Improving Road Safety: Assessing Curve Geometry of Road Network in Rivers State University Main Campus, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

The insertion of curves in road designs is of utmost importance for the safety of the driver and commuters. It provides a smooth transition when the roadway changes direction and also ensures that proper and safe sight distances are maintained for the speed which the road will accommodate. Road curves can be horizontal or vertical, each serving a crucial role in safe navigation. The study investigate the curve parameters of selected road network within the main campus of Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The study utilizes the quantitative data collection approach which is based on ground survey data acquisition. Field data were acquired with the use of the Total Station (Kolida KTS 440L) instrument. The Field data were reduced to obtain horizontal and vertical angles and further processing and map production were carried out using specialized surveying and mapping software. Accuracies of approximately 1:16,000 and 0.008 were achieved for traversing and levelling operations respectively and it is within the degree of allowable minimum accuracy of 1:5000 for traversing as stipulated by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria. Findings from the study revealed that the sections of the road network under study covers a total length and width of approximately 2.93km and 7.00m respectively. The parameters for 5 horizontal curves and 6 vertical curves were determined and will be useful to the University Estate and Works Department in ascertaining if the curves parameters noted were in line with the design prior to construction works.