An Expert System for Road Curve Design and Setting-Out

Abstract

This paper describes an expert system calied RODEOS which combines road curve design and setting-out tasks. The complex physical constraints or relationships on the site which must be met by the road curve are entered first. Any specific design reguirements are then entered, i.e. minimum radius, maximum speed, etc., to obtain a first empirical design for the horizontal curve using a rule-based knowledge system. This curve may be either a standard circular curve or a transition curve depending on location and design speed. Once the horizontal curve is acceptable, any change of gradient requiring a vertical curve can be incorporated. If it is found that there is an overlap of horizontal and vertical curve designs, these are then phased together to ensure compatibility in the final design.