of the evaluation of the group, each student could be evaluated individually, in case of evidence of disparities inside the group. 

The final presentation and the delivery of the report will be organised during the last session of the course, or at a date agreed with the students (out-of-session).

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

The official language of the course is English.

Contacts

Bertrand FRANCOIS (bertrand.francois@uliege.be)

Association of one or more MOOCs