Application of Project Evaluation Techniques and ITS Design

Learning outcomes

Identify, classify and describe the performance of transport and environmental systems and components through the use of analytical methods and modelling techniques.

Understand system-engineering approaches and apply them for the development of conceptual transportation and environmental systems.

Investigate and critically analyse transport scenarios by the identification of economic, technical and environmental constraints.

Apply transport and environmental engineering principles for the development of transport plans taking into account user needs and the appropriate codes of practice.

Retrieval of Failure

Where a student fails a module (less than 40% for undergraduate modules, less than 50% for postgraduate modules) they have the right to attempt the failed assessment(s) once, at the next resit opportunity (normally July resit period).  If a student fails assessment for a second time they have a right to repeat the module.

NOTE: Students who do not take their resit at the next available RESIT opportunity will be required to repeat the module.

Cheating is any attempt to gain unfair advantage by dishonest means and includes plagiarism and collusion. Cheating is a serious offence. You are advised to check the nature of each assessment. You must work individually unless it is a group assessment.

Cheating is defined as any attempt by a candidate to gain unfair advantage in an assessment by dishonest means, and includes e.g. all breaches of examination room rules, impersonating another candidate, falsifying data, and obtaining an examination paper in advance of its authorised release.

Plagiarism is defined as incorporating a significant amount of un-attributed direct quotation from, or un-attributed substantial paraphrasing of, the work of another.

Collusion occurs when two or more students collaborate to produce a piece of work to be submitted (in whole or part) for assessment and the work is presented as the work of one student alone.

Assignment Brief

Task A: Application of project evaluation techniques (50% of the overall grade – 1500 words)

Highways England (HE) is investing in a major project to create a link between M54 to M6 north and M6 toll. Currently northbound traffic from M54 to M6 and M6 toll needs to use A460, which passes through a number of villages in the area. Due to the heavy traffic conditions, A460 suffers from excessive congestion and high rates of accidents. The outcome of this project will provide a high capacity link to accommodate the required demand for this important section of the UK’s strategic network. Information about the project can be found here:

Retrieval of Failure

You must select two of the proposed alternatives and carry out Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) in order to assess which of the two you consider to be the most suitable option. You need to select a number of criteria (minimum 7), including costs and benefits for each alternative. Information about the criteria can originate from the different documents found using the link above. Emphasis must be placed on the justification of the selected values (parameter scores, weights, etc.) used as part of the MCA. This needs to be based on high-level objectives set out in national, or regional transport plans and has to be discussed with literature findings. You may have to make reasonable assumptions in order to quantify the required parameters.

Note: You cannot use existing qualitative findings that have resulted from processed information as part of your analysis. However, you may use existing values reported for different performance criteria.

For example:

1. a) You may find in a report that Options A and B have received scores of 3 and 5 (on a scale 1:poor – 5:excellent) respectively on a criterion related to constructability. These scores may have been supported by argumentation by the authors of the document. This information cannot be used as part of your analysis. If you want to use qualitative information about constructability you need to provide justification about your selected scores that goes beyond existing evaluations.
2. b) You may find in a report that Options A and B have a construction duration of 24 and 32 months respectively. This information can be used as part of your analysis.

Task B: Design of an ITS

As part of this task you need to design an ITS that can support the operation of Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) schemes. The scope of the ITS can be selected by you and it may be related to travel information systems, fleet operations, payment and booking of services, etc. You are required to adopt the FRAME ITS architecture for the development of your design, which must include:

• User needs, which should be derived from a literature survey of ITS systems with similar functionality (Note: You may reuse material from your first assignment, but this would have to be contextualised for the purposes of ITS design).
• Functional specification (functions, data flows, data stores and external entities).

Exceptional level of analysis, showing deep critical engagement with a comprehensive range of contextual material. Demonstration of independent thought resulting in highly original or creative responses to the assignment. Provision of clear evidence of understanding of current scholarship and research based on an extensive range of relevant sources. Extreme clarity of structure demonstrating complete focus of argument. No obvious errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

Excellent links between relevant ideas, theories and practice. Evidence of clearly independent scholarship and the ability to engage critically and analytically with a wide range of contextually relevant resource material. Demonstration of original insights, supported by extremely well structured overall argument. Very few errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

Very good links between a range of different ideas and theories. Places issues in a wider context. Evidence of clear understanding of a range of relevant theories and application of these appropriately. Independent ideas, well argued and supported. Few errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

Clear links between theory and practice. Good coverage of assignment issues. Full understanding of core issues. Evidenced level of understanding of appropriate theory and concepts. Some small repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate Identifies main issues and relevant theory. Coverage of most of assignment issues. Competent application of relevant theory and states obvious links to practice. Some repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.

Demonstration that the learning outcomes have been met. Makes few links between theory and practice. Answers question in a very basic way. Describes relevant theory accurately, and some relevant ideas offered. Limited coherence of structure. Several repeated errors in referencing or grammar or syntax as appropriate.