Answer Key / Page 1 of 5

School of Engineering
B.Tech. Degree VII Semester Safety and Fire Engineering
Internal-II Examination October 2024
SE 19-206-0702 Transportation Systems and Safety
Time: 2 Hours Max. Marks: 50

Course Outcomes (CO): On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
CO3. Explain traffic characteristics and prevention of road accidents.
CO4. Summarize the basic layout and facilities of docks and harbours.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels (L1- Remember, L2- Understand, L3- Apply, L4- Analyse, L5-Evaluate, L6-
Create). PO – Programme Outcome.

Q Part-A: Short answer questions: Answer all questions Marks BL CO PO

No.
I. a) What is OD study? What are its applications? 1+3=4 L2,3 3 1
Ans: Origin-destination study (OD study)
• To determine the amount of bypassable traffic that enters a
town and thus establish the need for a bypass. Diversion new
route, bypass, bridge etc.
• To develop trip generation and trip distribution models in the
transport planning process
• To assess the adequacy of the present highway network system
and plan new facilities, extension, widening of road etc.
• To assess the need for parking facilities at the terminals
b) When the brake was fully applied, a vehicle moving at 40 kmph 4 L4,5 3 2,4
stopped leaving a skid mark of 15 meter. The skid resistance of the
pavement was found to be 0.70. Determine the brake efficiency (%).
Ans: v = 40 kmph = 11.11 m/s; L=15 m
.
Skid resistance developed, f´= = = 0.42
× . ×
Brake efficiency = (0.42/0.70)×100 = 60%
c) Two 2-lane roads, both with one-way traffic, are crossing each 1+3=4 L3,4 3 3,4
other. On a figure, show the number of different types of traffic
conflicts around the junction.
Ans: 4 crossing + 2 merging conflicts = 6 conflicts (1 mark).
Figure (3 marks).
d) Distinguish between a harbor and a port. 2+2=4 L2 4 1
Ans: Harbour simply means a place for vessels to seek shelter; it
consists of the waterways and channels upto the pier-head lines.
Port is a harbour including the terminal facilities like stores, landing
of passengers and cargo, etc. Thus, a port additionally provides land
space for loading, unloading cargo (i.e., piers, slips, wharves, sheds,
tracks, handling equipments etc.).
e) Distinguish between dead weight tonnage and net tonnage. 2+2=4 L2 4 1
• Dead weight tonnage (DWT): Means carrying capacity in
tropical, summer and winter seasons.
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DWT = Displacement load – Displacement light

where “displacement load” is the weight of the ship plus its contents when
the ship is fully loaded with cargo upto the load line; and “displacement
light” is weight of ship (kN) without cargo, fuel & stores.

• Net tonnage: Gross tonnage – Space provided for crew,

machinery, engine room and fuel
where the gross tonnage is the carrying capacity of a ship expressed in
volume (in units of 100 cum)
Part-B: Long answer questions: Answer either II or III, and either IV or V
II. Explain different traffic characteristics – human and vehicular. L3 3 1,4
Ans: Following characteristics to be explained.
Human (or Road user) characteristics 8
1. Physical characteristics:
a) Permanent: vision, hearing, strength, quickness of
response
b) Temporary: fatigue, alcohol, drugs, illness
2. Mental characteristics: knowledge, skill, intelligence,
experience, literacy
3. Physiological characteristics: attentiveness, fear, anger,
impatience, superstition, attitude, maturity etc.
4. Environmental factors: locality, weather, time of day,
facilities along the road 7
Vehicular characteristics
• Static characteristics:
a) Dimensions
b) Weight
c) Maximum turning angle
• Dynamic characteristics:
a) Speed characteristics
b) Acceleration characteristics
c) Braking characteristics
d) Body design
OR
III Enlist and discuss the causes of road accidents and possible remedies? 7+3+5 L2,3,4 3 2,3
Mention the different aspects of road accident investigation.
=15
Ans:
Causes of road accidents: 7
• Driver-related:
– excessive speed,
– rash or negligent driving,
– failure to observe rules,
– failure to read or understand signals,
– fatigue,
– alcohol,
– drugs,
– illness etc.
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• Pedestrian-related:
– Violation of rules.
– Use of carriage way
• Passenger-related:
– Alighting from or getting into moving vehicles
• Vehicle defects:
– Brake failure
– Steering failure
– Bursting of tyres
– Lighting system failure etc.
• Road condition related:
– Slippery surface
– Potholes
– Snow fall
• Road design-related:
– Inadequate SSD, OSD etc.
– Improper transition
– Improper super-elevation
– Improper curve radius
• Improper lighting and control
• Weather-related:
– Fog
– Snow fall
– Heavy rains
• Animal-related:
– Stray animals suddenly crossing road
– Wild animals straying onto highways
• Other causes:
– Incorrect signs or signals
– Obstruction to vision
– Poor lighting, etc. 3
Remedies: 3E
• Engineering measures
– Road signs
– Preventive maintenance of vehicles
– Before & after studies
– Road lighting
• Enforcement measures
– Speed control
– Traffic control devices
– Training and supervision
– Medical check of drivers
– Special precautions for commercial vehicles
– Enforcement measures by traffic police and general
police
• Educational measures
– Educating road users
– Training the drivers
– Through awareness camps
– Undertaking road safety programmes
 Answer Key / Page 4 of 5

Road accident investigation: 5

1. Recording general observations:
a) Length of skid mark
b) Relative positions of the vehicles, collision diagram, taking
photographs
c) Details of the accident and injuries
d) Condition of the road and traffic, environmental conditions
e) Condition diagram of the accident location with relevant
measurements and dimensions
2. Driver tests:
a) Breath analyser
b) Collection of blood sample / spinal fluid for alcohol/drug test
c) Tests of reaction time, distance judgement, angle of clear vision,
glare recovery test (if accident occurred at night)
3. Skid resistance test on pavement surface – using portable
pendulum type skid resistance tester
4. Vehicle tests:
a) Condition of brakes
b) Condition of steering
c) Condition of essential accessories and general conditions
d) Details of dents on the vehicle
e) Details of damaged parts
5. Assessment of probable causes:
a) Primary cause
b) Secondary cause
c) contributory cause; and
d) most probable cause
6. Cost analysis/ losses:
a) injuries & fatalities
b) damage to vehicles
c) Damage to properties
d) Consequences and delay to traffic
e) Legal / regulatory proceedings

IV (a) Discuss the advantages and drawbacks of water transportation. 7 L2 4 1

Advantages: L2 4 1,3
• Defence of nation
• Cheapest
• Development of trade, commerce and industry
• High load carrying capacity
• Makes available all foreign goods
• Cheap motive power
• Economic progress
• Can be developed to any extent unlike road and rail tracks
• Brought far-off countries nearer
Disadvantages:
• Slow
• Minimum draft required
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• Storms and hurricanes affect more

• Attacks by enemies and pirates
• Jurisdictional issues
• Loading/unloading affected by tides
• Fluctuation of W/L leads to rubbing of sides against berth
• Currents
• Freight transfers are costly

(b) What are breakwaters and their types? What forces act upon 1+4+3
them? =8
Ans: These are barriers which enclose a harbour to protect the vessels
inside by breaking and absorbing the force of incoming wind and waves. 1

Types:
1. Heap or mound breakwater 4
a) Rubble mound breakwater
b) Concrete blocks mound breakwater
c) Rubble mound breakwaters supplemented by concrete blocks
d) Rubble-mound breakwaters supplemented by stones
2. Mound with superstructure (Composite breakwater)
3. Upright wall breakwater
4. Special breakwaters
Forces acting on them: 3
• Hydrostatic forces: buoyancy, lateral pressure
• External forces: vibrations in projecting masonry structure due
to waves, suction, erosion
• Chemical action of sea water on concrete, steel and masonry
• Sea insects
OR
V Discuss various facilities available in a major port. 15 L2 4 1,3
Ans: Following facilities to be explained.
1. Protection facilities
2. Dredging facilities
3. Entrance facilities
4. Guiding facilities
5. Locking facilities
6. Turning facilities
7. Docking facilities
8. Loading/Unloading facilities
9. Storage facilities
10. Repairing facilities
11. Administrative facilities
12. Offshore terminal (waiting) facility
13. Quarantine inspection facilities
***
BL2 – 56 %; BL3 – 30 %; BL4 – 11 %; BL5 – 3 %