Traffic volume count survey

1.INTRODUCTION:
Traffic volume can be defined as the number of vehicles or pedestrians
passing as a given point on a lane or carriageway during a specified period
of time .Traffic volume studies are widely known as traffic counts and they
are carried out to determine the basic traffic data such as the number,
classifications, and directional movements of roadway vehicles and
pedestrians at a selected location. the various volume counts taken over
different lengths of time are usually expressed in vehicles per
hour(vph).other traffic volume characteristics obtained are average annual
vehicle miles of travel(VMT).for example, an intersection count maybe
conducted during the peak flow period. manual count with 30minute
intervals could be used to obtain the traffic volume data.

2. Aim: To determine the basic traffic data such as number classifications

and directional movements of roadway vehicles and pedestrians at a
selected location.

3. Apparatus: Stopwatch, field data, clipboard ,safety jacket ,mechanical

hand counter.

3.Theory:
A traffic study is conducted to evaluate the transportation system serving an
area and to identify any improvements necessary to accomadate existing or
projected traffic volumes.

3.1.definitions:

ADT :Average daily traffic or ADT,and sometimes also mean daily traffic,is
the average number of vehicles two way passing a specified point in a 24-
hour period,normally measured throughout a year.

AADT:Annual average daily traffic abbreviated AADT,is a measure used

primarily in transportation planning and transportation enginnering.it is the
total volume of vehicle traffic of a highway or road for a year divided by
365days.it is also sometimes reported as “average annual daily traffic”.

Hourly expansion factor(HEF):Total 24hours volume/volume for particular

hour

Daily expansion factor(DEF):Avg total weekly volume/avg volume for

particular day

Monthly expansion factor(MEF):AADT/ADT for particular month

3.2Counting method:
Two methods are available for conducting traffic volume counts:

1.manual 2.automatic

3.2.1 Manual count method:

Most applications of manual counts require small samples of data at any
given location .manual counts are necessary when automatic equipment is
not available .normal intervals for a manual count are 5,10,or 30minutes
manual counts are recorded using one of three methods:1.tally
sheets2.mechanical counting boards 3.electronic counting boards.

1.Tally sheets:Recording data onto tally sheets is the simplest means of

conduting manual counts.the data can be recorded with a tick mark on a
prepreapared field form.a watch or stopwatch is necessary to measure the
desired count interval.

2.Mechanical counting boards: Mechanical count boads consist of

counters mounted on a board that record each direction of travel.common
counts include prdestian,bicycle,vehicle classification,and traffic volume
counts.a watch or a stopwatch is also necessary with this method to
measure the desired count interval.

3.Electronic counting boards : Electronic counting boards are

battery-operated.hand held devices used in collecting traffic count data.they
are similar to mechanical counting boards.the data can also be downloaded
to a computer,which saves time.
3.2.2.Automatic count method:Automatic counts are usually taken
in 1 hour intervals for each 24hour period.the counts may extend for a
week,month,or a year.when the counts are recorded for each 24 hour time
period,the peak flow period can be identified.automatic counts are recorded
using one of three methods:1.portable counters 2.permenant counters
3.videotape

1.portable counters:portable counting is a form of manual

observation.portble counters serve the same purpose as manual counts ,the
portable counter method is mainly used for 24hour counts.

2.permenant counters:permenant counters are 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 ver a long period of time.

3.videotape:Observers can record count data by videotaping

traffic.traffic volumes can be counted by viewing videotapes recorded with a
camera at a collecton site.a digital clock in the video image can prove useful
in noting time intervals.

4.Procedure:
1.Necessary preparations such as an accurate watch is performed and the
correct time was set,sufficient pens,field data forms and
clipboards,mechanical hand counters that are in good condition,safety vests
and others.

2.Enumerators were arrived 30minutes earlier at the site in order to

familiarize with location,distribute the equipment,fill in the general
information of the daily forms that comprised of sheet number,station
ID,enumerators name,date,weather condition and time to start or finish

3.Enumerators have to do field measurements in order to define existing

geometric dimension for the intersection under study.the layout of the
intersection was sketched and dimensioned.

4..The current traffic movements were identified and begun at the planned
time.proper observers position was selected so that they can see
clearly,safely,and easily count the traffic
5..The counting is done at each lane of each intersection approach for
volume conditions.

6.The data is checked before leaving the field.

5. Data collection:

5.1:Date and time:

5.2:Weather condition:

5.3:Location:

5.4 Observation:

5.5:Method and equipment:

5.6 Number of enumerators:

5.7:DATA COLLECTION TABLE:

TIME GROUP BUS TRUCK MC CAR JEEP PICKUP AMBC MB TOTAL AR SPT TOTALVEHICLES

TIME GROUP BUS TRUCK MC CAR JEEP PICKUP AMBC MB TOTAL AR SPT TOTALVEHICLES
Research methodology.
 Different type of Survey
 Interviews. Also known as in-person surveys or household surveys, this used to
be one of the most popular types of survey to conduct. ...
 Focus Groups. ...
 Panel Sampling. ...
 Telephone Surveys. ...
 5. Mail-in Surveys. ...
 Kiosk Surveys. ...
 Online Surveys.

Different type of data source.

Primary data sources include; Surveys, observations, experiments, questionnaires, focus

groups, interviews, etc., while secondary data sources include; books, journals, articles, web
pages, blogs, etc. These sources vary explicitly and there is no intersection between the primary
and secondary data sources.

3 referencing style

Referencing styles. There are four widely-used referencing styles or conventions. They are called the
MLA (Modern Languages Association) system, the APA (American Psychological Association) system,
the Harvard system, and the MHRA (Modern Humanities Research Association) system.

The MLA system is a parenthetical system: i.e. bracketed references in the body of your essay are linked
to full length citations in the bibliography at the end of your essay. The bracket in the body of the essay
contains only the author’s surname and the page number or numbers you are referring to. For example:
There are a number of different referencing styles or conventions but there are four that are used most
widely.

The APA system is also a parenthetical system but the bracketed references in the body of your essay
are: the author’s surname, the date of publication and the page or page numbers you are referring to.
For example: There are a number of different referencing styles or conventions but there are four that
are used most widely (Kennedy, 2003, p. 17). The reference always goes at the end of the sentence
before the full stop.

The Harvard system is another parenthetical system and the bracketed references in the body of your
essay are: the author’s surname and the date of publication. The list of works at the end of the essay is
headed ‘References’. The works listed in it appear in alphabetical order by the author’s surname and
follow the same format as the APA system.
The MHRA system does not use bracketed references in the body of an essay. Instead, superscript
numbers like this 1 are linked to a sequence of notes which appear either at the foot of the page or in a
section at the end of your essay. The note contains the full reference for the book or article you are
referring to. Here’s what an MHRA note reference looks like:

Household survey and its components

Household surveys are one of the most important sources of social and demographic statistics in the
U.S. While housing censuses are also a key source of such statistics, they are only conducted every 10 to
15 years. Household sample surveys — which can investigate almost any population-based subject —
are therefore a powerful alternative, becoming one of the most flexible sources of data on social
phenomena in the last few decades.

Please don’t confuse a household survey with censuses, they monitor two different sets of information.
The household survey provides a more exhaustive collection of data on households, while population
censuses offer comprehensive information on the population, age, sex, and education, etc.

Components

Two primary household survey components

To get accurate information household survey has two surveys covering different aspects of a household
to get a better understanding: Household roster & Questionnaire.
A household roster – Answers questions that needed specific information about a particular household.
 What is their relationship to the head of the household?
 What is the age and gender of every member?
 What level of education do they have, are they literate?
 How many children and adults are there in the household?
 Are the children studying?
 Which age groups do the members of the household fall in?
The Questionnaire – Captures the specific details of every individual in the household.
 Who is the head of the household?
 How many members of the household are married?
 Information about personal life, marriage, children, etc. are covered in this Questionnaire.
Qualitative and Quantitative techniques
Quantitative research

Quantitative research is expressed in numbers and graphs. It is used to test or confirm theories and
assumptions. This type of research can be used to establish generalizable facts about a topic.

Common quantitative methods include experiments, observations recorded as numbers, and surveys
with closed-ended questions.

Qualitative research

Qualitative research is expressed in words. It is used to understand concepts, thoughts or experiences.

This type of research enables you to gather in-depth insights on topics that are not well understood.

Common qualitative methods include interviews with open-ended questions, observations described in
words, and literature reviews that explore concepts and theories.

Delphi technique
The Delphi method is a process used to arrive at a group opinion or decision by surveying a
panel of experts. Experts respond to several rounds of questionnaires, and the responses are
aggregated and shared with the group after each round.

Understanding the Delphi Method

Several rounds of questionnaires are sent out to the group of experts, and the
anonymous responses are aggregated and shared with the group after each round.
The experts are allowed to adjust their answers in subsequent rounds, based on how
they interpret the "group response" that has been provided to them. Since multiple
rounds of questions are asked and the panel is told what the group thinks as a whole,
the Delphi method seeks to reach the correct response through consensus.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
 The Delphi method is a process used to arrive at a group opinion or
decision by surveying a panel of experts.
 Experts respond to several rounds of questionnaires, and the responses
are aggregated and shared with the group after each round.
 The experts can adjust their answers each round, based on how they
interpret the "group response" provided to them.
 The ultimate result is meant to be a true consensus of what the group
thinks.