GUIDELINE 1

AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

FORWARD

This is the first comprehensive Traffic and Axle Load Study Manual prepared for the use and
technical guidance for design personnel of the Addis Ababa City Roads Authority (AACRA) and
consultants doing urban road design for the Authority. However, it may also be used as a guide by
other agencies undertaking relevant work in the road sector.

The Addis Ababa City Roads Authority has prepared this Manual in order to standardize design
practices in all AACRA road design works.

The design standards set out in this Manual shall be adhered to unless otherwise directed by the
concerned bodies within AACRA. However, I would like to emphasis that careful consideration to
sound engineering practice shall be observed in the use of the Manual and under no circumstances
shall the Manual waive professional judgment in applied engineering. For simplification in
reference this Manual may be cited as AACRA Traffic and Axle Load Study Manual 2004.

It is my sincere hope that this Manual will provide all users with both a standard reference and a
ready source of good practice for the design of urban roads and will assist in a cost effective
operation and environmentally sustainable development of the citys road network.

I look forward to the practices contained in this Manual being quickly adopted into our operations,
thereby making a sustainable contribution to the improved infrastructure of our City.

As this Manual, due to technological development and change, requires periodic updating,
comments and suggestions on all aspects from any concerned body, group or individual as a
feedback during its implementation is expected and that will be highly appreciated.

Fekadu Haile

General Manager

Addis Ababa City Roads Authority

FINAL November 2004 Forward

Page i
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

PREFACE

This AACRA Traffic and Axle Load Study Manual 2004 is one of the series of AACRAs Design
Manuals, Standard Contract Documents and Specifications. The Manual was developed by
SMEC International in association with Metaferia Consulting Engineers (MCE).

This manual has been developed from current international practice appropriately modified to take
into account the local experience and conditions and is written for the practicing Engineer.

AACRA formed a project Working Group charged with evaluating and commenting upon the draft
Manuals and guiding the Consultant on the preparation of the final Manuals. Members of the
Working Group, the SMEC International and Metaferia Consulting Engineers (MCE) for this Manual
consists of the following:

Ato Binyam Bedelu - AACRA

Ato Muluneh Adere - AACRA

Ato Samuel Hailemichael - AACRA

Ato Belayneh W/Selassie - SMEC

Mr John Fooks - SMEC

Mr Nurul Amin - SMEC

Manuals and Documents prepared under these services are the following:

1. AACRA Traffic and Axle Load Study Manual (this Manual)

2. AACRA Pavement Design Manual

3. AACRA Geometric Design Manual

4. AACRA Bridge Design Manual and Standard Bridge Drawings

5. AACRA Soils and Materials Manual

6. AACRA Drainage Design Manual

7. AACRA Street Lighting Manual

8. AACRA Technical Specification and Standard Drawings for Urban Infrastructure

9. AACRA Bidding Documents and Conditions of Contract

This Manual has been set up in accordance with the following format:

Chapter

Major Heading (Level One)

Subchapter within the major heading (Level Two)

Sub-subchapter within the second level subject matter (Level Three)

All tables are described by numbers beginning with one (1) at the first of each section. Figures are
described in a similar manner.

FINAL November 2004 Preface

Page iii
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

The Manual will be updated and revised on a periodic basis, as deemed appropriate. Significant
changes to criteria or procedures, which represent new policies of AACRA, or that are mandated
by the City Government, Federal Government Ministry or Agency, should be issued as soon as
possible. Other minor changes, not affecting design, can be accumulated and made periodically.
When a change is approved, new page(s) instituting the revisions, together with the revision date,
will be issued and inserted into the relevant sections.

All revisions to the Manual will be made strictly in accordance with the following procedures:

Any proposed change will be submitted by or through the head of the Design Department of
AACRA.

The proposed change, addition or deletion will be submitted on a Manual Change Form 1-1 (see
the attached form) and forwarded with an explanation of its need and purpose.

If the change is approved, the General Manager will sign the Manual Change form and return a
copy to the initiating Design Department Head. The original will be incorporated into the Manual by
the concerned Department.

The concerned Department will incorporate the changes into the Manual and re-issue all effected
pages showing the proper revision date as shown on the Manual Change Form 1.1.

FINAL November 2004 Preface

Page iv
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

ADDIS ABABA CITY ROADS AUTHORITY

TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

MANUAL CHANGE This area to be completed by the head of the

Design Division

Change No.

(Chapter No. -Change No.)

Chapter Explanation To be Deleted To be Inserted

Table
Figure

Submitted by: Approved by:

Title: General Manager of:

Date: Date:

FINAL November 2004 Preface

Page v
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................................... 1-1
1.2 SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................. 1-1
1.3 TYPES OF TRAFFIC DATA .................................................................................................. 1-2
1.4 MEASUREMENT OF TRAFFIC DATA ..................................................................................... 1-3
1.5 STORAGE AND PRESENTATION OF TRAFFIC DATA .............................................................. 1-3
1.6 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 1-4
2 PLANNING COUNTING AND WEIGHING SURVEYS........................................................... 2-1
2.1 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 2-1
2.2 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................. 2-1
2.1.1 Road classification system ........................................................................................ 2-1

2.1.2 Vehicle classification system ..................................................................................... 2-1

2.1.3 Traffic variation and sampling.................................................................................... 2-2

2.3 FIELDWORK PREPARATION ....................................................................................... 2-3

2.1.4 Human resources ...................................................................................................... 2-3

2.1.5 Equipment.................................................................................................................. 2-3

2.1.6 Survey forms and instructions ................................................................................... 2-3

2.1.7 Liaison with other agencies ....................................................................................... 2-4

2.1.8 Surveyor safety.......................................................................................................... 2-4

2.4 DATA HANDLING .......................................................................................................... 2-5

2.1.9 Processing and error checking .................................................................................. 2-5

2.1.10 Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 2-6

2.5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 2-7

3 COUNTING OF VEHICLES .................................................................................................... 3-1
3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 3-1
3.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 3-1
3.3 MANUAL TRAFFIC COUNTS................................................................................................ 3-2
3.4 SELECTION OF SURVEY SITE ............................................................................................. 3-2
3.4.1 Equipment for Manual Counts ................................................................................... 3-2

3.4.2 Survey Forms ............................................................................................................ 3-3

3.4.3 Work Procedure......................................................................................................... 3-3

3.5 AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC COUNTS ........................................................................................... 3-4

3.5.1 Selection of Survey Site ............................................................................................ 3-4

3.5.2 Equipment for Automatic Counts............................................................................... 3-4

FINAL November 2004 Table of Contents
Page vii
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

3.5.3 Work Procedure ......................................................................................................... 3-5

3.6 ANALYSIS AND REPORTING ............................................................................................... 3-6

3.7 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 3-9
4 WEIGHING OF VEHICLES ..................................................................................................... 4-1
4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 4-1
4.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 4-1
4.3 SELECTION OF SURVEY SITE ............................................................................................. 4-1
4.4 EQUIPMENT FOR AXLE LOAD SURVEY ................................................................................ 4-1
4.5 SURVEY FORMS ............................................................................................................... 4-2
4.6 WORK PROCEDURE .......................................................................................................... 4-2
4.7 AXLE LOAD EQUIVALENCE................................................................................................. 4-3
4.8 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 4-7
5 ORIGIN-DESTINATION SURVEYS........................................................................................ 5-1
5.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 5-1
5.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 5-1
5.3 CONDUCTING A NUMBER PLATE SURVEY ........................................................................... 5-2
5.4 SOURCES OF ERROR IN ORIGIN-DESTINATION SURVEYS .................................................... 5-5
5.5 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ............................................................. 5-6
5.6 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 5-9
6 SPOT SPEED SURVEYS ....................................................................................................... 6-1
6.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 6-1
6.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 6-1
6.3 METHODS OF SPEED DATA COLLECTION ........................................................................... 6-2
6.4 SURVEY TARGET POPULATION .......................................................................................... 6-4
6.5 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ............................................................. 6-4
6.6 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 6-6
7 NETWORK SPEEDS AND DELAY SURVEYS ...................................................................... 7-1
7.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 7-1
7.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 7-1
7.3 THE FLOATING CAR METHOD ............................................................................................ 7-1
7.4 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ............................................................. 7-3
7.5 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 7-4
8 JUNCTION DELAY SURVEYS............................................................................................... 8-1
8.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 8-1
8.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 8-1
8.3 STOPPED VEHICLE COUNT SURVEY................................................................................... 8-1
8.4 ELEVATED OBSERVER SURVEY ......................................................................................... 8-3
8.5 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ............................................................. 8-4
8.6 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 8-6
9 SATURATION FLOW ............................................................................................................. 9-1
9.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 9-1
9.2 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 9-1
9.3 FLOW PROFILE METHOD ................................................................................................... 9-1
9.4 SATURATED PERIOD COUNT ............................................................................................. 9-2

FINAL November 2004 Table of Contents

Page viii
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

9.5 DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF RESULTS ............................................................. 9-2

9.6 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 9-5

LIST OF TABLES
TABLE 3-1 TYPICAL VALUES FOR ADDIS ABABA TRAFFIC ..................................................................... 3-8
TABLE 4-1 TYPICAL ESA VALUES FOR ADDIS ABABA TRAFFIC ............................................................. 4-6
TABLE 6-1 SHORT-BASE LENGTHS ...................................................................................................... 6-2

TABLE OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1-1 DESIGN PROCESS FLOWCHART (ADAPTED FROM MOW, 1999, AUSTROADS, 1992) ............ 1-2
FIGURE 3-1 ADDIS ABABA TRAFFIC VOLUME MAP (AACRA, 2002)...................................................... 3-1
FIGURE 3-2 MANUAL TRAFFIC SURVEY ............................................................................................... 3-3
FIGURE 3-3 CORRECTLY INSTALLED AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC COUNTER .................................................... 3-5
FIGURE 3-4 EXAMPLE OF AUTOMATIC COUNTER CONFIGURATIONS (METROCOUNT, 2000)................... 3-6
FIGURE 3-5 EXTRACTION OF COUNTS FROM COMPLETED TRAFFIC FORM ............................................. 3-7
FIGURE 4-1 AXLE LOAD SURVEY STATION .......................................................................................... 4-2
FIGURE 4-2 WEIGHING OF AXLE ......................................................................................................... 4-2
FIGURE 4-3 AXLE EQUIVALENCE ......................................................................................................... 4-4
FIGURE 4-4 EXTRACTION OF EQUIVALENCY FACTORS FROM COMPLETED AXLE LOAD FORM ................. 4-5
FIGURE 5-1 SETTING CORDON STATION LOCATIONS ............................................................................. 5-2
FIGURE 5-2 EXAMPLE OF POSSIBLE AMBIGUITIES IN DATA DUE TO STATION LOCATION ............................ 5-2
FIGURE 5-3 RECORDING OF SEPARATE TURNING MOVEMENTS .............................................................. 5-3
FIGURE 5-4 INTERNAL AND CORDON LINE STATIONS ............................................................................. 5-3
FIGURE 5-5 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED REGISTRATION NUMBER PLATE SURVEY ............................. 5-4
FIGURE 5-6 EXAMPLE OF A REGISTRATION PLATE MATCHING SURVEY DATA REDUCTION....................... 5-6
FIGURE 5-7 ORIGIN-DESTINATION (TRIP-INTERCHANGE) MATRIX ........................................................... 5-8
FIGURE 5-8 DESIRE LINE DIAGRAM...................................................................................................... 5-8
FIGURE 6-1 SPEED SURVEY USING SHORT-BASE METHOD .................................................................... 6-3
FIGURE 6-2 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED SPEED SURVEY USING THE SHORT-BASE METHOD .............. 6-3
FIGURE 6-3 TYPICAL HISTOGRAM AND CUMULATIVE SPEED DISTRIBUTION FROM A SPOT SPEED SURVEY . 6-5
FIGURE 7-1 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED JOURNEY TIME/MOVING OBSERVER SURVEY ...................... 7-3
FIGURE 8-1 JUNCTION SURVEY USING STOPPED VEHICLE COUNT METHOD (TRL, 1993) ....................... 8-2
FIGURE 8-2 JUNCTION SURVEY USING ELEVATED OBSERVER METHOD (TRL, 1993).............................. 8-3
FIGURE 8-3 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED DELAY BY STOPPED VEHICLE FORM ................................... 8-4
FIGURE 8-4 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED DELAY BY ELEVATED OBSERVER FORM .............................. 8-5
FIGURE 9-1 A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF SATURATION FLOW CALCULATION USING THE FLOW PROFILE METHOD ..
................................................................................................................................................. 9-3
FIGURE 9-2 CUMULATIVE FLOW FOR EACH CYCLE ................................................................................ 9-3

FINAL November 2004 Table of Contents

Page ix
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

FIGURE 9-3 AN EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED SURVEY SHEET USING THE SATURATED PERIOD COUNT
METHOD .................................................................................................................................... 9-4

FINAL November 2004 Table of Contents

Page x
 GUIDELINE 1
AACRA TRAFFIC AND AXLE LOAD STUDY MANUAL

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) The total yearly two traffic volume divided by
365, expressed as vehicles per day.

Commercial Vehicle A vehicle having at least one axle with dual

wheels and/or having more than two axles.

Design Period A period considered appropriate to the function

of the road. It is used to determine the total
traffic for which the pavement is designed.

Design Traffic The cumulative traffic, expressed in terms of

equivalent standard axle loads, predicted to use
a road over the structural design life of the
pavement.

Equivalent Standard Axle(s) (ESA) The number of standard axle loads that are
equivalent in damaging effect on a pavement to
a given vehicle or axle loading. (See also
standard axle)

Standard Axle (SA) Single axle with dual wheels loaded to a total
mass of 8.2t (80kN).

Standard Axle Load (SAL) A load of 8.2t applied over a single axle with a
dual-tyred wheel at each end.

Traffic Lane A portion of the carriageway allotted for the use

of a single line of vehicles.

Traffic Lane A portion of the carriageway allotted for the use

of a single line of vehicles.

FINAL November 2004 Glossary of Terms

Page xi