T R A N S P O RT AT I O N

ENGINEERING
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDIES 2
 Traffic Volume
Traffic Volume
- the number of vehicles (or persons) that pass a point on a transportation
facility during a specified time period, which is usually one hour
In traffic engineering studies there are many volumes such as daily volume,
hourly volume, and peak hour volume.
In addition volumes of a day or an hour can vary greatly, depending on the
different day of the week or different time period of a day.

Volume Studies
Traffic volume studies are conducted to collect data on the number of
vehicles and/or pedestrians that pass a point on a highway facility during a
specified time period
- This time period varies from as little as 15 minutes to as much as a year
depending on the anticipated use of the data.
- The data collected also may be put into subclasses which may include
directional movement, occupancy rates, vehicle classification, and
pedestrian age.
 Volume Studies
Benefits: Traffic volume studies are conducted to determine the number,
movements, and classifications of roadway vehicles at a given location

* Volume Characteristics :
1. Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT)
- The average of 24-hour counts collected every day of the year.
- AADTs are used in several traffic and transportation analyses for:
a. Estimation of highway user revenues
b. Computation of crash rates in terms of number of crashes per 100
million vehicle miles
c. Establishment of traffic volume trends
d. Evaluation of the economic feasibility of highway projects
e. Development of freeway and major arterial street systems
f. Development of improvement and maintenance programs
 Volume Studies
* Volume Characteristics :
2. Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
- The average of 24-hour counts collected over a number of days greater than
one but less than a year.
- ADTs may be used for::
a. Planning of highway activities
b. Measurement of current demand
c. Evaluation of existing traffic flow
3. Peak Hour Volume (PHV)
- The maximum number of vehicles that pass a point on a highway during a
period of 60 consecutive minutes.
- PHVs are used for:
a. Functional classification of highways
b. Design of the geometric characteristics of a highway, for example,
number of lanes, intersection signalization, or channelization
c. Capacity analysis
d. Development of programs related to traffic operations, for example,
one-way street systems or traffic routing
e. Development of parking regulations
 Volume Studies
* Volume Characteristics :
4. Vehicle Classification (VC)
- Records volume with respect to the type of vehicles, for example, passenger
cars, two-axle trucks, or three-axle trucks..
- VC is used in:
a. Design of geometric characteristics, with particular reference to turning-
radii requirements, maximum grades, lane widths, and so forth
b. Capacity analyses, with respect to passenger-car equivalents of trucks
c. Adjustment of traffic counts obtained by machines
d. Structural design of highway pavements, bridges, and so forth

5. Vehicle Miles of Travel (VMT)

- A measure of travel along a section of road. It is the product of the traffic
volume (that is, average weekday volume or ADT) and the length of roadway
in miles to which the volume is applicable.
- VMTs are used mainly as a base for allocating resources for maintenance and
improvement of highways.
 Traffic Volume Data Presentation
The data collected from traffic volume counts may be presented in one of
several ways, depending on the type of count conducted and the primary use
of the data.
1. Traffic Flow Maps
- These maps show traffic volumes on
individual routes.
- The volume of traffic on each route is
represented by the width of a band, which is
drawn in proportion to the traffic volume it
represents, providing a graphic representation
of the different volumes that facilitates easy
visualization of the relative volumes of traffic
on different routes.
- When flows are significantly different in
opposite directions on a particular street or
highway, it is advisable to provide a separate
band for each direction.
- In order to increase the usefulness of such
maps, the numerical value represented by each
band is listed near the band.
 Traffic Volume Data Presentation
2. Intersection Summary Sheets
These sheets are graphic
representations of the volume and
directions of all traffic movements
through the intersection. These
volumes can be either ADTs or PHVs,
depending on the use of the data.
 Traffic Volume Data Presentation
3. Time-Based Distribution Charts
These charts show the hourly, daily, monthly, or annual variations in traffic
volume in an area or on a particular highway. Each volume is usually given as
a percentage of the average volume.
 Traffic Volume Data Presentation
4. Summary Tables
These tables give a summary of traffic volume data such as PHV, Vehicle
Classification (VC), and ADT in tabular form.
 Volume Study Methods

Two methods are available for conducting traffic volume counts: (1) manual
and (2) automatic.

1. Manual Counts
- typically used to gather data for determination of vehicle classification,
turning movements, direction of travel, pedestrian movements, or vehicle
occupancy.
- require small samples of data at any given location
- used when the effort and expense of autimated equipment are not justified.
- necessary when automatic equipment is not available
- typically used for periods of less than a day. Normal intervals for a manual
count are 5, 10, or 15 minutes.
 Volume Study Methods
1. Manual Counts
- recorded using one of three methods
a. Intersection Volume Count Tally Sheet
- recording data onto tally sheets is the simplest means of conducting manual
counts
- data can be recorded with a tick mark on a preprepared field form
 Volume Study Methods
1. Manual Counts
- recorded using one of three methods
b. Mechanical Counting Board
- consist of counters mounted on a board that record each direction of travel
- Common counts include pedestrian, bicycle, vehicle classification, and traffic
volume counts
- Typical counters are push
button devices with three to
five registers. Each button
represents a different type of
vehicle or pedestrian being
counted.
 Volume Study Methods
1. Manual Counts
- recorded using one of three methods
c. Electronic Counting Boards
- battery-operated, handheld devices used in collecting traffic count data
- similar to mechanical counting boards, but with some important differences.
Electronic counting boards are lighter, more compact, and easier to handle.
They have an internal clock that automatically separates the data by time
interval
- Special functions include automatic data
reduction and summary. The data can
also be downloaded to a computer, which
saves time.
 Volume Study Methods
2. Automatic counts
- typically used to gather data for determination of vehicle hourly patterns,
daily or seasonal variations and growth trends, or annual traffic estimates.
- usually taken in 1-hour intervals for each 24-hour period. The counts may
extend for a week, month, or year. When the counts are recorded for each 24-
hour time period, the peak flow period can be identified.
- Automatic Count Recording Methods: They are portable counters, permanent
counters, and videotape.
a. Pneumatic Road Tube and
Recorder Recorder
- Portable counters serve the
same purpose as manual counts
but with automatic counting
equipment.
 Volume Study Methods
b. Permanent Counters
- used when long-term counts are to be conducted.
- The counts could be performed every day for a year or more
- The data collected may be used to monitor and evaluate traffic volumes and
trends over a long period of time.
- not a cost-effective option in most situations

c. Videotape/CCTV
- Observers can record count data by videotaping traffic.
- Traffic volumes can be counted by viewing videotapes recorded with a
camera at a collection site.
- A digital clock in the video image can prove useful in noting time intervals..
- Videotaping is not a cost-effective option in most situations.
 Volume Study Methods

Apollo Traffic Counter/Classifier

 Volume Study Methods

Traffic Eye Universal System

Types of Volume Counts