Presentation on Traffic Volume Study for the course CE 454

PRESENTED BY:
NAZIFA TABASSUM (MOU)
Course No: CE 454
LEVEL-4 TERM- 2
Course Teachers:
DR. Md. Shamsul Hoque, Professor, BUET
Sanjana Hossain, Assistant Professor, BUET
BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDY
TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING SESSIONAL II

Traffic volume study is the procedure to
determine the volume of traffic moving on
the roads at a particular section during a
particular time.
Definition

Service flow rate: The maximum hourly rate of a roadway section during a given period
under prevailing roadway condition.
ADT: Average daily traffic is the volume of traffic counted on the roadway(two way) over a
given time period (greater than one day but less than one year) divided by the number of
days in that time period.
IMPORTANTTERMS

AADT: Average annual daily traffic is obtained by adding daily traffic counts over one
year divided by 365 days.
IMPORTANTTERMS (CONTD)

Directional Distribution: Directional distribution refers to the percentage of traffic flow in
one direction during a particular time of day. This factor is particularly important in the case
of commuter roads, where maximum flow occurs in one direction in the morning and the
other in the evening. This also needs to be considered for efficient geometric design.

PCE: PCE means passenger car equivalent to express various types and characteristics
vehicles to a common type usually the passenger car. One car is considered to one unit.
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. It may be expressed in terms of annual, daily, hourly,
or sub-hourly periods; usually in vph or vpd. Volume is an actual number of vehicles
observed or predicted to passing a point during a given interval.

The objectives of carrying out traffic volume
study are designing, improving traffic system,
planning, management etc.
Design purpose: Structural and geometric
design of pavements, bridge, and other highway
facilities; intersection design including minimum
turning path, channelization, flaring, traffic
control devices viz. traffic signs, markings, signals
based on approach volume and turning
proportions etc.
Objectives

Improvement purposes:To allocate limited maintenance budget rationally;
to improve the roadway operating condition; to examine the existing
operating/service condition; to determine the type of improvement measure
need to be taken etc.
Planning Purposes: Accurate information on the amount of traffic on the
roads is vital for the planning of both road maintenance and improvement
policies
PURPOSES

DynamicTraffic Management Purposes: Up to
date and continuous flow/congestion information is
essential for optimizing; Network productivity by providing
information to the road user etc.
PURPOSES(continues)

Estimation of highway usage
Measurement of current demand of a facility
Estimation of trends
Economic feasibility evaluation
Computation of accident rates etc.
Other Purposes:

Scope OfTrafficVolume Studies:
Scope
Magnitudes,
classifications
and the time
and directional
split of
vehicular flows
Hourly, daily,
yearly and
seasonal
variation of
vehicular flows
Flow
fluctuation on
different
approaches at
a junction
Proportions of
vehicles

Traffic volume
study
Automatic
Counting
Method
Contact system
based
Contactless
system based
Manual
Counting
Method
Direct Method
indirect Method
Methodology

Data is counted by using hand tally and manual counters/enumerators.
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.
Manual Counting Method: Direct method

Mechanical count boards
consist of counters
mounted on a board that
record each direction of
travel. Common counts
include pedestrian,
bicycle, vehicle
classification, and traffic
volume counts.
Mechanical Counting Boards

Electronic counting boards are battery-
operated, lighter, more compact, and easier
to handle. They have an internal clock that
automatically separates the data by time
interval.
Electronic Counting Boards

Instruments used in Direct method
Hand Counter
Instrument to Measure
Distance

Data is counted by using hand tally and manual counters/enumerators.
Advantages:
 Besides traffic volume can be obtained.
Vehicle classification and turning proportions can also be obtained.
Disadvantages:
Not practicable for long duration count when flow is high.
 Counts become error prone when volume is high.
Direct method
A Typical Data Sheet of Manual Method

In this method, data is collected using video camera. Video
is captured for long time and data is collected later by
rewinding.
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.
Manual Counting Method: Indirect
Method

Manual Counting Method: Indirect Method
Video cameras are mounted
to record the traffic condition
on a road.

In this method, vehicles are counted automatically without any human involvement.
Contact system based (pneumatic, mechanical, magnetic or piezoelectric method)
Contactless system based (electrical/optical, ultrasound/infrared radar, micro wave,
CCTV/video image processing method etc.)
Advantages:This method is suitable for long duration or continuous count. Count is not
affected by bad weather condition.
Disadvantages: It requires strict lane discipline. Non motorized vehicles are hard to detect
Automatic counting method:

Equipment used for Automatic counting
method: Contact system
Pneumatic Road Tube
Counter
Motion sensors

Equipment used for Automatic
counting method: Contactless system
Vehicle numbers are recorder using ultrasound, light beam or other
infrared technology.

Date: March 23, 2017
Day: Thursday (weekday)
Weather: Bright Sunny Day
Temperature: 28° C
Location: Russel square
Method: Manual counting method (Direct)
Equipment: Stop watch; Data sheet.
Data collection

Data collection
Survey location and our group position

►The number of private
car is predominant in this
road; second most available
vehicle along this road is Rickshaw.
►There is a foot over bridge
used by Square Hospital.
►There are a number of
commercial buildings, shops,
on both side of the road
Reconnaissance Survey

►Abrupt movement of
Pedestrian.
► Traffic flow at intersections
are controlled by police.
Reconnaissance survey

Bar chart of vehicle composition
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
11 0
281
77
22
41
32

Bus(3%)
Light Vehicle(64%)
NMV(9%)
Motorcycle(5%)
Autorickshaw(18%)
Bus 3%
Motorcycle
5%
Auto rickshaw
18%
stream in percentage.
Light vehicle 64%
NMV 9%

Service flow rate
Type of
vehicle
Number PCE Converted
number
LightVehicle 281 1 281
Autorickshaw 77 0.5 39
Bus 11 3 33
Motorcycle 22 0.1 3
NMV 41 0.5 21
Truck 0 0.75 0
Total 377
Traffic flow(10.20 AM-10.40 AM)=377 PCU
Service flow rate(11.00 AM-12.00 PM)=377*3=1131 PCU/hr

0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
PCU/hr
Time
From Panthapath to
Russell Square
From Russell Square to
Panthapath
Average
PCU/hr VS.Time Graph

Level of service
LOS
Service Flow Rate
(PCU/hr)
A 600
B 700
C 900
D 1200
E 1400
F >1400
According to the
calculated service
flow rate the level
of service during
survey period was
D.

Directional distribution
Direction Time
PCU/
hr
Average
PCU/hr
Directional
Distribution
From PanthaPath
to Russell Square
9:00 AM-
10:00 AM 860
963 54%
10:00
AM-11:00
AM 900
11:00
AM-12:00
AM 1131
From Russell
Square To
Panthapath
9:00 AM-
10:00 AM 726
807 46%
10:00
AM-11:00
AM 856
11:00
AM-12:00
AM 837
0
20
40
60
80
100
Russell
Square To
Panthapath
Panthapath
To Russell
Square

Direction
ADT AADT
Panthapath to
Russell Square
17,534 24,460
Russell Square to
Panthapath
14,623 20,400
ADT, AADT

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
From Panthapath
to Russell square
From Russell
Square to
Panthapath
Average
%
ADT
9.00-10.00 10.00-11.00 11.00-12.00
Flow Fluctuation Curve

Vehicle composition :
 Light vehicles (Car, Jeep, etc.) occupied 64% of
total vehicle.
 Percentage of Auto rickshaw is relatively high.
 Percentage of Public transport is very low.
Conclusion

Directional Distribution: Directional distribution was found nearly equal (54% and 46%) in
both side of the road. So it can be said that the geometric design of the road is adequate for
present traffic.
Flow Fluctuation Curve: From the flow fluctuation curve it is seen that the vehicle
movement is nearly uniform in that road. %ADT is highest for Panthapath to Russel Square
direction at 11.00-12.00.
Conclusion(continues)

NMV should not be allowed
Amount of public transport should be increased.
To increase the LOS necessary steps should be taken to prevent the entrance of NMV, stop
road side parking, prevent pedestrian crossing; introduce optimum traffic signal system.
Construct foot over bridges at necessary point for pedestrian crossing.
Recommendation:

 Short count was taken (20 min)
 Now a days automatic counting method based on CCTV/Video image processing is
reliable and popular. But due to resource constraint it was not possible.
 Limited and unskilled enumerators.
Limitations

Presentation on Traffic Volume Study for the course CE 454

Presentation on Traffic Volume Study for the course CE 454

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