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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 General
Transportation system is a dynamic system. Information about traffic must be regularly updated to
keep pace with ever-changing transportation system. Data must be collected and analyzed
systematically to get representative information.
Traffic surveys are the means of obtaining information about traffic. This is a systematic way of
collecting data to be used for various traffic engineering purposes. The main purposes of traffic
survey are: traffic monitoring, traffic control and management, traffic enforcement, traffic
forecasting, model calibration and validating etc.
The term traffic volume study can be termed as traffic flow survey or simply the traffic survey. It
is defined as the procedure to determine mainly volume of traffic moving on the roads at a particular
section during a particular time. It is measured in vehicle per minute, vehicle per hour and vehicle
per day. In order to express the traffic flow on a road per unit time, it is necessary to convert the
flow of the different vehicle classes into a standard vehicle class known as passenger car unit. The
traffic volume is dynamic and varies during 24 hours of the day. Daily traffic volume varies on
different days of a week and different months and seasons of the years.
Traffic data are needed in research, planning, designing and regulation phases of traffic engineering
and are also used in established priorities and schedules of traffic improvements.The traffic engineer
must acquire general knowledge of traffic volume characteristics in order to measure and understand
the magnitude, composition, and time and route distribution of volume for each area under his
jurisdiction.
The study of traffic volume at a particular location is necessary to create the following scopes :-
• Flow fluctuation on different approaches at a junction or different parts of a road network
system.
• Magnitudes, classifications and the time and directional split of vehicular flows. Magnitude
is represented by volume of traffic. Vehicles are classified into some predefined classes
based on vehicle size and capacity. In a two-way road, vehicles moving towards two
directions are counted separately to get the proportion. Time and directional split is useful
to identify tidal flow.
• Proportions of vehicles in traffic stream. Proportion of vehicles indicates whether public or
private transport dominates the traffic system. It also indicates the choice of road users.
• Hourly, daily, yearly and seasonal variation of vehicular flows. These variations are needed
to establish expansion factors for future use. Using expansion factors, AADT can be
calculated from short count.
• Effectiveness of a traffic control measure
• To check existing, operating service condition of a roadway section
• Planning traffic operation and control of existing facility
• To design intersection, signal timings, channelization
1.3.1 Objectives
• To measure traffic volumes and note other related traffic characteristics (e.g. flow
composition, flow fluctuations etc.).
• To compare the results with standard design service volumes and identify remedies.
CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1General
Traffic volume studies are conducted to determine the number, movements, and classifications of
roadway vehicles at a given location. These data can help identify critical flow time periods,
determine the influence of large vehicles or pedestrians on vehicular traffic flow, or document traffic
volume trends. The traffic engineer must acquire general knowledge of traffic volume characteristics
in order to measure and understand the magnitude, composition and time and route distribution of
volume foreach area under his jurisdiction.
The present study is essentially about the importance of traffic volume in traffic engineering ofurban
and suburban road links, in particular the literature on effect of traffic volume, speed- flow
relationships, passenger car equivalents, peak hour factor, flow variations and traffic capacity and
level of serviceability (LOS). But there are lot of studies which help to develop and modify the
present study. Some of those are mentioned below in brief:
Satyanarayana (2012) studied the effect of traffic volume, its composition and stream speed on
passenger car equivalents . Method proposed by Chandra is used for developing the PCU factors
and found that For two axle trucks PCU values are found to increase with an increase in
compositional share of respective vehicle types in the traffic stream. The PCU of two wheelers
practically remains unaffected by its compositional share in the traffic stream. Compositional share
of 2W at different locations were observed in the range of 31.69% to 34.23% whereas increase in
PCU values are 1.1% only and it may be attributed due to high maneuverability. In slow moving
traffic PCU values of bullock carts are increasing with the decreasing in the compositional share in
the stream.
Basu D, Maitra S.R (2006) studied the effect of traffic volume and its composition on Passenger
Car Equivalency (PCE). Taking the stream speed as Measure of Equivalence.
2.3 Definition
2.3.1 Volume/flow
The total number of vehicles that pass over a given point or section of a lane or roadway during a
given time interval is called volume. It is the actual number of vehicle observed or predicted to
passing a point during a given interval.
It is the total yearly volume divided by the number of days in a year and expressed in terms of
VPD.
Average 24-hour traffic volume occurring on weekdays for some period less than one year.
Fig-3: Intersection
traffic characteristics, such as AADT and daily, weekly, and seasonal variations in traffic volumes
at each point. Broad classification systems for major roads may include freeways, expressways,
and major arterials. For minor roads, classifications may include residential, commercial, and
industrial streets.
2.5.1 Purpose
The main objective of reconnaissance survey is of examine the general character of he area for the
purpose of determining the most feasible routes, or routes, for further more detailed investigations.
Data collected should be adequate to examine the feasibility of all the different routes in question,
as also to furnish the Engineer-in-charge with approximate estimates of quantities of costs, so as
to enable him to decide on the most suitable alternative or alternatives.
The survey should also help in determining any deviations necessary in the basic geometric
standards to be adopted for the highway facility.
Photogrammetry technology is also useful to the highway engineer in many ways. Large scale maps
on scales of 1:2,000 to 1:25,000 can be very precisely produced through photogrammetric process.
The contouring can also be produce, the common intervals depending on the height of the camera.
Very minute and precise measurements amounting to sub-mere accuracy can be obtained. In other
words, profile (with height values) and cross-sections across highway center- line can be extracted
from optical model.
This technique is used with the help of satellites. At present, it gives resolution of the order of 6
metres. Photographic products of imagery are available from National Remote Sensing Agency,
Hyderabad on scales of 1:12,500, 1:25,000 and 1:50,000. Digital products are also available in
floppy cartridges and tapes. The cartridge/tape can be digitally processed in the computer and the
image on the monitor can be interpreted with the possibility of enhancement of quality through
manipulation of image processing software. Major advantages of satellite imagery is its repeatability
as orbiting satellites visit the same spot on earth every few weeks. Thus, the latest information
regarding the physical features ( like, the extent of a town or urban area, etc) can be obtained to
update on available map. The information on natural resources namely, geology, geomorphology,
land use, soil status (waterlogging, erosion, etc.), drainage, forest extent, etc. as available may be
most useful input for the planners of highway alignment
In case of large projects with mapping as one of the main objectives conventional aerial photography
in traditional format (23 cm x 23 cm) may also be useful. There are at least there known agencies in
India for such aerial photography, namely he National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA),
Hyderabad, Air Survey Company, Calcutta and the India Air Force. All aerial photography work
requires clearance from the Ministry of Defence. The major advantages of SFAP are:- Very large
scale true color photography can be done in scales upto 1:1,000 to 1:2,000 (upto scales of 1:10,000).
Acquisition plan alongside highways can be suitably made in scale of 1:4,000 environment along the
corridor are possible at comparatively lower cost than ground surveys.
The various alternative routes located as a result of the map study are further examined in the field
by ground reconnaissance. As such, this part of the survey is an important link in the chain of
activities leading to selection of the final route.
General reconnaissance consists of general examination of the ground walking or riding along the
probable route and collecting all available information necessary for while carrying out ground
reconnaissance, it is advisable to leave reference pegs to facilitate further survey operations.
CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
Advantages: By this method traffic volume as well as vehicle classification and turning proportions
can be obtained. Data can be used immediately after collection.
Disadvantages: This method is not practicable for long duration count and when flow is high. Error
is common especially when volume is high. Count cannot be cross checked. Count cannot be done
in bad weather.
Advantages: Besides traffic volume, several traffic parameters can be obtained from recorded film.
Data can be cross checked and quality can be ensured. This method is applicable when volume is
high. It is suitable for non-lane based traffic operation.
Disadvantages
A suitable elevated place is required for filming operation. Data cannot be used immediately after
collection. Data must be manually transcripted of recorded film. This process is time consuming
and tedious. Because of limitation of capacity of film, it is not suitable for long duration counts.
Quality of video recorded on film is dependent on intensity oflight and this method is not suitable
in overcast days.
Automatic counts are usually taken in 1-hour intervals for each 24-hour period. The counts may
extend for a week, month, or year. When the counts are recorded for each 24-hour time period, the
peak flow period can be identified. The most commonly used detector types are:
Advantages: This method is suitable for long duration or continuous count. It is used as permanent
counting station. It does not need manpower and is free from human error. Data is obtained in
usable format. It is less expensive as manpower is not needed. Count is not affected by bad weather
condition.
Disadvantages: It requires strict lane discipline. Non motorized vehicles are hard to detect by this
method. Detailed classification of vehicle is not possible. Accuracy is less than manual method.
Installation cost is high.
Reasons
• Unavailability of instruments.
• Simplest among all study.
3.5 Counting periods
Vehicles can be counted for any duration. Duration of count depends on the objective of data
collection. For traffic control and management or operational studies short duration count at
peak period is conducted. For planning and design purpose, long duration count is conducted.
For our study purpose we collected volume data for 60 minutes.
3.6.1 Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces
to gain vital information about enemy forces or features of the environment for later analysis
and/or dissemination. In the spot, we looked around to get the information of how many types
of vehicles on the spot and following this, we decided to distribute our job.
After all above this process we have to continue the final study.