TRAFFIC SURVEY COUNT

TRAFFIC STUDIES
TRAFFIC VOLUME

 Traffic volume is the most basic data needed for any traffic studies. Volume studies are
conducted to obtain factual information on the number of vehicles and/or persons that
pass at a specified point on the highway system. The resulting volume data are expressed
in relation to time.
Types of Volume

 Annual traffic is used for determining annual travel, estimating expected highway user
revenue, computing accident rates.
 Annual average daily traffic (AADT) is used for measuring the present demand for service
by the road, programming capital improvements.
 Hourly traffic is used for evaluating capacity deficiencies, geometric design or
improvement of streets and intersections.
 Short-term count is used to estimate maximum flow rate and determine the characteristics
of peak hour volumes
Tapes of Data Collected

 Mid-block counts are used for preparing traffic flow maps and determining trends.
 Directional counts are used for determining directional distribution for capacity analysis, signal
timing, justifying traffic control, etc.
 Turning movement or intersection counts are used for signal timing, designing or improving
geometry of intersection, planning turning prohibition, analyzing high accident intersections.
 Classification counts are used for determining modal split, estimating effects of heavy vehicles
on capacity, determining correction factors for automatic counts.
 Cordon counts are used to determine the number of vehicles and/or persons entering and
leaving an enclosed area.
 Screen line counts are classified counts taken at some points along a line that bisects a given
area.
Time of Study

The time and duration of a traffic volume study depends on the type and application of the
data to be gathered. The data must be gathered in days which are consecutive. Some of
the typical counts are as follows:
 Twenty-four-hour counts from midnight to midnight
 Sixteen-hour counts from 6 AM to 10 PM to represent most of daily flow, including evening
traffic
 Twelve-hour counts from 6 AM to 6 PM to cover most of daytime traffic
 Peak period counts from 7 AM to 9 AM, 5 PM to 7 PM, or other time intervals corresponding
to very high level of traffic volume
 Short counts of about one hour or less with intervals of 5-15 minutes to analyze
characteristics of peak hours.
Time of Study

Abnormal conditions are usually avoided unless the purpose is to obtain information
concerning those conditions. These would include:

❑ special occasions such as public holidays or fiestas

❑ days with abnormal weather conditions
❑ strikes or demonstrations.
What is Traffic Volume Count ?

Traffic Data Collection is basic requirements for transport planning. Traffic Data forms an
integral part of 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 Volume Count is counting of number of vehicles passing through a road over a
period of time. It is usually expressed in terms of Passenger Car Unit (PCU) (Classified Traffic
Study) and measured to calculate Level of Service of the road and related attributes like
congestion, carrying capacity, V/C Ratio, identification of peak hour or extended peak hour
etc. Traffic volume count or TVC is usually done as a part of transportation surveys, TVC can
be classified or unclassified.
Need of Traffic Volume Count

Traffic Volume Survey is an essential part of Town Planning, especially for a town planner. It
includes counting the number of vehicles passing through a survey station. The study of
Classified Traffic Volume Count is to understand factors that form the basis of:
 Checking the efficiency/saturation of the road network by comparing current traffic
volume with the calculated capacity or by identifying level of service
 Establishing the use of the road network by vehicles of different categories, traffic
distribution, PCU/vehicle value
 Need of median shifting or road widening
Purpose of Traffic Volume Count

The purpose classified traffic volume count is to draw inferences on the basis of data
collected.
To provide possible solutions and improvement suggestion for the problem identified. The
objectives covered in it includes identifying the hourly distribution of vehicles and peak hour,
identify level of service and compare modal composition on different hierarchy of roads.
Duration and Interval of Traffic Counts

In order to predict traffic flow volumes that can be expected on the road network during
specific periods, knowledge of the fact is required that traffic volumes changes considerably
at each point in time. There are three important cyclical variations:
 Hourly pattern: the way traffic flow characteristic varies throughout the day and night;
 Daily Pattern: The day-to-day variation throughout the week
 Monthly and yearly Pattern: The season-to-season variation throughout the year.
When analyzing the traffic o
Duration and Interval of Traffic Counts

When analyzing the traffic one must also be aware of the directional distribution of traffic and
the manner in which its composition varies as it is important to deal with tidal flow
 Hourly patterns – Typical hourly patterns of traffic flow, particularly in urban areas, generally
show a number of distinguishable peaks. Peak in the morning followed by a lean flow until
another peak in the middle of the afternoon, after which there may be a new peak in the
late evening. The peak in the morning is often more sharp by reaching the peak over a short
duration and immediately dropping to its lowest point. The afternoon peak on the other
hand is characterized by a generally wider peak. The peak is reached and dispersed over a
longer period than the morning peak.
 Daily patterns – The traffic volume generally varies throughout the week. The traffic during
the working days (Monday to Friday) may not vary substantially, but the traffic volume
during the weekend is likely to differ from the working days on different type of roads and in
different directions
Methods

➢ Manual Count:

 The most common method of collecting traffic volume data is the manual method of
traffic volume count, which involves a group of people recording number of vehicles
passing, on a predetermined location, using tally marks in inventories. Raw data from
those inventories is then organized for compilation and analysis. 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 also in case where automatic methods cannot be
used due to lack of infrastructure, necessary authorization etc.
Methods

➢ Automatic Count:

 This method is employed in cases where manual count method is not feasible. Various
instruments are available for automatic count, which have their own merits and demerits. Some
of the widely used instruments are pneumatic tubes, inductive loops, weigh-in-motion Sensor,
micro-millimeter wave Radar detectors and video camera. Both types of count can be
classified or unclassified. Classified traffic volume count gives a better understanding of the
types of vehicles which uses the road and can be used for number of other purposes apart
from the transportation surveys. It can also be used for calculating the modal split of vehicles on
the road.
Unclassified traffic volume count is done where sufficient manpower is not available or the budget
for the survey is low. This type of volume count does not give a good information about the road.
Average Daily Traffic (ADT)

➢ ADT is the most basic unit used for traffic monitoring and forecasting. It provides an
aggregated measure of traffic volume. In combination with other traffic data items, it is
used for determining the dimensions or function of proposed roadways, particularly roads
of low and moderate traffic volumes. ADT requires usage of either the following Time of
Day (TOD), Day of Week (DOW), and Month of Year (MOY) factors to properly annualize
the values to AADT.
Passenger Car Unit (PCU)
TRAFFIC SURVEY COUNT
ACTIVITY
TRAFFIC STUDIES
ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES

 Necessary traffic data acquisition for traffic impact study at

intersections.
 Determine the Volume of Vehicular per hour per lane.
 To learn the Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of the identified
intersection.
OUTLINE OF WORK

The survey will be carried out in accordance with the methodology

set forth by which will be commissioned purposely for this study.

 Traffic Condition Survey

➢ Intersection Traffic Flow Count
SCOPE OF WORKS AND SPECIFIC

Surveys shall be conducted in following manners:

 Intersection Traffic Flow Counts

➢ At identified intersection locations, in a period of 15 minutes interval from 8:00
AM to 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM which must be collected on 3
consecutive days
➢ Traffic volume shall be counted and aggregated for each 15-minute period.
SURVEY RESULT

Coding and Data Entry

 Coding: The data collected in the surveys will be coded after the field
survey in accordance with the method shown in the survey manual.
 Data: The survey results will be input to computers using Microsoft Excel
customized for each survey data.

Submission of a brief report. Results of the surveys will be summarized briefly

using figures and tables and the details will be compiled in a report.
Survey Instrument
Sample Problem

Solution: Vehicle veh./week Ave. veh/day PCU Converted

Conversion (veh / day)
Volume of Flow in PCU = 163.0745 / 24 = 6.79 veh/hr Motorbikes 101 101/7 0.5 7.2143
Passenger Cars 868 868/7 1.0 124
= 7 veh/hr
Trucks 72 72/7 1.5 15.4286
Average Daily Traffic (ADT) = 163.0745 veh/day
Buses 115 115/7 2.0 16.4286
= 163 veh/day 1156 165.1428 163.0745

Design Hourly Volume (DHV) :

Using the Default Value of K-factor (10%)
DHV = 163.0745 x 0.10 = 16.31 veh/hr
= 17 veh/hr