CHARACTERISTICS OF TRAFFIC

FLOW STREAM

Dr. Nordiana Mashros

M47-115
 Course Learning Outcome (CLO)
NO. CLO
CLO1 Use appropriate technique to analyse the fundamental theories of traffic
flow.

CLO4 Solve complex problem by investigation and integration of knowledge in

traffic engineering.
 CONTENT

TRAFFIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS

FUNDAMENTAL THEORY OF TRAFFIC

FLOW
PART1 :
TRAFFIC SYSTEM COMPONENTS
• Road traffic system consists
of road users , vehicles and
road network that interact
between one and another.

• It is important to study each

of these elements for the
planning, design, and
analysis of an efficient, safe
road traffic system.
1- ROAD USER

Road user category: Characteristics and behaviour

• Consist of drivers, of a driver are influenced by:
passengers, motorcyclists, • Physical
cyclists, pillions, and
• Environmental
pedestrians.
• Psychological
 a) Physical Factors
Two main factors considered: It is a combination of four consecutive tasks:
1. Perception - the driver sees a control device,
1. Perception–Reaction Time warning sign or object on the road.
2. Cone of vision 2. Identification - the driver identifies the
object or control device and thus
understands the stimulus.
3. Emotion - the driver decides what action to
take in response to the stimulus, for example
to step on the brake pedal, to pass, to
swerve or to change lanes.
4. Volition - the driver actually executes the
action decided on during the emotion task.

The field of vision decides some of the traffic engineering

Influenced by factors:
practices and functions like:
• Traffic signs are placed within 10 degrees range with Age, fatigue, complexity of a situation, drivers
the expected line of sight of the driver. physical characteristics, alcohol or drugs, etc.
• The size and dimension of the traffic signs and boards are
adjusted to this distance. Average time:
• The driver’s attention must be taken for an event happening
within the field of vision.
0.5 – 2.5 seconds
• Estimation of speed is also performed depending on the field of
vision.
b) Environmental Factors

These include:
• Weather & lighting
• Traffic volumes
• Road geometry
c) Psychological Factors

These include:
• Motive of the journey –
business/work, vacation,
education, healthcare etc
• Emotion - anger, fear,
superstition, impatience,
anxiety, etc

Psychological factors affect the

reaction of the road user to
traffic situations. Thus affects
traffic performance.
2- VEHICLE

• Characteristics of vehicles • Road must be designed to

on roads vary in terms of cater almost all types of
shape, dimension, vehicles.
performance, etc.
3- ROAD NETWORK

• Varies in terms of standards

and geometry

• Categorised into 5 for

administrative purposes:
1. Toll highway
2. Federal highway
3. State road
4. Urban road
5. Rural road
PART 2:
FUNDAMENTAL THEORY OF TRAFFIC FLOW
Common traffic parameters
IMPORTANT FOR:
that are of traffic engineers/
planners interest include: Planning, designing &
evaluating the effectiveness
of traffic engineering
• Traffic Flow or Volume measures
• Speed
• Density or Concentration
• Headway
Traffic flow parameters can be classified as:

• Macroscopic – which
characterizes the traffic as a
whole (flow, speed,
density).

• Microscopic – which studies

the behaviour of individual
vehicle in the stream with
respect to each other
(spacing, headway).
1- TRAFFIC FLOW OR VOLUME (q)

• Define as the number of

vehicles passing a specific
reference point on a road
section within a specified
period of time.
• The count can be directional or
all directions.

• Typical units:
 vehicles/hour (hourly traffic)
(vph),
 vehicles/day (daily traffic),
 vehicles/year (annual traffic),
etc.
EXAMPLE
Normally, the vehicular counting periods are:

• 24 hours
• 16 hours (normally 6:00 am to 10:00 pm)
• 12 hours (normally 7:00 am to 7:00 pm)
• Peak hours (typically 7:00 am to 9:00 am & 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm)
• Weekends
Traffic flow data is usually collected to obtain factual data
concerning the movement of vehicles at selected points on the
street., example:

(a) Annual Traffic

(b) Average Daily Traffic (ADT) & Annual Average Daily Traffic
(AADT)
(c) Hourly Traffic
 Annual Traffic Average Daily Traffic (ADT) Hourly Traffic
& Annual Average Daily
Traffic (AADT)
(i) To compute crash (i) To measure present (i) To determine peak
rates demand periods
(ii) To indicate trends in (ii) To programme capital (ii) To evaluate capacity
volume improvements deficiencies
(iii) To establish traffic
controls
(iv) To determine
geometric design
parameters
Average Daily Traffic:

An average 24-hour traffic volume at a given location

for some period of time less than a year.
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT):
The average 24-hour traffic volume at a given location
over a full 365-day year.
 Other Method To Measure
AADT

𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 7 𝐷𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ + 𝑇𝑟𝑎𝑓𝑓𝑖𝑐 𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 7 𝐷𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑆𝑒𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟
𝐴𝐴𝐷𝑇 =
14
 Exercise
Calculate (i) ADT for March & September
(ii) AADT

March September
Day (veh/day) (veh/day)
Monday 12000 11500
Tuesday 11500 11750
Wednesday 13460 12000
Thursday 10000 12100
Friday 15200 13300
Saturday 9800 11450
Sunday 12500 10000
Rate of flow:

• Rate of flow - the number of vehicles passing a point in a

given time period usually expressed as an hourly flow rate
(vehicle per hour).

• The 15-minute volume can be converted to a flow by

multiplying the volume by four. If our 15-minute volume were
100 cars, we would report the flow as 400 vehicles per hour

• For that 15-minute interval of time, the vehicles were

crossing our designated point at a rate of 400 vehicles/hour.
 Exercise
Determine (a) The hourly volume
(b) Hourly flow rate for each 15-minute
interval
(c) The peak rate of flow within the hour
(d) Why is rate of flow higher than hourly volume

Time Interval Volume for Time Interval (vehs)

5:00 – 5:15 pm 1000

5:15 – 5:30 pm 1100
5:30 – 5:45 pm 1200
5:45 – 6:00 pm 900
 THINK ABOUT IT

Why might vehicle classification be helpful to a

traffic engineer?
Traffic composition:
• Vehicular traffic consists of
various types of vehicle – i.e.
various sizes, performances,
and characteristics.
• A vehicle is converted into an
Equivalent Passenger Car unit
(PCU or UKP) For consistency
in interpreting road traffic
performance, congestion, road
geometry and traffic signal
analysis and design.
 Typical PCU values for roadways
Types of vehicle Rural road Urban road
Cars 1.0 1.0
Utilities & small vans 2.0 2.0
Medium lorries & large 2.5 2.5
vans
Large lorries & heavy 3.0 3.0
vehs
Buses 3.0 3.0
Motorcycles 1.0 0.75
Example application of PCU values:
Traffic volumes on a section of rural road during morning peak hour is 500
veh/h and during the evening peak hour is also 500 veh/h.

Can you comment on the traffic flow conditions for both situations? (e.g.
which peak hour traffic would you think is the busiest or congested condition
compare to the other?)

Answer:
It would be difficult for us to say which peak hour is representing the
congested situation as both traffic volumes are equal in terms of veh/h.
Now,
If information of traffic compositions for both peak-hours are
available as follows:
For AM Peak: 50% cars, 20% medium lorries, 10% buses, and
20% m/cycles.
For PM Peak: 30% cars, 25% medium lorries, 15% heavy lorries,
15% buses, 15% m/cycles.

Can you describe the differences between the two peak hour
traffic in terms of traffic flow conditions?
Answer:
Let us express the peak hour traffic in terms of pcu/h, i.e.

AM Peak: (0.5x1+0.2x2.5+0.1x3.0+0.2x1) x 500 = 1.5 x 500 =

750 pcu/h

PM Peak: (0.3x1 + 0.25x2.5 + 0.15x3.0 + 0.15x3.0 + 0.15x1) x

500 = 1.975x500 = 988 pcu/h

This shows that the evening peak hour traffic is busiest

compare to the morning traffic.
 Exercise
Exercise
• Express 500 veh/h in terms of pcu/h if the composition of
traffic is 40% cars, 20% medium lorries, 5% buses and 25%
motorcycles.

• Assume 1 medium lorry = 2 pcu, 1 heavy lorry and bus = 2.5

pcu & 1 motorcycle = 0.75.
• Method to conduct traffic volume count:

(i) Manual - typically used to gather data for determination

of vehicle classification, turning movements, direction of
travel, pedestrian movements, or vehicle occupancy.

(ii) Automatic - typically used to gather data for

determination of vehicle hourly patterns, daily or
seasonal variations and growth trends, or annual traffic
estimates.
1. Manual – simple, accurate, comprehensive
• Tally sheets, mechanical counting boards, electronic
counting boards, tiring, manpower, classification

2. Automatic – pneumatic tube, radar, infrared, video, inductive

loop, magnetic, radio frequency, microwave, acoustic, GPS
• Connect to data logger, computer, classify based on
length

3. For road with many access point/junction – moving observer

method, license plate observation (able to study speed, delay)
 Mechanical counting board
Example Manual Intersection
Volume Count Tally Sheet

Electronic counting board Pneumatic road tube and recorder

 2- SPEED (u)
(2) Speed (u)
• Speed is defined as the distance travelled per unit time.
• The parameter is usually used to describe the quality of journey
and the performance of road network in accommodating traffic
demand.

Types of speed:
» spot speed,
» journey speed,
» running speed,
» time mean speed, and
» space mean speed.
 THINK ABOUT IT

In one case, a radar gun is used to record

speeds. In a second case, a speed trap is set up
with road tubes. Which type of speed can be
obtained from the above cases?.
a) Spot Speed

• This speed is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle passing a

point on the roadway.
• If the data for a group of vehicles is collected properly, results
from the sample should represent the speed characteristics
of the entire population of vehicles passing the site.
 Definition of spot speed (cont’d)

Time taken from A to B = t

A Distance = S B

S
Speed = Distance/Time, i.e. speed 
t

If S  100 meters, then the speed measured is known as Spot Speed.

Typical use of Spot Speed data:
• To establish speed trends
• Traffic control planning
- establish speed limits
- determine safe speeds at curves
- establish proper location for traffic signs
- establish lengths of no–passing zones
- evaluate intersection sight distance
• Before–and–after studies
• Accident analysis
• Geometric design – i.e. road alignments and stopping sight
distance
• Spot speed collection methods

 Enoscope
 Radar gun (hand-held or mounted on a vehicle)
 Automatic traffic counters – pneumatic tube,
sensor/detector
 Video recording
b) Journey Speed & Running Speed

Journey speed is the distance divided by total journey time. Total

journey time includes all delays due to traffic. Mathematically,

Journey speed = distance/total journey time

Running speed is the distance divided by running time, i.e. total

journey time minus delays. (Running time is the time that the
vehicle is actually in motion.)

Running speed = distance/(total journey time – delays)

Both speeds are usually as a result of travel time and delay study
– used to evaluate road performance.
 EXAMPLE
Evaluate journey & running speeds for the following situation &
interpret the result:

A B
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5

8 km

Average Total travel time including delay due to traffic = 32 minutes

Average Delays at each junction: J1 = 5 min, J2 = 5 min, J3 = 3 min, J4 = 4 min,
& J5 = 6 min.

Answer:
Average Journey Speed = 8km x (1 h x 60 min) /32 min = 15 km/h.
Average Running Speed = 8km x (1 h x 60 min)/(32 – 23)min = 53.3 km/h.
Interpretation:
Since Journey speed  running speed  drivers experience heavy traffic flow &
inefficient traffic control system at junctions. System requires improvements.
 EXERCISE
Evaluate journey & running speeds

A B
J1 J2 J3 J4 J5

6 km

Average Total travel time including delay due to traffic = 30 minutes

Average Delays at each junction: J1 = 2 min, J2 = 2 min, J3 = 4 min, J4 = 2 min,
& J5 = 3 min.
• Methods to measure journey speed
 Moving observer method
 License-plate observations
Moving Observer Method

• The observer makes a round trip on a test section

• Assume the study is focused on a stream of vehicles moving in
the east direction

x y

East

West

x y
Length of road section, L
 Moving observer method
• When test vehicle moving from x-x towards east: Standard Equation
– No. of vehs that overtook test veh. (Y1east) (Y1)
– No. of vehs overtaken by test veh (Y2east) (Y2)
– Travel time (Teast) (TW)

• When test vehicle moving from y-y towards west:

– No. of vehs travelling in opposite direction (Xeast) (XAB)
– Travel time (Twest) (TA)

x y

East

West

x Length of road section, L y

• Volume in east direction
– Qeast = (Xeast + Y1east – Y2east)/(Teast + Twest)

• Average travel time

– T east = Teast – ((Y1east – Y2east)/ Qeast)

• Average journey speed

Standard Equation
– V east = L /T east

• Density
- K = Q/V
 EXAMPLE

The length of a road stretch

used for conducting the
moving observer test is 0.5 ANSWER
km and the speed with which
the test vehicle moved is 20
km/hr. Given that the number
of vehicles encountered in the
stream while the test vehicle
was moving against the traffic
stream is 107, number of
vehicles that had overtaken
the test vehicle is 10, and the
number of vehicles overtaken
by the test vehicle is 74, find
the flow, density and average
speed of the stream.
 EXAMPLE
In a traffic stream, 30% of the vehicles travel at a constant speed of 60km/h,
30% at a constant speed of 80km/h, and the remaining vehicles at a constant
speed of 100km/h. An observer travelling at a constant speed of 70km/h with
the stream over a length of 5km is overtaken by 17 vehicles more than what
he has overtaken. The observer met 303 vehicles while traveling against the
stream at the same speed and over the same length of highway. What is the
mean speed and flow of the traffic stream?

Answer:

y = Y 1 – Y2

(a) veh/hr

(b) mean speed = km/hr

mean speed=100/[(30/60)+(30/80)+(40/100)]=78.43 kmph

 EXERCISE
Example/Exercise
Given:
Length of road section = 3.5 km
No. of Vehicles
No. of Vehicles No. of Vehicles
Travel Time Travelling in
Direction that Overtook Overtaken by
(min) Opposite
Test Vehicle Test Vehicle
Direction
Eastbound 2.85 79.5 1.0 1.5

Westbound 3.07 92.2 1.5 0.8

Determine:
(a) Average volume in both directions
(b) Average journey speed for traffic stream for both directions.
 EXERCISE

While taking measurement by moving-observer method, a test

vehicle covered a 1 km section in 1.5 minutes going against
traffic and 2.5 minutes going with traffic. Given the traffic flow
was 800 vph and that test vehicle passed 10 more vehicles than
passed it when going with traffic, find:

• The number of vehicle encountered by the test vehicle while

moving against traffic
• The speed of the traffic being measured
 EXERCISE

At one road section, 35% of vehicles travelling at 60 km/h, 35%

of vehicles travelling at 80 km/h, and the rest travelling at 100
km/h. The observer was travelling with the traffic at 70 km/h at
7 km road section. The test vehicle was overtaken by 20 more
vehicles than he can overtake. When the test vehicle moved
against the traffic, he encountered 292 vehicles in the opposite
direction. Determine:

• the traffic flow

• the average journey speed
• type of speed for the above technique
• the number of vehicles travelling at 100 km/h
License-plate Observations

• Requires observers be positioned at the beginning and end of

the test section.
• Each observer records the license-plate of each car that
passes, together with time at which the car passes.
• The reduction of the data is accomplished in the office by
matching the times of arrival at the beginning and end of the
test section for each license-plate recorded.
• Difference between these times = travelling time of each
vehicle.
• Average of these = the average travelling time on the test
section.
c) Time Mean Speed (TMS)

• TMS = The average speed of all the vehicles passing a point on

a highway over some specified time period
(≈ point measurement)
• TMS= arithmetic mean of speeds of vehicles passing a point
• TMS = total speed of all vehs / no of vehs
d) Space Mean Speed (SMS)

• SMS = The average speed of all the vehicles occupying a given section of a
highway over some specified time period
(≈ measure relating to length of highway or lane)
• SMS= harmonic mean of speeds passing a point during a period of time. It also
equals the average speeds over a length of roadway.
• SMS = total distance / total time of all vehs

• More useful for traffic applications. Space mean speed is always less than time
mean speed except in the situation where all vehicles travel at the same
speed.
 Vehicle Measured Time To travel 1 Measured Speed

1 55.4
Example
km (sec) (km/h)
65
2 47.4 76
3 52.9 68
x y

65 km/hr 76 km/hr 68 km/hr

x 1 km y

• TMS = (65+76+68 km/h)/3 = 69.7 km/h

• SMS = (1km x 3)/[(55.4+47.4+52.9 sec)/3600]
= 69.4 km/h

SMS always < TMS. Because SMS weights slower vehicles more heavily as
they occupy the road stretch for longer duration of time. For this reason,
in many fundamental traffic equations, SMS is preferred over TMS.
 EXERCISE
Exercise
The speed of 5 vehicles were measured at the mid-point of 1 km
section of roadway. The speed for vehicles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were
51, 43, 62, 54 and 69 km/h respectively. Assuming all vehicles
were travelling at constant speed over this roadway section,
compute the Time Mean Speed (TMS) and Space Mean Speed
(SMS)?

Answer:
TMS = 55.8 km/h
SMS = 54.3 km/h
3- DENSITY (k)

Concentration or density of traffic is the number of vehicles in

a given length of roadway or a lane, i.e. vehicles/km.

It is also a common parameter used to describe road

performance.

1 km
 EXERCISE
Example
4- HEADWAY (h)

It is defined as the time between successive vehicles past a point.

Headway and spacing (which is the distance between successive
vehicles past a point) are microscopic measures of flow as they
apply to pairs of vehicles in the traffic stream.

Headway if measured in terms of time, or

Spacing if measured in terms of distance

Reference point
• This parameter is important in determining the number of
gaps in a traffic stream for vehicles or pedestrians to cross and
for measuring operations at junctions.

• The time headway of vehicles is of fundamental importance in

traffic engineering applications like capacity, level-of-service
and safety studies.
To summarise,
Basic Traffic Stream Parameters are:

Typical Typical
Parameter Symbol units Reciprocal Symbol Units

Flow q veh/h Headway h sec/veh

Speed u km/h Travel time T sec/km

Density k veh/km Spacing s m/veh

𝑚
𝑠𝑒𝑐 𝑆𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 ( )
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑤𝑎𝑦 ( )= 𝑣𝑒ℎ
𝑣𝑒ℎ 𝑚
𝑆𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 ( 𝑠 )
 EXAMPLE
Example
What is the average headway of vehicles if the traffic volume in a
lane is 1800 veh/h assuming there is no m/cycle in the system?
What is the average inter-vehicle spacing if the average vehicle’s
speed is 60 km/h?
Answer:
h = 1/q = 1 x 3600 sec/1800 = 2 sec.

How to compute Spacing? Headway = 2 sec. u = 60 km/h

u = 60 km/h Spacing = ?? meter

Reference point
 Speed, Flow, Density Relationships and
their interpretations
• The relationship between the fundamental variables
of traffic flow, namely:

Flow (q) = Speed (u) x Density (k)

veh/h km/h veh/km

is called:
fundamental
relations of traffic
flow
 Illustration of relation between fundamental parameters of traffic flow

• road length = v km
• All the vehicles are moving with (speed) = v km/h
• No. of veh. counted by an observer at A for 1 hour = n1.
• By definition, the number of vehicles counted in one hour is
flow(q), veh/h.
• Therefore, n1 = q (veh/h)
 Illustration of relation between fundamental parameters of traffic flow

• By definition, density is the number of vehicles in unit

distance.
• Therefore, no. of vehicles n2 in a road stretch of distance v will
be = density × distance.
• Therefore, n2 = k (veh/km) × v (km/h)
 Illustration of relation between fundamental parameters of traffic flow

• Since all the vehicles have speed v, the number of vehicles

counted in 1 hour and the number of vehicles in the stretch of
distance v will also be same.(ie n1 = n2).
• Therefore,

veh/h q=uxk veh/km

km/h
FUNDAMENTAL DIAGRAM OF
TRAFFIC FLOW

Speed (u) – density (k)

relationship

Speed (u) – flow (q)

relationship

Flow (q) – density (k)

relationship
 (i) u-k relationship
u – k relationship
Free-flow
speed uF
 uF 
A u  uF    k
 kJ 
____
Speed at
Stable flow
uC = uF/2
Capacity
------- Unstable flow
u (km/h)

k (veh/km) kC = kJ/2 kJ
Density at Jam
capacity density

• When u = uf, k = 0 : Corresponding to the zero density, vehicles will be flowing with
their desire speed, or free flow speed.

• When k = kj, u= 0
 u (ii)
– qq-urelationship
relationship
k  2
q  u  kJ   J u
Free-flow uF  uF 
speed
A
u1

theoretical flow
maximum
Speed at uC = uF/2
Capacity
u (km/h)

u2
B

q (vph) q1 qC Capacity

• q = 0 either because there is no vehicles or there are too many vehicles so that they cannot
move.

• At qc (capacity or maximum flow), the speed will be in between 0 and uf.

• When q = qc, u = uc.

• It is possible to have two different speeds for a given flow.

 q –(iii)kq-krelationship
relationship
maximum
Capacity qC theoretical flow

u  2
q  k  uF   F  k
q1
A B  kJ 
q (vph)

k1 k2

k (veh/km) kC = kJ/2 kJ
Density at Jam
capacity density

• When k = 0, q = 0, since there is no vehicles on the road.

• When the number of vehicles gradually increases the density as well as flow
increases.
• When more and more vehicles are added, it reaches a situation where vehicles can’t
move. This is referred to as the jam density or the maximum density.
• At k= kj, q = 0, because the vehicles are not moving.
• There will be some density between zero density and jam density, when the flow is
maximum.
• The relationship is normally represented by a parabolic curve.
COMBINED DIAGRAM

The diagrams shown in the relationship between speed-flow, speed-density,

and flow-density are called the fundamental diagrams of traffic flow.
 EXAMPLE

Traffic volume during a stable free-flowing condition is 600 veh/h with an

average speed of 75 km/h. Estimate the average speed of traffic under
congested situation for the same volume of traffic if speed & density are linearly
related. The maximum free-flow speed for the road section is 90 km/h.
Solution:
1 Sketch the parabolic curve for q–u relationship.

(ii) q-u relationship 2 q1 = 600 veh/h at u1 = 75 km/h;

uf = 90 km/h
uF
u1
A Point A represent the stable flow
maximum capacity

region flow for q1 = 600 veh/h with the

uC = uF/2 corresponding speed u1 = 75 km/h.
u (km/h)

u2
Point B represent congested flow for q1
B = 600 veh/h.
q (vph) q1 qC  u2 = 90-75 = 15 km/h
 EXAMPLE

Vehicles in a traffic stream moved at an average headway of 2.2 sec.

The average speed is 80 km/h. Estimate the flow rate & density of that
traffic stream.

Solution:
Using q = u x k = 1/h, then
q = 1/h = 1/(2.2/3600) = 1636 veh/h

Using q = u x k, then k = q/u

 density of the flow, k = 1636/80 = 20.45 veh/km
 EXAMPLE

Free-flow speed of vehicles on a road section is 88 km/h. Jammed density

is 228 veh/km. Estimate the traffic density on the road if traffic flow is at
a maximum level. Estimate also the possible maximum flow for the road
section and the average speed of vehicles at that maximum traffic
volume.

Solution:
Density when traffic flow reaches the maximum volume,
kc = kj/2 = 228/2 = 114 veh/km.

Expected maximum flow, qc = ufkj/4 = (88 x 228)/4

= 2508 veh/h

Average speed at qc, uc = uf/2 = 88/2 = 44 km/h

 EXERCISE
Exercise
Data collected on a stretch of highway reveals that the free-flow speed is 90
km/h, jammed density is 112 veh/km/lane, and the observed maximum
flow is 2000 veh/h/lane.

a) Establish the mathematical relationships between flow & speed for

the given characteristics.
b) Estimate the average speed & density when the flow is at the
maximum theoretical flow.
c) Estimate the maximum theoretical flow & why it is different from the
observed volume?
d) Estimate the average speed of vehicles if traffic flow is 1000 veh/h.
 EXERCISE

u = 60 (1 - 0.007k)

Determine:
(a) Uf
(b) Kj
(c) u - q relationship
(d) q - k relationship
(e) qc
(f) Headway and spacing at 1350 veh/h
(g) Sketch the q - k relationship and show all the relevant values
CAPACITY & LEVEL OF SERVICE
(L0S)

• Capacity and Level of service are two related terms.

• Capacity analysis :
– tries to give a clear understanding of how much traffic a given
transportation facility can accommodate.
• Level of service :
– tries to answer how good is the present traffic situation on a
given facility.
• Thus LOS gives a qualitative measure of traffic, where as capacity
analysis gives a quantitative measure of a facility.
• Capacity and level of service varies with the type of facility,
prevailing traffic and road conditions etc.
• Type of facility
– Most important classification of transportation facilities
from the engineering perspective is based on the
continuity of flow, that is uninterrupted flow and
interrupted flow.
• Uninterrupted flow - the flow of traffic in which there is no
obstructions to the movement of vehicles along the road
(example freeway).
• Interrupted flow - the condition when the traffic flow on the
road is obstructed due to some reasons (example signalized
intersections, unsignalized intersections, arterials)
 LOS

• It divides the quality of traffic

into six levels ranging form level
A to level F.
• Level A represents the best
quality of traffic where the driver
has the freedom to drive with
free flow speed
• Level F represents the worst
quality of traffic.