Chapter Two Traffic Volume and Flow Rate
Chapter Two Traffic Volume and Flow Rate
Chapter Two Traffic Volume and Flow Rate
CHAPTER TWO
Traffic Volume :
The total volume passing a point or segment of a road for one year,
divided by the number of days in the year.
Example:
Total number of vehicles one year = 328500 . Find AADT and AAWT?
Sol.
AADT = Total number of vehicles one year / 365
= 328500 / 365
= 900 vehicle / day.
AAWT = Total number of vehicles one year / 260
= 328500 / 260
= 1264 vehicle / day.
Example:
Total number of vehicles for October = 20700 . Find AADT and AAWT?
Sol.
ADT = 20700 / 31 = 668 vehicle / day.
AWT = 20700 / 22 = 941 vehicle / day.
Design Hour Volume ( DHV ) :
the ADT indicate the variations in traffic volumes that occur on an hourly
basis during the day, specifically high traffic volumes that occur during the
peak hour of travel. The traffic engineer has to balance the desire to provide
an adequate level of service (LOS) for the peak hour traffic volume with
proposing a design in which the highway capacity would only be utilized for
a few hours of the year.
The directional design hour volume (DDHV) is the one-way volume in the
predominant direction of travel in the design hour, expressed as a percentage
of the two-way DHV. For rural and suburban roads, the directional
distribution factor (D) ranges from 55 to 80 percent. A factor of
approximately 50 percent is used for urban highways. Keep in mind that the
directional distribution can change during the day. For example, traffic
volume heading into the central business district is usually higher than
outbound traffic in the morning, but the reverse is true during the afternoon
peak hour.
Example:
AADT = 3500 vehicle / day , DHV = 420 vehicle / day. Find K – Factor ?
Sol.
The peak hour volume is the volume of traffic that uses the approach, lane, or
lane group in question during the hour of the day that observes the highest
traffic volumes for that intersection. For example, rush hour might be the
peak hour for certain interstate acceleration ramps. The peak hour volume
would be the volume of passenger car units that used the ramps during rush
hour. Notice the conversion to passenger car units. The peak hour volume is
normally given in terms of passenger car units, since changing turning all
vehicles into passenger car units makes these volume calculations more
representative of what is actually going on.
The peak hour flow rate is also given in passenger car units/hour. Sometimes
these two terms are used interchangeably because they are identical
numerically.
The peak hour factor (PHF) is derived from the peak hour volume. It is
simply the ratio of the peak hour volume to four times the peak fifteen minute
volume. (The relationship between the 15-min flow rate and the full hourly
volume is given by the peak hour factor).
For example, during the peak hour, there will probably be a fifteen-minute
period in which the traffic volume is more dense than during the remainder of
the hour. That is the peak fifteen minutes, and the volume of traffic that uses
the approach, lane, or lane group during those fifteen minutes is the peak
fifteen-minute volume. The peak hour factor is given below.
The design flow rate or the actual flow rate, for an approach, lane, or lane
group is the peak hour volume (flow rate) for that entity divided by the peak
hour factor. A simpler way to arrive at the design flow rate is to multiply the
peak fifteen-minute volume by 4. However you derive the figure, most
calculations, such as those that measure the current use of intersection
capacity, require the actual flow rate (design flow rate).
Example:
The table below shows the volumes of traffic during periods of time
consecutive. Find :
1. Flow rate .
2. Total vehicles per hour volume ( vehicle / hour).
3. PHF.
Time Volume ( vehicle)
5:00 – 5:15 950
5:15 – 5:30 1150
5:30 – 5:45 1250
5:45 – 6:00 1000
Sol.
1.
Two methods are available for conducting traffic volume counts: (1) manual
and (2) automatic. Manual counts are typically used to gather data for
determination of vehicle classification, turning movements, direction of
travel, pedestrian movements, or vehicle occupancy. Automatic counts are
typically used to gather data for determination of vehicle hourly patterns,
daily or seasonal variations and growth trends, or annual traffic estimates.
The selection of study method should be determined using the count period.
The count period should be representative of the time of day, day of month,
and month of year for the study area.
MANUAL COUNT METHOD:
Most applications of manual counts require small samples of data at any
given location. Manual counts are sometimes used when the effort and
expense of automated equipment are not justified. Manual counts are
necessary when automatic equipment is not available. Manual counts are
typically used for periods of less than a day. Normal intervals for a manual
count are 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Traffic counts during a Monday morning rush
hour and a Friday evening rush hour may show exceptionally high volumes
and are not normally used in analysis; therefore, counts are usually conducted
on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Manual Count Recording Methods:
Manual counts are recorded using one of three methods: tally sheets,
mechanical counting boards, or electronic counting boards.
tally sheets
q : is the estimated flow on the road in the direction of interest. (Traffic flow
in one direction (vehicle / hour).
x: is the number of vehicles traveling in the direction of interest, which are
met by the survey vehicle while traveling in the opposite direction
y: is the net number of vehicles that overtake the survey vehicle while
traveling in the direction of interest (i.e. those passing minus those
overtaken).
ta : is the travel time taken for the trip against the stream .
tw : is the travel time for the trip with the stream.
t : is the estimate of mean travel time in the direction of interest.
Example:
In table shown below . Determine the flow and mean travel time for cars,
trucks and busses. Also, determine total flow and average travel time all
vehicle?
try cars trucks busses cars trucks busses total total ta tw
+ ـــ+ ـــ + ـــ + ـــ
1 77 3 8 2 2 88 1.73 2.50
2 82 4 10 2 2 96 3.88 3.45
3 60 6 6 3 3 72 2.30 2.92
4 56 6 3 2 2 65 2.8 2.71
∑f 275 19 27 1 0 0 1 321 10.71 11.58
∑f 68.75 4.75 6.75 0.25 0 0 0.25 50.25 2.68 2.90
/n
Sol.
Vehicles types Round a bout Rural road Urban road Traffic signal
Private cars 1 1 1 1
H.G.V. 2.8 3 2 1.75
Buss 2.8 3 3 2.25
Motor cycle 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Example:
A flow of 300 Vehicles mode up to 240 Cars , 45 H.G.V. and 15 Busses on an
urban road . Determine the PCU?
Sol.
PCU = (240 x1) + (45 x 2) + (15 x 3) = 375 PCU.
Traffic Forecast:
Future traffic volume: for the design and includes a carry current traffic and
traffic is expected to increase year design.
Component of future traffic volume:
1. Current traffic volume :
Is defined as the number of vehicles that use the new road or enhanced
when it opens. If the road is of the previous has been improve it, the
current traffic consists of vehicles which have been used old road
vehicles added to it that attracted to the way of other ways.
2. Generated traffic volume :
12 Civil Engineering - Third stage
Traffic Wisam Abdulla Najim ALHalfi
This type refers to the future vehicle trip (except for trips that work by
public transport), which does not occur in the case of a new road.
(5 % - 25 %) .It consists of three components:
a) Induced traffic.
b) Converted traffic.
c) Shifted traffic.
3. Development traffic volume:
Is part of the future traffic volume due to the improvement of the land
adjacent to the highway. (250 %)
4. Normal growth traffic volume :
Increased traffic due to natural growth. (4 %). Can calculate the design
traffic volume as a result of the natural growth of the following
equation:
Where;
ADTD = Average daily traffic volume of design.
ADTC = Average daily traffic volume of current.
e = Annual rate of traffic increase.
n = Number of design years.
F = Traffic forecast traffic.
Example :
If the average daily volume of traffic to a local road (1500 vehicles /day).
Calculate the average daily traffic volume of the design after (10 years) with
the knowledge that the annual increase in traffic volume 3%.
Sol.
ADTD = 1500 ( 1 + 0.03 ) 10 = 20159 vph.