Traffic Analysis

Road Traffic Analysis (RTA)

- Is the most important process in road traffic management. A properly built road traffic management
system, which is based on the comprehensive analysis of road traffic, can increase the traffic capacity
of existing motor ways.

Traffic Analysis can be split into two well defined areas:

1. Traffic Volume
-This is the role of the Traffic Engineer and does not normally concern the Civil Engineer. This is
not relevant to determining the load on the road, only the size and layout.

2. Traffic Loading
-This is the role of the Pavement Engineer and involves determining the loading on the road to be
carried forward to the Pavement Design. This is a reference unit to determine the average loading on
a pavement by what is known as the standard axle.

Two Methods of Assessing the road loading pavement.

1. Standard Method
-Be used for all new road design. If you have not.

2. Non-Standard Method
-This method is primarily for use in structural assessment and maintenance design prior approval
must be obtained before using it.

Types of Traffic Analysis Tools

1. Sketch- Planning Tools

-Produce general order-of-magnitude estimates of travel demand and traffic operation in
response to transportation improvement.

2. Travel Demand Models

-These are mathematical models that forecast long-term travel demand based on current
conditions and future projections of household and employment characteristics. Travel demand
models were originally developed to determine the benefits and impact of major highway
improvement in metropolitan areas.

3. Analytical/Deterministic Tools (HCM-Based)

-These tools quickly predict capacity, density, speed, delay and queuing on a variety of
transportation facilities. These tools are good for analysing the performance of isolated or small-scale
transportation facilities, however, they are limited in their ability to analyze network or system effect.

4. Traffic Signal Optimization Tools

-Mostly based on the HCM procedures. Traffic optimization tools are primarily designed to
develop optimal signal phasing and timing plans for isolated signal intersections, arterial streets, or
signal network.
5. Macroscopic Simulation Models
-Are based on the deterministic relationship of the flow, speed and density of the traffic stream.
The simulation in a macroscopic models takes place on a section- by section basis rather than by
tracking individual vehicles. Macroscopic simulation models were originally developed to model traffic
in distinct transportation sub networks, such as free way corridors, surface-street grid networks and
rural highways.

6. Mesoscopic Simulation Models

-Combines the properties of both microscopic and macroscopic simulation models. As such,
mesoscopic models provide less fidelity than micro-simulation tools, but are superior to the typical
planning analysis techniques.

7. Microscopic Simulation Models

-Simulate the movement of individual vehicles based on car-following and lane-changing theories.
These models are effective in evaluating heavily congested conditions, complex geometric
configuration, and system-level impacts of proposed transportation improvements that are beyond the
limitations of other tool types.

Traffic Analysis Techniques

-The analysis of traffic flow is the basis for design of transportation system operating strategies,
traffic control systems, and certain physical features to transportation system. Several issues are
involved. These include the interaction of traffic events in space and time, the analysis if travel times
under various conditions and relationships among traffic flow states such as flow, speed and density.

Space-Time Relationship
Many traffic analysis problems involve the analysis of the motion of vehicles or traffic states in
space and time. Such problems may vary a grat deal in complexity. When such motion takes place
along a single linear facility such as road way or railway. It can often be represented by a graph
known as space-time diagram.

Space-Time Diagrams
-Have distance as the y-axis and time as the y-axis.

Space time diagram are used in several different way:

1. Development of Analytical Solutions

-Space-time diagram are often used to derive analytical relationship, which may then be used to
produce a large number of solutions quickly and accurately.

2. Development of Simulation Models

-To solve even more complicated problems, space-time diagrams may be used to develop
simulation models represents the behaviour of a system in a step-by-step manner. It is usually
necessary to analyze both what is happening at the same location over time and what is happening
at different locations at the same time.

Nontrajectory Space-Time Diagrams

-Display information about traffic states (speed, flow rate, density) as well as vehicle trajectories.
-Contour diagram can be used to display region with similar traffic state values.

Queuing Analysis
-A second major issue in analysis of traffic system is the analysis of times and delays.
Queuing Theory
-Is the mathematical study of waiting lines. It is useful in predicting and evaluating system
performance.

Queue Characteristics
1. Queue Discipline
A. FIFO (First-in, First-out)
-Also known as “first come first serve”.
B. LIFO (Last-in, First-out)

2. Others
A. Balking- not join to queue.
B. Reneging- leave the queue.
C. Jockeying- switch between queue.

Queue Models

1. M/D/I - The queue length in a system having a single server, where arrivals are determined and job
service are fixed.
2. M/M/I- Both arrival and service times are exponentially distributed and there is one channel.

Network Analysis
-Actual traffic system usually consist of facilities in which there are several possible paths that can
be followed between two points.

 Networks- consist of a set of nodes connected by links.

 Nodes- may be either origins or destination of trips or decision points. Point at which
transportation meets.

 Links- elements in the network which have cost are transportation facilities such as road, side-
walk or railway segment.

 Costs- usually include travel time, travel distance, money costs or some sort of weighted sum of
several cost elements.

There are two network analysis problems of particular interest in transportation.

1. Traffic Assignment Problem

-Which consists of predicting traffic volume on each link in a network.

2. Minimum Cost Path

-Determination of the minimum length of travel time generally from a certain origin to a certain
destination. Most efficient solution is “Dijkstra’s Algorithm”
 Traffic Flow

Traffic Variable of Interest

Density- the number of vehicles (n) occupying a given length (l) of a lane or roadway at a particular
instant.

Spacing- the distance (ft) between successive vehicles in a traffic stream, as measured form front
bumper to front bumper.

Speed- distance per unit time.

Rate of flow- the number of vehicles (n) passing some designated roadway point in a given interval
(t).

Headway- the time (in seconds) between successive vehicles, as their front bumper pass a given
point.

Time Mean vs. Space Mean Speed

 Space mean speed (u)

-The mean travel speed of vehicles traversing a speeds at a given “spot” on a roadway section.

 Time mean speed

-Arithmetic mean of all instantaneous vehicle roadway segment of a known distance (d).
-More useful for traffic application.

Travel Time- the time it takes to travel

Occupancy- % of time a point on the road is occupied by vehicles.

Concentration- measured by density or occupancy.

Measurement at a Point

 Direct Measurements at a point: flow rate, roadways and speeds.

 Density, which is defined as vehicles per unit length, does not make sense for using a point
measurement.
 A second observation location is necessary > measurements over a short section.

Along a Length of Road

 It provides true journey times over a lengthy section of road, but that would require better
computer vision algorithms (few practical implementation).
 Makagami et al (1971), Persaud and Hurdle (1988b) constructed cumulative.
 Arrival curves at several locations- average flow rate & average density within a section and
consequently the average speeds through it.

Over a Short Section

 Paired inductive loops spaced five to six meters apart.

 Provide direct measurement of volume, time headways and speed.
 Provide occupancy data by continuous reading, but does not permit direct measurement of
density.

Moving Observer Method

1. Floating car behaves as an average vehicle within the traffic stream.

 Method is effective for obtaining qualitative information about free way operations without the
need for elaborate equipment or procedures.
 Method cannot give precise average speed data.

2. Wardrop and Charlesworth (1954): obtain speed and volume measurements.

 Rural expressway data collection without automatic systems.
 Urban arterials with identifying progression speeds for coordinated signals.

3. Wright (1973): Revisited the theory behind this method.

 Driver should fix the journey time in advance, and keep to it.
 Turning traffic (exiting or entering) can upset the calculation done using this method.
 Capacity and Level of Service

Capacity
-It is defined as the maximum number of vehicles, passenger or the like per unit time, which can
be accommodated under given condition with a reasonable expectation of occurrence.

Service Volume
-It is the maximum number of vehicles, passengers or the like, which can be accommodated by a
given facility or system under given condition at a given level of service.

Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)

-It is a publication of transportation research board of the national Academic of science in the
United States. It contains concepts, guidelines and computational procedures for computing the
capacity and quality of service of various highway facilities, including free ways, highways, arterial
roads, roundabouts, rural highways, and the effects of mass transit, pedestrians, and bicycles on the
performance of these system.

Free way
-When a vehicle enters a free way, there is no need for the vehicle to step anywhere till it leaves
in free way.

3 Section in Free way

1. Basic Unit
2. Weaving Section
3. Ramps (On/ Off)
-On ramps is used to entering the free way and off is for existing the free way.

Interrupted Flow
-It refers to the condition when the traffic flow on the road is obstructed due to some reasons.

Roadway Characteristics
-This points out to be geometric characteristics of the roads. This includes lane width shoulder
width, lane configuration, horizontal alignment and vertical alignment.

Control Condition
-This primarily applies to surface facilities and often refer to the signals at intersection etc..

Level of Service
-It is a term closely to capacity and often confused with it is service volume and it tries to give
qualitative measures.

2 Types of Capacities
1. Line Capacity
-Is based on the number of tracks available between two stations.
2. Station Capacity
-Refers to the facilities available in the flat form of the station, and other facilities.

Highway Capacity
-It is defined by the highway capacity manual as the maximum hourly rate at which persons or
vehicles can be reasonably of a lane or roadway during a given time period under prevailing roadway,
traffic and control conditions.
Types of Facilities

Uninterrupted Flow
-It is the flow of traffic in which there is no obstructions to the movement of vehicles along the
road.
-It is possible in Section of rural and suburban multi lane highways between signalized
intersection where signal spacing is sufficient.

Measure of Effectiveness (MOE)

-One the measure designed to correspond to accomplishment of mission objectives and
achievements of desired result. And also level of service is defined based on this measure.

3 Parameters Used Under MOE

1. Speed and Travel Time
-Are considered to be more effective in defining LOS of facility.
2. Delay
-Is the term that described excess or unexpected time spent in travel.
3. Density
-Gives the proximity of other vehicles in the stream.

Highway Capacity certain Condition

Traffic Conditions
-It refers to the traffic composition in the road such as the mix of cars, trucks, buses, etc. in the
stream.

Factor affecting level of Service

1. Speed and Travel Time
2. Traffic Interruptions/Restrictions
3. Driver comfort and Convenience
4. Freedom to Travel with desired speed
5. Operating Cost