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Traffic engineering
Phase of engineering which deals with safe and efficient
movement of people and goods on roads
Achieved by systematic traffic studies, scientific analysis
and engineering applications
Road traffic vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic
Vehicular traffic 2 components
Human element
Machine as vehicles
Traffic engineering
Definition
Inst. of Traffic Engineers, USA that phase of
engineering which deals with planning, geometric design
and traffic operation on streets, highways and abutting
lands for the safe, convenient and economic
transportation of persons and goods
Prof. Ress Blunden, California Uty is the science of
measuring traffic and travel, the study of the basic laws
relating to traffic flow and generation and application of
this knowledge to the professional practice of planning,
designing and operating traffic systems to achieve safe
and efficient movement of persons and goods
Traffic characteristics
Road User
Human element pedestrian, cyclist, car driver, motorist
Factors affecting road user characteristics
Physical
Mental
Psychological
Environmental
Physical characteristics
Vision
Hearing
Strength
General reaction to traffic situations
Traffic characteristics
Road User
Physical characteristics
Vision Include acuity of vision, peripheral vision and eye
movement, glare vision, glare recovery, depth judgement
Minm std for acuity of vision laid down by licensing
authorities important while designing and installing
control devices
Field of clearest and acute vision within a cone of 3 degrees
(satisfactory upto 10 or 20 degrees in horizontal plane)
In vertical plane 2/3 rd of that in horizontal
Eye movement may be reqd for clear vision time for
movement depends on physical characteristics (response to
stimuli etc.)
Effects of glare, Adaptability to changes of light important
Depth judgement in judging dist and speed of vehicles
and other objects ahead
Traffic characteristics
Road User
Physical characteristics
Hearing more important for pedestrians and motorists,
also for drivers
Blowing horns, overtaking, at curves
Traffic characteristics
Road User
Mental characteristics knowledge, skill, intelligence,
experience, literacy etc.
Psychological characteristics affect reactions to traffic
situations
Emotional factors (attentiveness, fear, anger, maturity)
Distractions by non traffic events; Dangerous actions; etc.
Traffic characteristics
Vehicle
Vehicle standards should be uniform, considering large
% of existing vehicles and those likely to come in near
future
Vehicular characteristics Static and Dynamic
Static characteristics of vehicles dimensions, weight,
maximum turning angle
Height of driver seat visibility dist.
Height of head light HSD at valley curves
Windshield and front portion field of vision
Clearance below chassis, vertical profile, humps, dips,
Minm turning radius (wheel base, steering system)
design of sharp curves
Gross weight, axle and wheel loads structural design of
pavt.
Traffic characteristics
Vehicle
Dynamic characteristics of vehicles speed, acceleration,
braking characteristics, others
Speed, accel. (engine power) all geometric design elements
Deceleration, braking dist. safe vehicle operation
Suspension system riding comfort on vertical curves
Bumper and body of vehicle impact chara. on collision and
injuries to occupants
Vehicle Dimensions
Overall width, height and length of different vehicles
(especially the largest)
Width width of traffic lanes, shoulders, parking facilities
Height clearance of overhead structures (underpasses,
electric lines etc.)
Length horizontal alignment (extra width of pavt., minm
turning radius) safe OSD, parking facilities, maneuverability
Traffic characteristics
Vehicle
Maxm allowable
width, height,
length by IRC 3
2.5m wide
3.8m for single,
4.75 for double
decked
11, 12, 16 or 18
m length
(excluding
bumpers)
Traffic characteristics
Vehicle
Weight of loaded
vehicle
Affects design of
pavt thickness,
gradients
Maxm
permissible gross
weights & axle
weights
Traffic characteristics
Vehicle
Power of vehicle: Power of the heaviest vehicle and its
loaded weight permissible and limiting gradients
Total resistance to traction, power reqd to overcome resistance
etc. important
Traffic Studies
To analyze traffic characteristics
Various studies are:
Traffic Volume study
Speed studies
Spot speed study
Speed and delay study
Manual counters
Field team record volume in prescribed sheets
Vehicle classification, turning movements, loading condition
or no. of occupants, etc. possible
24 hrs for all days is difficult
Statistical sampling techniques and statistical analysis
Presentation of traffic
volume data
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT or ADT) of total and
classified traffic are calculated
AADT: avg 24-hour traffic volume at a given location over a
full 365-day year, i.e. the total no. of vehicles passing the
point in a year divided by 365
ADT: An average 24-hour traffic volume at a given location for
some period of time less than a year. Valid only for the period
over which it was measured.
Presentation of traffic
volume data
Volume flow diagram at intersections
Shows details of crossing and turning; used for
intersection design
Plot b/w hourly volm and no. of hrs in a yr the traffic volm
is exceeded
Highest or peak hourly volm will be too high for design
Annual Avg. Hourly Volm (from AADT) will be low
30th highest hourly volm (hourly volm that exceeds only
29 times in a yr and all other hourly volms of the yr are
less than this value)
Congestion only during 29 hours in the year
Highway facilities are generally designed, for this volume
which is satisfactory from both facility and economic
considerations.
800
30
540
220
790
40
120
40
370
600
590
50
180
510
370
250
100
20
30
200
Assignment
Traffic signs and Road markings
Speed
Speed is considered as a quality measurement of travel
Travel time the reciprocal of speed shows how well a
road network is operated
Spot Speed instantaneous speed of a vehicle at a
specified location
Average Speed Avg. of spot speeds of all vehicles
passing a given point
2 definitions for the avg of a series of spot speed
measurements
Space mean speed
Time mean speed
Speed
Space mean speed avg speed of all vehicles
occupying a given section of a highway over some
specified time period
Avg speed of vehicles in a certain road length at any time
(Avg. travel time is obtained from the reciprocal of sms)
Vs space mean speed
n no. of individual vehicle observations
Vi instantaneous speed of ith vehicle
sms is harmonic mean of spot speed =
= For q no. of vehicles with speed v
Speed
Time mean speed average speed of all the vehicles
passing a point on a highway over some specified time
period
Speed distribution of vehicles at point on the roadway
Avg. of instantaneous speeds of observed vehicles at the
spot
Speed
Running Speed - the avg speed maintained by a vehicle
over a particular stretch while the vehicle is moving
Found by dividing length of stretch by time duration the
vehicle was actually in motion
Doesn't consider time the vehicle is brought to a stop, or
has to wait till it has a clear road ahead
Affected by
Physical features of road (pavt. width, curve, sight dist.,
gradient, unevenness, intersections, road side
developments)
Environmental conditions (weather, visibility), Enforcement,
Traffic conditions, Driver and Vehicle chara., Motive of travel.
%
Vehicles
0-10
10-20
20-30
20
30-40
30
40-50
35
50-60
60-70