Traffic Flow and Analysis of Roads

Traffic Flow and
Analysis of
Roads
Traffic Data Collection and projections thereof of
traffic volumes are basic requirements for planning of
road development and management schemes. Traffic
Data forms an integral part in the science of
descriptive national economics and such knowledge is
essential in drawing up a rational transport policy for
movement of passengers and goods by both
government and the private sectors.
Traffic flow pattern appears to be random in
distribution, as it reflects people’s motivation in terms
of different composition of vehicles on different types
of roads under varying environmental conditions. It
follows then that data being collected is a
methodological statistics, because traffic fl ow pattern
follows a random distribution.
Despite such complexities, it does follow fairly
and clearly defined patterns that are possible to
classify and analyze. Thus, traffic data collection and
analysis follows varying trends and plays an important
role in the evaluation and management of road
network schemes.
Types of Traffic Counts
It is essential to know the magnitude of traffic
data required or to be collected, which will then
determine its quality and type of vehicle classification
to be adopted. Traffic counting falls in two main
categories, namely; manual counts and automatic
counts.
Manual Counts
The most common method of collecting traffic
flow data is the manual method, which consist of
assigning a person to record traffic as it passes. This
method of data collection can be expensive in terms
of manpower, but it is nonetheless necessary in most
cases where vehicles are to be classified with a
number of movements recorded separately, such as at
intersections.
Automatic Counts
The detection of vehicular presence and road
occupancies has historically been performed primarily
on or near the surface of the road. The exploitation of
new electromagnetic spectra and wireless
communication media in recent year, has allowed
traffic detection to occur in a non-intrusive fashion, at
locations above or to the side of the roadway.
Common Types of Detectors used in
Automatic Counts
1. PNEUMATIC TUBES- These are tubes placed on the top of road
surfaces at locations where traffic counting is required. As
vehicles pass over the tube, the resulting compression sends a
burst of air to an air switch, which can be installed in any type of
traffic counting devices. Air switches can provide accurate axle
counts even when compressions occur more than 30 m from the
traffic counter. Although the life of the pneumatic tubes is traffic
dependent as they directly drive over it, it is used worldwide for
speed measurement and vehicle classification for any level of
traffic.
2. INDUCTIVE LOOPS- Inductive loop detector consists of
embedded turned wire from which it gets its name. It includes
an oscillator, and a cable, which allows signals to pass from the
loop to the traffic counting device. The counting device is
activated by the change in the magnetic field when a vehicle
passes over the loop.
3. WEIGH-IN-MOTION SENSOR TYPES- A variety of
traffic sensors and loops are used world-wide to
count, weigh and classify vehicles while in motion,
and these are collectively known as Weigh In Motion
(WIM) sensor systems.
Types of Sensors
 Bending Plates- which contains strain gauges that weigh the axles of passing vehicles.
Continuous electric signals are sent to the strain gauges, and these signals are altered as
the plates are defl ected by dynamic vehicularweight and measure the axle of the passing
vehicles.
 Capacitive Strip- is a thin and long extruded metal used to detect pass ing axles. The
force of vertical pressure applied to this strip by a wheel alters its capacitance, which can
be converted to a wheel-weight measure w hen related to the speed of the vehicle.
Capacitive strips can be used for both statistical data and axle confi guration.
 Capacitive Mat- functions in a similar manner as the capacitive strip but it is designed to
be mobile and used on a temporary basis only.
 Piezo-electric Cable- is a sensing strip of a metallic cable that responds to vertical loading
from vehicle wheels passing over it by producing a corresponding voltage. The cable is
very good for speed measurement and axle-space registration, and is relatively cheap and
maintenance free like a inductive loop if installed correctly.
4. MICRO-MILLIMETRES WAVE RADAR DETECTORS- Radar
detectors actively emits radio active signals at frequencies
ranging from the ultra-high frequencies (UHF) of 100 MHz,
to 100 GHz, and can register vehicular presence and speed
depending upon signals returned upon reflection from the
vehicle. They are also used to determine vehicular volumes
and classifications in both traffi c directions.
5. VIDEO CAMERA- Video image processing system
utilize machine vision technology to detect vehicles
and capture details about individual vehicles when
necessary. A video processing system usually
monitors multiple lanes simultaneously, and therefore
it requires high level of computing power. Typically, the
operator can interactively set the desired traffic
detection points anywhere within the system’s view
area.
General Specifications
General specification provide guidance for the allocation
and distribution of traffic counting points along the national road
network. This is done in order to maintain consistency and
attainment of appropriate comparisons of data between
counting stations.
From traffic counts observations at different locations in
the country, it has been noticed that manual counts may be
prone to increased human error when the number of
enumerators are increased commensurate with r increasing
traffic flow.
Selection of Counting Sites
A specific location for counting site (permanent or temporary)
must be determined on site. Where automatic counting system is to
be used, the exact locations of loops should be decided while taking
cognizance of the potential use of data collected. The following
should be kept in mind before deciding on the counting site:
 The road section should have uniform geometric characteristics
along the road length and be away from junctions;
 Location should be on a horizontal (flat) and geometrically straight
road section;
 Section of the road to have an uninterrupted traffic
flow;
 Sections where telephone lines or radio (mobile) are
easily accessible or can be installed, if possible;
 Section to have very little pedestrian or animal
traffic;
 Section to meet safety requirements.
VEHICLE CLASSIFICATION AND
CATEGORY
Manual Count Classification
Manual traffic flow count is categorized by a visual assessment of
the vehicle size and configuration of axles. The current manual traffic flow
data collection system in Botswana classifies vehicles into nine categories
as follows:
Trucks- two axles, 4 x 4 vehicles of 1.5 tons but less than 5
tons.
Light Lorries- commercial vehicles of two axles. These are
vehicles with 5 tons but less than 10 tons.
Medium Lorries- vehicles with 3 or 4 axles and having weight
of more than 10 tons but less than 20 tons.
Heavy Lorries - all lorries with 5 axles or more and weight more
than 20 tons.
Automatic Traffic Counts
A fully equipped Automatic Traffic Counters with inductive loops

and WIM-sensors (weigh pad) has a potential of classifying traffic as
required by means of the following classification parameters:
 Number of axles
 Weight of each axle
 Axle spacing
 Speed
 Vehicle length
 Chassis height.
Where only inductive loops are used the parameters that can
be registered are:
 Speed
 Vehicle length
 To a certain degree Chassis height
 The number of axles can be estimated
As a result, it is appropriate to use automatic traffic counters with either:
 Inductive loops only where traffic flow data is required; or
 Inductive loops and WIM sensors where both traffic flow data and
axle or speed measurements are required.
Where counts have been done with both WIM and inductive loops it
is often difficult to specify the classification of aggregated data. A better
solution is to store the following measured data for each vehicle type:
 Date and time
 Speed
 Total length
 All axle spacing
 All axle weights
When data has been stored for each vehicle, various options can
be selected and the computer can be programed to perform various
calculations as may be required
Traffic Flow
Frequency of Traffic Counts In order to predict traffic flow volumes
that can be expected on the road network during specific periods,
cognizance should be taken of the fact that traffic volumes changes
considerably at each point in time. There are three cyclical variations that
are of particular interest:
 Hourly pattern- the way traffic flow characteristics varies throughout
the day and night;
 Daily Pattern- the day-to-day variation throughout the week; and
 Monthly and yearly Pattern- the season-to-season variation throughout
the year.

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Traffic Flow and

A fully equipped Automatic Trafﬁc Counters with inductive loops

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