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CHAPTER 5

METHODOLOGY - DATA COLLECTION

AND TRAFFIC SURVEY

5.1 FIELD STUDIES - TRAFFIC VOLUME SURVEY

One of the fundamental measures of traffic on a road system is the

volume of traffic using the road in a given interval of time. It is also termed
as flow and is expressed in vehicles per hour.

When the traffic is composed of number of types of vehicles, it is

the normal practice to convert the flow into equivalent passenger car units
(PCU), by using certain equivalence factors. The flow is then expressed as
PCU per hour.

A knowledge of the vehicular volume using a road network is

important for understanding the efficiency at which the system works at
present and the general quality of service offered to the road users knowing
the flow characteristics, one can easily determine whether a particular section
of a road is handling traffic much above or below its capacity. If the traffic is
heavy, the road suffers from congestion with consequent loss in journey
speeds. Lower speeds cause economic loss to the community due to time lost
by the occupants of the vehicles and the higher operational cost of vehicles.
Congestion also leads to traffic hazards. Volume counts are, therefore,
indicators of the need to improve the transport facilities and are in an
invaluable tool in the hands of transport planner.
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In order to update the data base of the present existing traffic

conditions, Traffic volume counts on selected road links in the Salem City
were conducted. The detailed field survey programme was organized for 16
hours between 6 AM -10 PM. The block period is 15 minutes. Traffic volume
count survey was conducted on the 162 road links and shown in Figure. 5.1.
With the help of these data the peak hour of traffic flow on each road link has
been identified.

Figure 5.1 Traffic volume count survey points on the 162 road links
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5.2 PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Physical characteristics of road links in the network studied by field

visits during the study and updated to the present existing condition. The
study of physical characteristics comprises of surface condition, lighting
condition footpath condition and drainage condition.

5.3 ROAD NETWORK DETAILS

Road network details collected from Directorate of Town and

Country Planning, Salem Corporation, Salem Local Planning Authority and
field study.

List of Data collected: The following data have been collected for
Salem City

5.3.1 Linkwise – Road Name Details

The arterial road network which has been studied is broken into
number of links. A link is defined as one-way part of the route between two
intersections. The number of road links analyzed in the study is 162. The
identified road links studied in the Salem City is given in Figure.3.1 and
given in Table A 1.1.

5.3.2 Linkwise – Location and Type of Road Name Details

Based on location Road links are divided into two types as CBD
and Fringe. Based on type road links are divided into three types as radial,
orbital and others. The linkwise - location and type of road name details are
given in Table A 2.1.
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5.3.3 Linkwise – Physical informations

Following physical information are collected for 162 road links.

The following details of overall road links were collected for the study and
given in Table A 3.1.

Length of road links

Carriageway width

Footpath width

Right of way

5.3.4 Linkwise – Existing physical conditions

Linkwise existing physical conditions, surface condition, lighting

condition, footpath condition and drainage condition in 162 road links are
collected by field survey. Surface condition, lighting condition, drainage
condition and footpath conditions are graded as very poor, poor and fair and
given in Table A 4.1.

5.3.5 Linkwise – Existing landuse along the roadside, type Of

encroachment and on street parking details

Existing landuse details along the roadside are divided into

following categories and collected by conducting field survey as given in
Table 5.1.
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Table 5.1 Landuse details

Sl.no. Predominant land use

1 Open space
2 Residential
3 Institutional
4 Industrial
5 Commercial

Details of existing onstreet parking on all road links along the

roadside are divided into following categories and collected by conducting
field survey as given in Table.5.2

Table 5.2 Type of parking

Sl.No Type of parking

1 Parking prohibited on either side
2 Parking permitted on one side
3 Parking permitted on either side

Details of existing type of encroachment on all road links along

the roadside are divided into following categories and collected by
conducting field survey as given in Table 5.3.

Table 5.3 Type of encroachment

Sl.No Severity of encroachment

1 No Encroachment
2 Marginal Encroachment
3 Substantial Encroachment
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Linkwise – Existing landuse along the roadside, type of

encroachment and on street parking details are collected for 162 road links
and given in Table A 5.1.

5.3.6 Linkwise traffic informations

Linkwise peak hour traffic flow in road links are calculated from
the Traffic volume count survey. Traffic volume count survey was conducted
on the 162 road links and shown in Figure 3. Traffic volume count survey
form is given in Annexure 6. With the help of these data the peak hour of
traffic flow on each road link has been identified and given in Table A 7.1.