Procedure For The Evaluation Of The Geometric Design Of Mountain Roads, With A Focus On Safety

Abstract

A poor design in mountain road curves increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Therefore, the purpose of this work focuses on proposing an alternative through the problems detected by evaluating the curve under study. The evaluation is based on the analysis of road capacity and geometric design, using indicators such as speed, curve radius, lane width, shoulder width, slope, and superelevation. The process begins with a traffic count to measure traffic flow. Subsequently, a second speed count is carried out to obtain the cumulative frequency curve and identify the operating speed. Next, a topographic survey of the curve is carried out using a drone and RTK technology. With the data obtained, autocad civil 3D software is used to obtain information about the current design of the curve. The results are analyzed, indicating a poor curve design. Finally, a new design for the study curve is presented, addressing the problems identified during the evaluation. In conclusion, the integration and analysis of all evaluated parameters allowed us to understand the criteria to ensure the safety and efficiency of vehicular traffic in mountainous terrain.