Ch04 Traffic Engineering Studies

Chapter 4
Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic
(1)
studies may be grouped into three main categories:

Inventories, (2) Administrative studies, and (3) Dynamic studies.

(1) Inventories: provide a list or graphic display of existing information, such as:

street widths, parking spaces, transit routes, traffic regulations.

(2) Administrative studies use existing engineering records, available in government agencies and departments. include the results of surveys, which may involve:
field measurements and/or aerial photography.

(3) Dynamic traffic studies involve the collection of data under operational conditions and include studies of:
speed, traffic volume, travel time and delay, parking, and crashes.
They are described in detail in this chapter.
4.1 SPOT SPEED STUDIES

Spot speed studies are conducted to estimate the distribution of speeds of vehicles in a stream of traffic at a particular location on a highway. carried out by recording the speeds of a sample of vehicles at a specified location.
SPOT SPEED STUDIES Used to: Establish parameters for traffic operation and control, such as:
speed zones, speed limits (85th-percentile speed)
4.1.1 Locations for Spot Speed Studies Represent different traffic conditions on a highway for basic data collection. Mid-blocks of urban highways and straight, level sections of rural highways for speed trend analyses. Any location may be used for solution of a specific traffic engineering problem.
4.1.1 Locations for Spot Speed Studies

Should be selected to achieve the following:
Unbiased data Drivers be unaware Equipment concealed from the driver, Observers inconspicuous.
4.1.1 Locations for Spot Speed Studies statistical analysis, statistically adequate number of vehicle speeds be recorded.
4.1.2 Time of Day and Duration of

Spot Speed Studies
depends on the purpose of the study. recommended when traffic is free-flowing, during off-peak hours. typically:
the duration is at least 1 hour and the sample size is at least 30 vehicles.
4.1.3 Sample Size for Spot Speed Studies
The larger the sample size, will give an estimated mean within acceptable error limits.
Average Speed Median Speed Modal Speed The ith-percentile Spot Speed Pace Standard Deviation of Speeds
4.1.4 Methods for Conducting Spot Speed Studies

manual and automatic manual method is seldom used automatic devices

1. 2.
3.
road detectors radar-based the principles of electronics.
Road Detectors
pneumatic road tubes & induction loops collect data on speeds & volume at the same time Advantage:
Human errors are considerably reduced
Disadvantages:
expensive may, affect driver behavior,
Pneumatic road tubes
laid across the lane in which data are to be collected. When moving vehicle passes over, an air impulse is transmitted to the counter. two tubes are placed across the lane, 2 m apart. An impulse is recorded when the front wheels of a moving vehicle pass over the first tube;
Pneumatic road tubes
a second impulse is recorded when the front wheels pass over the second tube. The time elapsed between the two impulses and the distance between the tubes are used to compute the speed of the vehicle.
inductive loop
a rectangular wire loop buried under the roadway surface. It operates on the principle that a disturbance in the electrical field is created when a motor vehicle passes across it.
Radar-Based Traffic Sensors Electronic-Principle Detectors
traffic characteristics, such as speed, volume, queues, and headways are computed. Using video image processing
(a) RTMS Deployed in the Forward Looking Mode
(b) RTMS Deployed in the Side-fire Mode

(a) Schematic Illustration of the Auto scope

(b) The Auto scope Deployed
4.1.5 Presentation and Analysis of Spot Speed Data

Statistical methods Analyzing data frequency histogram cumulative frequency distribution curve
Example 4.2 Determining Speed Characteristics from a Set of Speed Data.

Table 4.2 shows the data collected on a rural highway in Virginia during a speed study. Develop the frequency histogram and the frequency distribution of the data and determine:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The arithmetic mean speed The standard deviation The median speed The pace The mode or modal speed The 85th-percentile speed
Solution: The speeds range from 34.8 to 65.0 km/h, giving a speed range of 30.2.
For eight classes, the range per class is 3.75 km/h; for 20 classes, the range per class is 1.51 km/h. It is convenient to choose a range of 2 km/h per class which will give 16 classes. A frequency distribution table can then be prepared, as shown in Table 4.3.
Table 4.2 Speed Data Obtained on a Rural Highway
Figure 4.4 Histogram of Observed Vehicles' Speeds
Table 4.3 Frequency Distribution Table for Set of Speed Data
Figure 4.5 Frequency Distribution
Figure 4.6 Cumulative Distribution

The median speed 49 km/h,

the 50th-percentile speed.
85th-percentile speed is 54 km/h
4.2 VOLUME STUDIES

1. Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) the average of 24-hour counts collected every day of the year. 2. Average Daily Traffic (ADT) the average of 24-hour counts collected over a number of days greater than one but less than a year.
4.2 VOLUME STUDIES

3. Peak Hour Volume (PHV) the maximum number of vehicles that pas a point on a highway during a period of 60 consecutive minutes. 4. Vehicle Classification (VC) with respect to the type of vehicles for cars, two-axle trucks, or three-axle trucks. 5. Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)
4.2.1 Methods of Conducting Volume Counts

Manual Method Automatic Method
Figure 4.7 Jamar Traffic Data Collector TDC-1 2 Hooked to a Computer
Figure 4.9 Apollo Traffic Counter/Classifier
Figure 4.10 Example of Counters that Require the Laying of Subsurface Detectors
Figure 4.11 Traffic Eye Universal System
Figure 4.12 Example of Station Locations for a Cordon Count
4.2.2 Types of Volume Counts
Depending on the anticipated use of the data to be collected. vehicle classifications, through movements, turning movements.
Intersection Counts

4.2.2 Types of Volume Counts

Pedestrian Volume Counts Periodic Volume Counts (AADT)
4.2.3 Traffic Volume Data Presentation Traffic Flow Maps: volume of traffic on each route is represented by the width of a band.
Figure 4.13 shows a typical traffic flow map.
Figure 4.13 Example of a Traffic Flow Map

Intersection Summary Sheets:
Figure 4.14 shows a typical intersection summary sheet.
Figure 4.14 Intersection Summary Sheet
4.2.3 Traffic Volume Data Presentation
Time-Based Distribution Charts: see Figure 4.15

Daily variations: see Figure 4.15b
Figure 4.15 Traffic Volumes on an Urban Highway (A&B)

Hourly variations in traffic volume:
Figure 4.15 Traffic Volumes on an Urban Highway (C)

Summary Tables: PHV, Vehicle Classification (VC), and ADT. See Table 4.4
Table 4.4 Summary of Traffic Volume Data for a Highway Section
Adjustment of Periodic Counts Expansion Factors from Continuous Count Stations. Hourly expansion factors (HEFs) are determined by the formula
Daily expansion factors (DEFs) are computed as
Monthly expansion factors (MEFs) are computed as

Table 4.5 Hourly Expansion Factors for a Rural Primary Road

Table 4.6 Daily Expansion Factors for a Rural Primary Road

Table 4.7 Monthly Expansion Factors for a Rural Primary Road
4.3 TRAVEL TIME AND DELAY STUDIES
Travel time: time required to travel from one point to another on a given route. the locations, durations, and causes of delays. good indication of the level of service identifying problem locations,
4.3.1 Applications of Travel Time and Delay Data

efficiency of a route locations with relatively high delays causes for delays before-and-after studies relative efficiency of a route travel times on specific links economic studies
4.3.2 Definition of Terms Related to Time and Delay Studies

1.
2.
Travel time: time taken by a vehicle to traverse a given section of a highway. Running time: time a vehicle is actually in motion
4.3.2 Definition of Terms Related to Time and Delay Studies

3.
4.
Delay time lost due to causes beyond the control of the driver. Operational delay: delay caused by the impedance of other traffic. (for example, parking or unparking vehicles),

5. 6.
7.
Stopped-time delay Fixed delay: caused by control devices such as traffic signals, regardless of the traffic volume Travel-time delay: difference between the actual travel time and the travel time obtained by assuming that a vehicle traverses at an average speed equal to that for an uncongested traffic flow
4.3.3 Methods for Conducting Travel Time and Delay Studies
Methods Requiring a Test Vehicle: floating-car, average-speed, and movingvehicle techniques.

Table 4.8 Speed and Delay Information

Moving-Vehicle Technique (moving observer): the observer makes a round trip on a test section Figure 4.16, The observer starts at section X-X, drives the car eastward to section Y-Y, turns the vehicle around drives westward to section X-X again
Figure 4.16 Test Site for Moving-Vehicle Method

Moving-Vehicle Technique.
following data are collected as
The time it takes to travel east from X-X to Y-Y (Te), in minutes The time it takes to travel west from Y-Y to X-X (Tw), in minutes The number of vehicles traveling west in the opposite lane while the test car is traveling east (Ne)
Figure 4.16 Test Site for Moving-Vehicle Method

Moving-Vehicle Technique. The number of vehicles that overtake the test car while it is traveling west from Y-Y to X-X, that is, traveling in the westbound direction (Ow) The number of vehicles that the test car passes while it is traveling west from Y-Y to X-X, that is, traveling in the westbound direction (Pw)

Moving-Vehicle Technique.
The volume (Vw) in the westbound direction can then be obtained from the expression:
where (Ne Ow Pw) is the number of vehicles traveling westward that cross the line X-X during the time (TeTw). Similarly, the average travel time in the westbound direction is obtained from

Methods Not Requiring a Test Vehicle License-Plate Observations: observers at the beginning and end of the test section. Each observer records the last three or four digits of the license plate of each car that passes, together with the time at which the car passes.
in the office by matching the times of arrival at the beginning and end of the test section for each license plate recorded. difference between these times is the traveling time of each vehicle. average of these is the average traveling time on the test section.

a sample size of 50 matched license plates. Interviews: obtaining information from people who drive on the study site regarding their travel times, experience of delays, requires the cooperation of the people.
ITS Advanced Technologies:
Advanced technologies Cell phones GPS satellite system technology is used to determine average speeds and travel times along highways

4.4 PARKING STUDIES Any vehicle will at one time be parked short time or longer time, provision of parking facilities is essential need for parking spaces is usually very great in areas of business, residential, or commercial activities. park-and-ride
Providing adequate parking space to meet the demand for parking in the Central Business District (CBD) This problem usually confronts a city traffic engineer. solution is not simple, Parking studies are used to determine the demand for and the supply of parking facilities.

4.4.1 Types of Parking Facilities On-Street Parking Facilities
also known as curb facilities. Parking bays are provided alongside the curb on one or both sides of the street. unrestricted parking unlimited and free Restricted parking facilities
On-Street Parking Facilities
limited to specific times for a maximum duration. may or may not be free. handicapped parking bus stops loading bays.
Off-Street Parking Facilities
privately or publicly owned; surface lots and garages. Self-parking garages attendant-parking garages

4.4.2 Definitions of Parking Terms 1. A space-hour is a unit of parking that defines the use of a single parking space for a period of 1 hour. 2. Parking volume is the total number of vehicles that park in a study area during a specific length of time, usually a day.

3. Parking accumulation is the number of parked vehicles in a study area at any specified time. 4. parking load the number of space-hours used during the specified period of time. 5. Parking duration length of time a vehicle is parked at a parking indication of how frequently a parking space becomes available.

6. Parking turnover rate of use of a parking space. Obtained by dividing the parking volume for a specified period by the number of parking spaces.

4.4.3 Methodology of Parking Studies Inventory of Existing Parking Facilities
detailed listing of the location and all other relevant characteristics of each legal parking facility, private and public. The study area includes both on- and offstreet facilities.
Type and number of parking spaces at each parking facility Times of operation and limit on duration of parking, if any Type of ownership (private or public) Parking fees, method of collection Restrictions Other restrictions, loading and unloading zones, bus stops, taxi ranks Permanency
The inventory should be updated at regular intervals of about four to five years.

4.4.3 Methodology of Parking Studies Collection of Parking Data
Accumulation:
by checking the amount of parking during regular intervals on different days of the week. Carried out on an hourly or 2-hour basis used to determine hourly variations of parking and peak periods of parking demand.

Collection of Parking Data
Turnover and Duration:
collecting data on a sample of parking spaces in a given block. recording the license plate of the vehicle parked on each parking space in the sample at the ends of fixed intervals during the study period. The length of the fixed intervals depends on the maximum permissible duration.
Turnover and Duration:
For example, if the maximum permissible duration of parking at a curb face is 1 hour, a suitable interval is every 20 minutes. If the permissible duration is 2 hours, checking every 30 minutes would be appropriate. Turnover is then obtained from the equation
Figure 4.17 Parking Accumulation at a Parking Lot
Parking Demand
by interviewing drivers at the various parking facilities Interview all drivers using the parking facilities on a typical weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Information include (1) trip origin, (2) purpose of trip, (3) drivers destination after parking. the location of the parking facility, times of arrival and departure, vehicle type.
Parking Demand
Parking interviews also can be carried out using the postcard technique, about 30 to 50 percent of the cards distributed are returned.

Ch04 Traffic Engineering Studies

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ch04 Traffic Engineering Studies

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ch04 Traffic Engineering Studies

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chapter 4

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

studies may be grouped into three main categories:

Traffic Engineering Studies

street widths, parking spaces, transit routes, traffic regulations.

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

They are described in detail in this chapter.

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1 SPOT SPEED STUDIES

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1.1 Locations for Spot Speed Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1.2 Time of Day and Duration of

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1.3 Sample Size for Spot Speed Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1.4 Methods for Conducting Spot Speed Studies

manual and automatic manual method is seldom used automatic devices

road detectors radar-based the principles of electronics.

Traffic Engineering Studies

Human errors are considerably reduced

expensive may, affect driver behavior,

Traffic Engineering Studies

Pneumatic road tubes

Traffic Engineering Studies

Pneumatic road tubes

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Radar-Based Traffic Sensors Electronic-Principle Detectors

Traffic Engineering Studies

(a) RTMS Deployed in the Forward Looking Mode

Traffic Engineering Studies

(b) RTMS Deployed in the Side-fire Mode

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

4.1.5 Presentation and Analysis of Spot Speed Data

Traffic Engineering Studies

Example 4.2 Determining Speed Characteristics from a Set of Speed Data.

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Traffic Engineering Studies

Table 4.2 Speed Data Obtained on a Rural Highway

Traffic Engineering Studies

Figure 4.4 Histogram of Observed Vehicles' Speeds

Traffic Engineering Studies

Table 4.3 Frequency Distribution Table for Set of Speed Data

Traffic Engineering Studies

Figure 4.5 Frequency Distribution

Traffic Engineering Studies

Figure 4.6 Cumulative Distribution

Traffic Engineering Studies

The median speed 49 km/h,

85th-percentile speed is 54 km/h