TRAFFIC VOLUME

TRAFFIC DENSITY
TRAFFIC CAPACITY

Engr. NASIM AYUB

Lecturer CED
UET Peshawar Campus III Bannu
Definition :
“Traffic volume is define as the number of vehicles
passing a point on a highway or a given lane or
direction of highway during a specified interval of
time”
volume = No of vehicles/Time
volume = Speed x Density
 Traffic volume studies are conducted to determine
the number , movements and classification of
roadway vehicles at a given point.
 This data can help to identify critical flow time
periods , determine the influence of large vehicles
on vehicular traffic flow
 Traffic volume studies are used to design
intersections , signal timings ,structural Design of
pavements and Geometric design
 The time period varies from as little as 15 minutes
to as much as a year
Following are the types of Traffic volume……..

(1) DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUME :

Daily Traffic Volume = No of Vehicles / Day

Few types of Daily Traffic volume

(A) Average Annual Daily Traffic :-
The average of 24-Hours
counts collected everyday of the year.
AADT= Volume/365
(B) Average Daily Traffic :-
The average of 24-Hours counts collected over a
number of days greater than one but less than a
year.
ADT= Volume/<365 days
(c) Average Annual Weekly Traffic :-
AAWT= Volume/313 days (One holiday)
AAWT= Volume/260 days (Two holiday)
(D) Average Weekly Traffic:-

AWT= Volume/<313 days (One holiday)

AWT= Volume/<260 days (two holidays)
(2) HOURLY TRAFFIC VOLUME :-

Hourly Traffic Volume = No of Vehicles / one hour

Few types of Hourly Traffic volume

(A) PEAK HOURLY VOLUME:-
The single hour of the day during which
the volume is maximum is known as peak hour and the traffic volume
during peak hour is called peak hourly volume .PHV is expressed as
vehicles per hour
(B) DESIGN HOURLY VOLUME:-
Design Hourly Volume are
some time estimated from (AADT) by multiplying some factors

DDHV = AADT x K x D
Where DDHV = Directional Design Hourly Volume
Where K = The proportion of daily traffic occurring during the
Peak Hour
Where D = The proportion of Peak Hour Traffic in Peak
Direction
The Values of K for
Rural Roads = 0.15 – 0.25 (30th Peak hour volume)
Urban Roads = 0.12 – 0.15 (50th Peak hour volume)
The Values of D for
Rural Roads = 0.65 – 0.8 (30th Peak hour volume)
Urban Roads = 0.55 – 0.65 (50th Peak hour volume)
(B) SUB-HOURLY VOLUME:-
Volume observed for a time period
less than one hour is called Sub-Hourly Volume.
e.g. 1000 Vehicles are observed during 15 minutes period, so

SHV = (1000)/ (15/60)

SHV = 4000 Vph (Vehicles per hour)
Following are the Data Collection Technique….

(1)MANUAL COUNTING METHOD

(2)PORTABLE MECHANICAL COUNTERS
(3)PERMANENT COUNTERS
(1) MANUAL COUNTING METHOD :-
 Used for the duration less than 8 hours
 Push hand button registers are used
 Accurate method
 Gives good result as classified volume data is collected
 Can be used for peak hours & where automatic counters are
uneconomical to install
 Relatively cheap , only labor cost
 Labor get tired
(1) PORTABLE MECHANICAL COUNTERS :-
 This type of mechanical device can be easily moved from one
place to another
 Used for the duration greater than 8 hours
 No classified study
 Pneumatic tube is used
(1) PERMANENT COUNTERS :-
 This type of counters are used when continuous record of traffic is
needed
 Used for traffic record of a day or a year
Types
(A) PRESSURE PLATE DETECTOR :-
• It consists of two plates placed inside the pavement structure
• These two plates are insulated from each other by rubber spring
when a vehicle comes over it thus completing a weak circuit and
impulse is recorded
(B) MAGNETIC LOOP DETECTOR :-

 A loop of wire is embedded in the pavement surface and is connected

to a weak power source creating an electric field

 When loop is disturbed by passage of vehicle , a pulse is detected and

it recored the no of vehicles
(A) SONIC DETECTOR :-

 A sonic meter located at the road side are suspended over a lane
emit sonic waves which are reflected back after colliding with the
vehicles
 The meter detect the reflected waves
TRAFFIC DENSITY :-
“Traffic Density is the
number of vehicles occupying a given length of a
highway or lane at a given instant”
 It is expressed as vehicles per mile (Vpm) or
vehicles per mile per lane (Vpmpl)
 Greater the density closer will be the vehicles and
traffic will be worse
 Traffic Density will be very difficult to find directly
 Indirectly density can be determined from volume
and space mean speed
Traffic density = volume / SMS
T.D = (Vehicles/hour) / (kilometer / hour )
T.D = Vehicles / Kilometer
k= (Veh / Km)
TRAFFIC CAPACITY :-
“The ability of a road to
accommodate vehicles” OR
“Traffic capacity is expressed as the maximum number
of vehicle in a lane or a road that can pass a given point
in unit time, usually an hour, i.e., vehicles per hour per
lane or roadway”
Traffic Capacity is expressed as Passenger car per hour
(PCPH) or Passenger car per hour per Lane (PCPHPL)
Simply vehicle per hour (vph) or vehicle per hour per lane
(vphpl)
 Traffic capacity and traffic volume has same units,
difference between the two is that traffic volume
represents the actual rate of flow of the traffic and
responds to the variation in the traffic demand,
while capacity indicates a capability or maximum
rate of flow with a certain level of service
characteristics that can be carried by the road.
The traffic capacity of a highway depends upon at
least three things:
1 . the width of the vehicle,
2 . the speed of the vehicle,
3 . uniformity of speeds.
Other factors such as curvature and local
surroundings also depends but these three are
primary.
 The over-all dimensions of the vehicle determine the width of the
traffic lane.
 If a highway is to carry a large amount of truck or motor bus traffic,
the width of each lane must be sufficient to allow easy passage of
wide-bodied vehicles in addition to a clearance at the edges of the
pavement and a clearance between the vehicles themselves.
 The ability to overtake and pass a more slowly moving vehicle is
largely determined by the width of the traffic lane, and, of course, by
the width of the vehicles passing.
 When the lane is narrow, speeds are limited for ease of
control.
 As the speed is increased, the width of the lane must be
increased up to a practical minimum value.
 Vehicles moving at very low speeds are under excellent
control and the driver has no fear of leaving the roadway.
 As the speed increases, a small change in direction carries
the vehicle very rapidly into the ditch or into the opposing
lane.
 To make the driver feel safe and actually to furnish him
with more safety, the width of the lane must be increased.
 It is obvious that the number of lanes is dependent upon the relative
speed of the vehicles.
 If a certain number of the vehicles move at 15 miles an hour and
another number at 30 miles an hour, the more slowly moving vehicles
must be overtaken by those moving with the faster speed.
 To overtake and pass a vehicle, an extra lane is needed on the
highway.
 The lane ordinarily used by traffic moving in the opposite direction
can be utilized, provided the traffic in the opposite direction is not
sufficient to obstruct the movement.
 But there is a point at which it is practically impossible to use the
opposing lane. Then all vehicles must fall in line and move at the
slowest speed in the lane.
Following are the types of Traffic Capacity ……..
(1) BASIC / IDEAL / THEORITICAL CAPACITY :-
The
maximum volume of vehicles per hour that can
pass a certain point or section of a road in a given
time under the ideal condition (most ideal road
way, traffic and control conditions that can
possibly be attained)
The ideal conditions are
 All vehicles travel at the same speed
 All vehicles are passenger cars
 Minimum spacing b/w the vehicles
 12 feet minimum lane width
 Design speed greater than or equal to 60 mph
 Obstruction are more than 6 feet from road side
 50%/50% directional distribution
 Driver population consisting of regular users
 No stopping or traffic signals
 There must be 2 lane in one direction
 Ideal capacity for divided highway is 2000
(pcphpl) and for 2 lane undivided highway
it is 2800 (pcph)
(2) POSSIBLE CAPACITY :-
The maximum number of
vehicles that can pass a given section during a given
period of time under prevailing (most frequent/usual)
roadway, traffic and control condition.
Possible capacity is necessary to determine the
overload above the design capacity that a given capacity
is capable of absorbing
(3) PRACTICAL/DESIGN CAPACITY :-
It is the
maximum capacity of a road or lane under the prevailing
roadway and traffic condition without reasonably delay or
restriction to the driver’s freedom to maneuver .
Following are the factors affecting Highway Capacity
 Lane width
 Lateral clearance
 Width of shoulder
 Commercial vehicles
 Road alignment and geometry (curves, Super elevation etc)
 Existence of intersections.
 Surface Condition
 One way or two way traffic
 Number of lanes
 Drivers and vehicular characteristics
 Single type or mixed traffic
 Weather condition
 Parking
 Presence of pedestrians
(A) Width of Lane:-
Traffic capacity of a road decreases
with decrease in lane width because of decrease in
speed and volume of road
(B) Lateral clearance:-
The effective width of lane is
decreases by the construction at the side of road such
as retaining wall , parked vehicles etc as the driver
leave a clearance for the safety and hence the capacity
of road decreases
 Trucks occupy more space:
length and gap

Drivers shy away from

concrete barriers

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(C) Width of Shoulder:-
The effective width of
lane decreases with decrease in width of
shoulder because a vehicle while parking at
the time of emergency has to use a part of lane
and hence the capacity is decreased
(D) Type of Vehicles:-
Commercial vehicles such as trucks
and buses move at a slow speed as compared to a car
and also occupy greater width of carriage way .Both
these factors reduce traffic capacity
(E) Road Alignment:-
If the alignment and geometrics of
a road are not according to the standard , the speed
decreases and hence the capacity
(E) Existence of Intersection:-
Free flow of traffic is
restricted at the intersection and thus adversely effect
the capacity of a road .
(E) Surface Condition:-
A deteriorated and poorly
maintain pavement decreases the capacity
Passenger Car Unit (PCU):-
The Highway Capacity is
generally expressed in term of a common type of vehicle
unit called Passenger Car Unit (PCU).
One car is considered as a single unit .Cycle , motor
cycles and scooter etc cause lesser inconvenience to other
traffic than a car and are therefore consider equivalent to
half of passenger car . On the other side a bus cause a lot
of inconvenience to the traffic and is consider equivlent to
three passenger car
LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) :-
LOS is the measure used
by the Traffic Engineers to determine the effectiveness of
elements of transportation infrastructure . LOS is most
commonly used to analyze highways by categorizing
traffic flow with corresponding safe driving conditions
There are Six Level of Service
(1) LOS A (Free Flow Traffic):-
Individual users are
practically unaffected by the presence of other vehicles on a
road section .The choice of speed and the maneuverability
are free .The average spacing b/w the vehicles is about 550
feet (167m) or 27 car lengths.
(2) LOS B (Steady Traffic):-
The presence of other vehicles on
the section begins to affect the behavior of individual
drivers. The choice of speed is free, but the maneuverability
has somewhat decreased .The lowest average vehicle
spacing is about 330feet (100m) or 16 car lengths.
(3) LOS C (Steady Traffic but Limited):-
The presence of
other vehicles on the section affect drivers .The choice of
speed is affected and maneuverability requires caution. The
level of comfort decreases quickly at this level. The average
spacing b/w the vehicles is about 220 feet (67m) or 11 car
lengths.
(4) LOS D (Steady Traffic at High Density):-
The speed and
maneuverability are severely reduced . Low level of
comfort for the drivers , as he must constantly avoid
collision with other vehicles. Minor incidents are expected
to create delays . The average spacing b/w the vehicles is
about 167 feet (50m) or 8 car lengths.
(5) LOS E (Traffic at Saturation):-
Low but uniform speed .
No useable gaps and maneuverability is only possible when
another vehicle gives way. Any incident will create serious
delays. Driver’s level of comfort become poor . The
average spacing b/w the vehicles is about 6 car lengths.
(6) LOS F (Congestion):-
The number of vehicles exceed
capacity and results in complete breakdown
Thank you