Optimum Road Design Model (ORDM) software

Optimum Road Design Model

Although, there is a whole range of software available in the commercial market with varying approaches and methods, Optimum Road Design Model (ORDM) is found by many Road Experts to be most suitable for optimum design of both hills and plain terrain. In fact, ORDM is the result of an on-going long-time research carried out since more than two decades in the hilly terrain situations of Russia, Syria,Bhutan, and Nepal. Most of the simulations carried out in optimizing the 3D based road design are also run by the dynamic theories of optimizations. Experiments carried-out on these aspects show that there could a reduction of total project costs varying from 10% to 30%depending upon complexity of road parameters involved. In fact, ORDM is the first of this kind in the context of 3D optimization of plan,profile, and X-section through minimization of the objective function of different road costs resulted after an assessment of environment,geology, hydrology, construction costs, maintenance costs, users cost sand other costs consisting of the total transportation costs. Several typical examples on hill road projects have been tested successfully while confirming the advantages of the model-ORDM, which is the outcome of extensive research works that have been carried-out in the diversified socio-economic and terrain situations of different countries.

ORDM has an instant cross-sectioning facility that gives an idea of the change level of optimum points once the tentatively designed formation levels on the road profile are determined. Vertical design is carried out based on the landscape theory. The design combination of horizontal and vertical alignment configurations ensures best vehicle performance on the road. The designer will be free to select the best possible combination of road geometry between the horizontal and vertical alignments for ensuring the road safety. ORDM system has an excellent facility for graphic view, which permits dynamic link between the various stages of the road design. The road optimization can be implemented once a tentative road alignment is designed initially by using the adequate values of the intersection points (IP), circular,and the transition curves in the topography maps (DTM). The computer-based model is then used to improve the initial design in several iteration processes. The initial road alignment is moved towards the optimum points that will be determined by using the design criteria. With this model, the construction cost including costs of various items like earthwork, structures, and the road pavement canal so be optimized during the design phase.

GIS facility has now become popular among many planners including road planners. In this context, ORDM also provides an Engineering GIS facility to store and retrieve the geo-technical and other information stored in the attribute table on location-wise basis. Thus the designer can alter the design result as per his/her field observations and experience depending upon the topography, geology, hydrology, and environmental factors. For hilly roads, retaining/breast wall can be provided for the required section while balancing the earthwork. ORDM also has a full capability of generating the output design drawings of alignments including cross-sections as per the specific needs.Earthwork quantity will be made available in EXCEL format. ORDM generates setting out data with various parameters of horizontal curves to provide a flexible option for transferring the design drawing intothe ground in relation with the Benchmarks.


For more information visit: cad nepal website

ORDM is a full fledged Optimum Road Design Software for Road and Highway engineers. ORDM comes from cadnepal.com