As part of their annual project work at the Higher Technical School Imst (HTL Imst) in Austria, civil engineering students Paul Ladner and Emil Walter designed a new section of the Pians cycling route in the Austrian municipality of Pians, located in the Landeck district.
The project includes a 350-meter-long section of the route, which continues towards Stanzertal and Paznauntal and features an underpass beneath the regional road B 188 Paznauntalstraße. The students used Plateia software, developed by CGS Labs, which is specialized for designing infrastructure projects.
Image: A map showing the location of the planned section of the western cycling route in the municipality of Pians.
Challenges in Route Planning
The main goal of the project was to ensure a safe and unobstructed cycling connection across the B 188 road. However, several challenges had to be addressed.
One of the key challenges was preserving the existing arrangement of the Sanna River, as no modifications to its banks or water infrastructure were allowed. At the same time, it was essential to maintain a minimal longitudinal slope to make the section accessible and comfortable for all cyclists.
Additionally, the route needed to be optimized to fit the existing terrain as closely as possible while minimizing environmental impact and avoiding major alterations to the natural surroundings.
Image: Currect situation.
Through terrain analysis, it was determined that the underpass fits best in an area where the B 188 road has a natural elevation offset. This reduces the need for deep excavation and, consequently, the construction costs.
Routing and Technical Elements
During the routing phase, detailed longitudinal profiles and cross-sections were created using Plateia software to optimize the path of the cycling route. The longitudinal profile defines the elevation adjustments of the route and ensures compliance with cycling path standards. In the design process, they followed the recommendation that the slope should not exceed 3%, although in some areas, due to the terrain, the slope was increased to 5.8%.
Image: Design of the new cycling route created using Plateia software.
Cross-sections define the width of the cycling path and construction elements such as embankments, retaining walls, and drainage. The path is 3 meters wide, with safety clearances on the sides. An important element is also water drainage, with a slope towards the embankment and a system of drainage channels that allow for the natural infiltration of rainwater.
Underpass beneath B 188 – A Key Infrastructure Element
The largest construction intervention within the project is the construction of the underpass beneath the B 188 road, which will allow cyclists to safely cross the road without conflict with vehicular traffic. The underpass will be made of reinforced concrete, with special attention given to the statics of the structure and its resistance to external loads.
The concrete pouring will take place in several phases. First, the foundation slab will be constructed, followed by the building of the walls, and finally, the ceiling slab will be installed. Special emphasis was placed on maintaining traffic flow, so a temporary single-lane bypass road will be set up during the construction period.
Image: Longitudinal section of the cycling path, created using Plateia software.
Image: Cross-section of the cycling path
Use of Plateia Software
Throughout the entire project, the students used Plateia software, which enables comprehensive planning of transportation infrastructure – from conceptual design to detailed execution documentation. With this software solution, they were able to precisely determine the route based on geodetic data, create longitudinal profiles and cross-sections.
Conclusion
The Pians cycling path project is an excellent example of how advanced software, like Plateia, can simplify and improve the process of designing transportation infrastructure. In addition to improving road safety, the new section of the cycling path will enhance connectivity in the area and promote sustainable mobility.
With this project, HTL Imst students not only gain valuable experience in planning but also contribute to the development of safe and modern cycling infrastructure.