Topic outline

  • Low-Volume Roads Engineering

    Credits: 8 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    This course presents an overview of the key planning, location, design, construction, and maintenance aspects of low-volume roads—defined as roads with an average daily traffic of less than 400 vehicles per day—that can cause adverse environmental impacts and lists Best Management Practices to prevent those impacts.

    The course addresses most basic roads issues in broad general terms, leaving narrow technical issues to the specialist. Included are key “DO’s” (Recommended Practices) and “DON’Ts” (Practices to Avoid) in low volume roads activities, along with basic design information. These fundamental practices apply to roads worldwide and for a wide range of road uses and standards.

    Topics:

    This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
    • Environmental analysis
    • Reducing vulnerability of roads to natural disasters
    • Streamside management zones
    • Timber harvesting
    • Road planning
    • Road location
    • Road survey, design, and construction
    • Road costs
    • Road maintenance
    • Road closure
    • Hydrology for drainage crossing design
    • Tools for hydraulic and road design
    • Roadway surface drainage control
    • Control at inlets and outlets of cross-drains and ditches
    • Natural stream crossings
    • Wet areas and meadow crossings, use of underdrains
    • Culvert use, installation, and sizing
    • Fords and low-water crossings
    • Bridges
    • Slope stabilization and stability of cuts and fills
    • Roadway materials and material sources
    • Erosion control
    • Stabilization of gullies

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Important Notice:

    Please ensure that a payment has been remitted, prior to completing Step 4 (printing your certificate of completion).
    Additionally, check your receipt to confirm that your plan is active and has not expired. 
    Certificates issued without a completed payment may be considered invalid by your board of licensure.


    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: for civil, transportation, and construction engineers involved in the planning, construction and maintenance of low-volume roads.
    Publication Source: US DOT (Federal Highway Administration)


    Mark Rossow PhD, PE (retired)

    • Topic 1