MnDOT Geometric Design

The Geometric Design Training Video Series was originally developed in the late 1990’s, through a multi-state pooled fund process with Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) serving as the lead agency. Since the contents presented in the original training series was due for an update, MnDOT coordinated a new multi-state partnership agreement to recreate and modernize the training series to reflect current design standards, best practices, and technology in 2022.

The Updated Geometric Design Training Series is made up of 29 online courses, consisting of video segments, interactive illustrations, examples, and exercises. This training series is intended to serve as a resource on the fundamentals of roadway design for design technicians and entry level engineers for the state and local agencies as well as design practitioners that are in need of training resources.

Online Geometric Design Training Courses:

• Understanding Three Basic Views: Plan, Profile and Cross Section
• Reading and Understanding Contours
• Understanding Typical Sections
• Understanding Cross Sections
• Sight Distance
• Computing Tapers
• Design Speed and Target Speed

• Introduction to Earthwork
• Quantities I: Introduction
• Quantities II: Computing and Tabulating
• Quantities III: Computing Earthwork
• Quantities IV: Drainage and Pavement

 HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT SERIES

• Horizontal Alignment I: Stations and Stationing
• Horizontal Alignment II: Bearings and Curves
• Horizontal Alignment III: Design Components
• Horizontal Alignment IV: Balancing Design Constraints
• Horizontal Alignment V: Design and Placement
• Superelevation I: Introduction
• Superelevation II: Applications

 VERTICAL ALIGNMENT SERIES

• Vertical Alignment I: Design Process
• Vertical Alignment II: Balancing Design Constraints
• Vertical Alignment III: Profiles and Control Features
• Vertical Alignment IV: Sight Distance

 INTERSECTION SERIES

• Turning Movements
• Speed-Change Lanes
• At-Grade Intersections
• Grade-Separated Interchanges

  CLEAR ZONE SERIES

• Clear Zone I: Roadside Design
• Clear Zone II: Barriers