Context Sensitive Design
CJI has been an advisor on context sensitive design (CSD) approaches for several major projects, including
the Golden Ears Bridge and the
Sea to Sky Highway
projects. CJI helped to design CSD guidelines for the BC Ministry of
Transportation.
Q: What is Context Sensitive Design?
A: The following is an excerpt from a presentation by
John Collings
and Gary Andrishak at the 3rd International Conference on Geometric
Design in Chicago, Illinois, June 2005.
Context Sensitive Design is:
- the incorporation of ambient planning and landscaping features into the design of roads and streets (as commonly understood by geometric designers);
- the design of a road as a public asset with a sense of community and place (as commonly understood by urban planners);
- design to influence driver and user behavior (as
commonly understood by engineers)
- this uses contemporary design practices and explicit safety
- incorporates community and environmental context; and
- reaches beyond mere application standards.
CSD responses should consider highway geometrics and urban design aesthetics to be of equal importance.
Context Sensitive Design Balance:
- Environment
- Society
- Economy
- Safety
- Mobility
- Capacity
The designer's central focus in applying CSD is to be true to the community context. This requires the development of a set of design guidelines that are unique for each project. Such guidelines incorporate an aesthetic theme and are solidly based on recognized research and design guides that:
- implement speed management and speed reduction techniques;
- incorporate human factors; and
- create a road message that indicates speed behavior by means of alignment and cross-section.
Alignment to Influence Driver Behavior
Roads have tended to be designed for automobiles. CSD provides the opportunity to incorporate the requirements of all road users in a meaningful and practical manner.
Speeds on long tangents can be suppressed by speed management measures such as using milled centrelines and inside lane edge rumble strips, narrower lane widths, and landscaping close to the lane that stimulates peripheral vision and gives the driver a strong cue as to operating speed.
In speed transition zones, operation can be managed by design elements that support the speed change. Where speed needs to be reduced due to a sharp curve or a hazard, transverse lane markings can be used.
For further information on Context Sensitive Design please contact info at collingsjohnston.com.
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