Computer-Aided Forest Road Design: Minimizing Total Costs of Construction, Maintenance,and Transportation

A 3D forest road alignment model, aided by an interactive computer system, was developed to design a path with the lowest total construction, maintenance, and transportation costs, while conforming to design specifications, environmental requirements, and driver safety. The contributions of the model are: enhancing data input and user efficiency through a 3D graphic interface and automated horizontal and vertical curve fitting routines, cross section generation, and cost routines for construction, maintenance, and vehicle use; ensuring road feasibility by considering terrain conditions, geometric specifications, and driver safety; enhancing economic efficiency by combining modern optimization techniques to minimize earthwork allocation cost and to optimize vertical alignment; and considering environmental impacts by estimating the sediment delivered to a stream from the road section. The first chapter of the book synthesizes the methods that are available for road design and construction. The second chapter covers the methodology behind the model. The last chapter presents the features of the model and its application.