In road design, what does the term "plan view" refer to?

The term "plan view" in road design refers to a two-dimensional representation that shows the layout of a roadway from a bird’s-eye perspective, specifically focusing on the horizontal alignment, including horizontal curves. This view allows designers and engineers to visualize how the roadway will appear from above, illustrating the relationships between different sections of the road and other features in the surrounding environment. It typically includes details such as lane widths, shoulder widths, and other important features that are relevant to the horizontal geometry of the roadway.

While an aerial overview might be similar in showing a broad perspective, it does not provide the detailed and specific geometric information unique to a plan view in the context of road design. A detailed cross-section would focus on a cut-through view of the road, showing its vertical profile and construction elements, and the vertical elevation chart conveys changes in elevation rather than horizontal layout. Thus, the choice that accurately captures the essence of a plan view, emphasizing horizontal curves specifically, is appropriately selected.