6.

To find out instantaneous speed of different vehicles at a given stretch along

with its characteristics

Subject Code: TEN622110

Course: Transportation engineering lab II
Submitted by: Sanjeev Kumar Verma
USN:19320402013
Second semester

Department of transport science and technology

Central University of Jharkhand

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Contents
1. Objective:......................................................................................................................................3
2. Methodology.................................................................................................................................3
3. Uses of spot speed study...............................................................................................................3
4. Methodology:-...............................................................................................................................4
5. Calculation:....................................................................................................................................5
6. Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................7

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1. Objective:
To find instantaneous speed of different vehicles in a given stretch along with its
characteristics.

2. Methodology
Terms used: -
a. Design speed: -A speed determined for design and corelations amongst the physical
features of the highway that influence vehicle operations. It is 98 th percentile of the
speed.
b. 85th percentile speed: -The speed with which 85% of the total vehicles travel is called
85th percentile speed and is used for determining speed limits and various traffic
regulations.
c. 15th percentile speed: -The speed below which 15% of the total vehicles travel is
known as 15th percentile speed and is lower speed limit.
d. Mean speed: -It is the average speed of the vehicles in the given stretch.
e. Median speed: -It is the speed which is equally divides the spot speed distribution. It
is also known as 50th percentile speed.
f. Model speed: -It is that speed at which maximum numbers of vehicles moves in the
given stretch.

3. Uses of spot speed study

I. Geometric design of the road.
a. Design assumes uniform speed and it is necessary to evaluate the effect of
actual speed distributions on design features.
b. Super-elevations and sight distance are directly related to spot speed.
II. Regulations and traffic operations:
a. Establishing speed limit.
b. Determining the safe speed at curve and approaches to the intersections.
III. Determination of spot speed: -
a. Direct timing method
It involves measuring travel time over a measured distance and uses: -
i. Stop watch with pavement marking
ii. Enoscope
b. Pneumatic tube method:-
i. Electrically operated meter
ii. Electronic meter
c. Photographic technique

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 i. Time lapsed photography
ii. Continuous photography
d. Doppler principle method
i. Radar meter
ii. Ultrasonic meter

4. Methodology:-
a. Survey area selected tobe Brambe area
b. Two stretches were marked along the road at the distance of 54 meters apart.
c. Observers were appointed at each reference point
d. The observer at first point waves his hand when a vehicles crosses him and thus
giving a signal to second observer to start stop watch.
e. The second person stop the stop watch when the same vehicle crosses him as
shown in the figure 2.1 below:

f. From this distance and time speed were calculated and noted in the observation
table.
g. The survey was carried out for three hours.

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5. Calculation:

Observations
Location: Brambe Date: 19-02-2020
Days: Wednessday Time: 2.00 PM to 5.00PM
Weather: Sunny
Frequencies
Speed range(KMPH)
Bus TW Truck Car Auto Total
16 20 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 25 0 1 0 0 0 1
25 30 0 2 3 0 0 5
30 35 2 5 1 1 1 10
35 40 4 14 1 2 2 23
40 45 11 12 3 1 6 33
45 50 10 16 6 3 4 39
50 55 15 17 6 4 2 44
55 60 8 5 5 4 1 23
60 65 7 4 3 6 0 20
65 70 6 5 3 83 0 97
70 75 11 7 6 24 0 48
75 80 8 5 5 20 0 38
80 85 6 4 5 17 0 32
85 90 3 1 3 12 0 19
90 95 1 0 1 5 0 7
95 100 0 0 0 3 0 3

Calculation
Mid Point Percentage Cummulative
Speed ranges(KMPH) Frequency fx [fx x xi]
(KMPH) frequency Percentage
16 20 18 0 0.00 - 0
20 25 22.5 1 0.23 0.23 22.5
25 30 27.5 5 1.13 1.36 137.5
30 35 32.5 10 2.26 3.62 325
35 40 37.5 23 5.20 8.82 862.5
40 45 42.5 33 7.47 16.29 1402.5
45 50 47.5 39 8.82 25.11 1852.5
50 55 52.5 44 9.95 35.07 2310
55 60 57.5 23 5.20 40.27 1322.5
60 65 62.5 20 4.52 44.80 1250
65 70 67.5 97 21.95 66.74 6547.5
70 75 72.5 48 10.86 77.60 3480
75 80 77.5 38 8.60 86.20 2945
80 85 82.5 32 7.24 93.44 2640
85 90 87.5 19 4.30 97.74 1662.5
90 95 92.5 7 1.58 99.32 647.5
95 100 97.5 3 0.68 100.00 292.5
∑fx = 442 ∑fx x Xi ) = 27700

27700
Mean speed=∑ ¿ ¿= =62.7 KM/Hr
442

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 -
120.00
100.00
99.32
97.74
Cummulative Percentage 100.00 93.44
86.20
77.60
80.00
66.74
60.00
44.80
40.27
40.00 35.07
25.11
16.29
20.00 8.82
0.231.363.62
0.00
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Average Speed KMPH

From above graph

98th percentile speed=91.5 KMPH
85th Percentile speed=77KMPH
50th Percentile speed=61KMPH
15th Percentile speed=41.5 KMPH

Percentage frequency Vs Speed

25.00

20.00
Frequency percentage

15.00

10.00

5.00

0.00
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110
Mid Speed(KMPH)

Model speed=65 KMPH

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6. Conclusion
We get to know different percentile speed required for designing purposes such as design
speed and also for traffic operation requires upper and lower limit of speed of the given
highway. We learnt how to record different types of vehicles in given stretch of road. We also
learnt about where spot speed studies are required for traffic regulations and traffic signal
design.

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