Seven Studies of Transportation Engineering: Spot Speed, Volume Study,

Intersection, Pedestrian, Parking, Travel-Time and Delay, and Simulation

An Undergraduate Project

Presented to

Engr. Joselito Rosco Lacuarin

Transport Engineer

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

For the Transportation Engineering Subject

By:

Canete, Cristine Gerpacio, Kriselle Anne

Clores, Shira Geolinne Lupiba, Christian Jay
Curay, Lee Robin John Nicor, Nerrizza Rei
Diapana, Kimberly Ocariz, Edzel Rey
Ejercito, Edgelle Mae Quintos, Sheryl Dawn
Floralde, Kate Diane Varquez, Medhia
Flores, Erika Joy

May 2018
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Introduction

II. Problem Definition

III. Objective of The Study

IV. Conceptual Framework

V. Scope and Limitations of The Study

VI. Significance of The Study

VII. Review of Related Literature

VIII. Methodology

IX. Results

X. Conclusion

XI. Recommendation
A SPOT SPEED STUDY OF VEHICLES IN

THE TRAFFIC STREAM OUTSIDE THE

UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO CAMPUS

I. INTRODUCTION

Traffic Engineering is a branch of engineering which deals with the

improvement of traffic performance of road networks and terminals. This is

achieved by systematic traffic studies, scientific analysis and engineering

applications.

Speed is an important measure for traffic operations because highway users

relate speed to economics, safety, time, comfort and convenience. Speed is a basic

measure of traffic performance (Institute of Transportation Engineers,2008). 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 (Garber and Hoel,2009).

A spot speed study is carried out by recording the speeds of a sample of

vehicles at a specified location. Speed characteristics identified by such a study

will be valid only for the traffic and environmental conditions that exist at the time

of the study. The study is used to: (i) Establish parameters for traffic operations

and control, such as speed zones, speed limits and passing restrictions, (ii)

Evaluate the effectiveness of traffic control devices, such as variable message

signs at work zones, (iii) Monitor the effect of speed enforcement programs, such

as the use of drone radar and the use of differential speed limits for passenger cars

and trucks, (iv) Evaluate and determine the adequacy of highways geometric

characteristics, such as radii of horizontal curves and lengths of vertical curves,

and evaluate the effect of speed on highway safety through the analysis of crash

data for different speed characteristics.

 There are parameters to be considered in conducting spot speed studies

such as the location, time of day and duration, and sample size. There are also

different methods for conducting spot speed studies such as road detectors, radar-

based traffic sensors, electronic-principle detectors, and manual speed traps.

Road detectors can be classified into two general categories: pneumatic

road tubes and induction loops. Pneumatic road tubes are laid across the lane in

which data are to be collected. When a moving vehicle passes over the tube, an

air impulse in transmitted through the tube to the counter. While Inductive loop is

a rectangular wire loop buried under the roadway surface, it usually serves as the

detector of a resonant circuit.

Radar-based traffic sensors work on the principle that when a signal is

transmitted onto a moving vehicle, the change in frequency between the

transmitted signal and the reflected signal is proportional to the speed of the

moving vehicle.

Electronic-principle detectors is a method wherein the presence of vehicle

is detected through electronic means, and information on these vehicles is

obtained from which traffic characteristics such as speed, volume, queues, and

headways are computed.

II. PROBLEM DEFINITION

In present scenario due to heavy traffic volume, the existing roads are

insufficient to maintain the design speed. With the help of spot speed studies, we

can manage the traffic volume by diversion or by designing signal cycle time.

III. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

Spot speed studies are vital for measuring different variables and factors

needed in the design and analysis of the highway system. Observed speeds are

used for capacity analysis, geometric design, safety measures, speed trends and

assessment. Speed studies aid in the decision-making processes and in before-

and-after studies to assess the effectiveness of roadway modifications.

Traffic engineering has now been recognized as an essential tool in the

improvement of traffic operations. Therefore, required to select a section of a road

outside the university campus and away from close intersections and unusual

traffic activities.

IV. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

This study is conducted based on the concepts transportation engineering

manual as basis for the study of spot speed. The diagram shows the main activities

that the researchers will focus in order to achieve the objectives of the study. The

conceptual paradigm is shown in figure 1.

 FIGURE 1:

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

• Set an exact site • Identifying the • Interpret and
within the test parameters associated report findings
area with roadway speeds. of the spot
speed study.
• Identifying the • Creating the diagram
distance of the to identify the
trap length to be relationship between
use. time and length.

V. LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The spot speeds are affected by physical features of the road like pavement

width, curve sight distance, pavement unevenness, intersections, and road side

developments.

Other factors affecting spot speeds are environmental conditions,

enforcements, traffic conditions, driver, vehicle and motive of travel. Conducting

Spot speed study manually has a possibility of human error.

VI. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is conducted to determine the speed of a vehicle outside the

University of Mindanao campus. The study will become a reference in designing

and analysis of the highway system. The observed speeds are used for capacity

analysis, geometric design, safety measures, speed trends, speed limits and

assessments.
VII. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Designing and construction of a road involves setting up ideal speed for the

vehicles to travel in a comfortable way. Speed is an important measure of the quality of

travel and safety of road network. Speed by definition is the rate of movement of vehicle

in distance per unit time. A typical unit of speed is kilometers per hour (kph) or miles

per hour (mph). Spot speed studies are used to determine the speed distribution of a

traffic stream at a specific location. The data gathered in spot speed studies are used to

determine vehicle speed percentiles, which are useful in making many speed-related

decisions. spot speed data have a number of applications, including determining traffic

operation and control parameters, establishing highway design dements, analyzing

highway capacity, assessing highway safety, monitoring speed trends and measuring

effectiveness of controls or programs. Spot speed studies are designed to measure speeds

at specific locations under the traffic and environmental conditions prevailing at the time

of the study.

Definition, Goals and Principles of a spot speed

A spot speed study is made by measuring the individual speeds of a sample of

the vehicles passing a given point (spot) on a street or highway. These individual speeds

are used to estimate the speed distribution of the entire traffic stream at that location.

Spot speed studies are used to determine the speed distribution of a traffic stream at a

specific location. The data gathered in spot speed studies are used to determine vehicle

speed percentiles, which are useful in making many speed-related decisions. The intent

of spot speed studies are to record speed characteristics under prevailing traffic

conditions at a specific location along a roadway.

 Since traffic engineering involves the collection and analysis of large amounts of

data for performing all types of traffic studies, it follows that Spot Speed Study is also

an important element in traffic engineering. Managing traffic within our communities is

a growing task for traffic engineers. As traffic volumes increase and public financial

resources decrease, targeting improvement projects to anticipate growth patterns is

critical.

Use of Spot Speed Data

The result of spot speed studies are used for many different purposes by traffic

engineers, including: Establishing the effectiveness of new or existing speed limits or

enforcement practices, Determining appropriate speed limits for application,

Establishing speed trends at the local, state, and national level to assess the effectiveness

of national policy on speed limits and enforcement, Specific design application

determining appropriate sight distances, relationships, between speed and highway

alignment, and speed performance with respect to steepness and length of grades,

Specific control applications for the timing of “yellow” and “all red” intervals for traffic

signals, proper placement of signs, and development of appropriate signal progressions,

and Investigation of high-accident locations at which speed is suspected to be a

contributing cause to the accident experience

VIII. METHODOLOGY

Following is the methods we used to measure spot speed of vehicles in a

traffic stream.

Manual Trap and Video

In this method, markings of pavement are placed across the road at each

end of trap. Observer start to video the vehicle as it passes lines.

In this method, minimum two observers required to collect the data, of

which one is standing at the start point to start and stop the stop watch and other

one is standing at the end point to give indication to sop the watch when vehicle

passes the end line.

Advantage of this method is that after the initial installation no set-up

time is required, markings are easily renewed. Disadvantages of this method are

that substantial error can be introduced, and magnitude of error may change for

substitute studies. This method is only applicable for low traffic conditions.

The equipment required to carry out stop watch method are: stopwatch,

measuring tape and marking material. We require at least three observers to

carry out the experiment. After choosing a section that satisfies the criteria given

in the Manual of Transportation Engineering, 5o meters stretch is measured

using a measuring tape. Once the observers are set in position, we can start

conducting the spot speed of vehicles.

IX. RESULTS:

The following graphs and statistics will describe the results obtained by the

proponents during their 2 hours observation of speed outside the University of Mindanao

Campus.

The first graph indicates the observed speeds of vehicles, it depicts that the the

most frequent that collected ranges from 3.0-3.99 m/s and from 5.0-5.99 m/s. The graph

depicts the number of vehicles in each speed range.

The second graph indicates the frequency distribution in m/s. Frequency

distribution is the number of instances in which a variable takes each of its possible

values.

Lastly, the third graph help us to determine the fastest speed by reasonable drivers

for design purposes. It is important to determine the cumulative frequency distribution

so that we will be able to identify the percentile of the vehicles as to their observed speed.

X. CONCLUSION:

Unlike many other disciplines of the engineering, the situations that are

interesting to a traffic engineer cannot be reproduced in a laboratory. Even if road and

vehicles could be set up in large laboratories, it is impossible to simulate the behavior of

drivers in the laboratory. Therefore, traffic stream characteristics need to be collected

only from the field. Spot speed study enable us to determine the speed limit of the road

and the minimum suitable speed. As the result heavily influenced by the effectiveness of

using radar speed gun, a proper way should be practiced. During the experiment, students

were not provided safety vest to avoid being spotted by the road users. The chance for

the driver to decrease their driving speed is higher when they spotted our presence. All

precaution steps were taken as no accident involved students during the experiment. The
most frequent speed that occurs on the road is 5.56 m/s as it appears 208 times in our

collected data. The experiment location which is two lanes two-way highways located in

urban area. It clearly explained why the vehicles traversed the road has recorded lowest

speed of 2.08 m/s. The road is in good condition, less congested and less pothole. As the

traffic light is far ahead from the location of experiment location, the vehicles do not

show any sign of slowing down. Some vehicles even drove at 7.14 m/s which is the

highest recorded speed. Lastly, the time of experiment also play a major role in

determining the speed of vehicles. We conducted the experiment on May 17,2018, 2:30

to 4:30 in the afternoon. It is not considered as peak hour where people most likely using

the road. That explained why the traffic flow is smooth and not in congested condition.

XI. RECOMMENDATION:

The proponents recommend that when conducting spot speed study, it is a

necessity that the observers should use electronic devices in conducting the study

wherein the traffic flow is not smooth and in congested condition. It is good to use

manual trap when the traffic flow is smooth and in not congested condition.
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Viera, R. (2014). CHAPTER 10: SPOT SPEED STUDIES. Retrieval May 23, 2018

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Roshandeh, A.M., ,Nesheli, M.M., Che Puan,O. (2009) International Journal of Recent

Trends in Engineering, Vol. 1: Evaluation of Traffic Characteristics: A Case

Study : Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Academy Publisher

Hoel, L. A., & Garber, N. J. (2009). Traffic and Highway Engineering, Fourth Edition.

Institute of Transportation Engineers. (2010). Retrieved from

http://library.ite.org/pub/e2652bd6-2354-d714-5149-580789217232

Institute of Transportation Engineers. (2010). Manual of Transportation Engineering

Studies, Second Edition.

(http://site.iugaza.edu.ps/t77328/files/Spot-Speed-Manual.pdf)

(http://www.ctre.iastate.edu/PUBS/traffichandbook/2SpotSpeed.pdf)