This reference book communicates the basic theoretical knowledge, the practical requirements and experience for designing, mapping, calculating and checking roads and the planning process overall – and at the same time reveals important development trends.

The book is guided by the current rules and regulations in Germany, it universalizes this knowledge and also integrates important current research results in road design processes.

The scope of the book is limited to the theoretical principles and knowledge, and the practical experience for, designing rural roads (i.e. the special features of urban roads are not mentioned). This clear separation is necessary because different principles, rules and regulations apply to urban roads.

The terms, definitions, abbreviations and formula Symbols, though based on German usage, can be easily transferred to an international framework.

As a reference book, it supports the ongoing training process for road transportation engineers in planning offices and public bodies. Any specialist working in the transportation sector can use it as a reference book. The work would also be useful as a course book for students of road design.

Wolfgang Kühn is a professor of transportation at the University of Leipzig, Germany, where his research has been in the field of road design, especially the application of modern design techniques to that field.

Professor Kühn studied transportation engineering at the "Friedrich List" University of Transportation and Traffic Sciences (HfV) in Dresden and completed his degree as a "Diplomingenieur" (graduate engineer) in 1977. After obtaining a qualification to teach at a university, he obtained his doctorate (Dr.-Ing) in 1981. He was a design engineer, estimator and construction manager at various planning offices and construction companies at different levels during the period 1981 - 1990. He founded the DELTA-PLAN GmbH planning office in 1990 and he has been successfully managing this as the senior partner for 22 years. He completed his university teaching qualification by obtaining his Dr.-Ing. Habilitatus degree at the Technical University of Dresden in 2002. He was university professor at the University of Leipzig from 2004 until 2008 and he has been professor at the Institute of Transportation Systems Engineering at the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau since 1 March 2008.

During his many years of research work in the field of road design, he has produced 4 dissertations, 70 publications in professional journals and given 98 lectures at specialist conferences. He has also provided support for a number of students writing their degree dissertations or taking their master’s degree or doctoral theses. He has played a significant role in further developing the body of rules and regulations as head of the "Visualization" working group and a member of the "Designing new roads" working group at the German Road and Transportation Research Association (FGSV). He was awarded the Friedrich List Prize in 2002 for his academic achievements in the field of developing new kinds of models and procedures for road design. Due to his institutional activities in transportation research he was appointed a member of both the Geometric Design Committee and the Visualization in Transportation Committee of the TRB (Transportation Research Board). In 2011 Wolfgang received an outstanding paper award at the 4th International Geometric Design Symposium in Valencia (Spain).

...the book should find a place in the bookshelf of every modern and prominent highway design professional.

Advances in Transportation Studies an international Journal, Section B30, 2013.