SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

LABORATORY 3

COURSE HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE ECG344

LEVEL OF OPENNESS 1

CATEGORY PARTIALLY OPEN ENDED

DEGREE OF OPEN-ENDED (%) 33

PERIOD OF ACTIVITY 1 WEEKS

TITLE RUNNING SPEED STUDY

INTRODUCTION
Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means
are guided and given to the students. However the answers to the assignment are
left to the students to solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity
is hoping to slowly introduce and inculcates independent learning amongst students
and prepare them for a much harder task of open-ended laboratory activities.

In this laboratory activity students will be exposed to the appropriate methods to carry
out Running Speed Study using moving vehicle technique.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the test is:
I. To conduct the Running Speed Study and evaluate the quality of traffic
movement along a route and determine the traffic delays by using a moving
vehicle technique.
PREAMBLE
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the laboratory activity, students would be able to:
I. Identify and used the correct method to carry out the Running Speed Study
by using moving vehicle technique.
II. Analyse data correctly and present it in a typical format.
III. Work in a group to produce technical report.

THEORETICAL BACKGROUND

Moving Vehicle Technique

In this laboratory, students will use Moving Vehicle Technique to conduct the
Running Speed Study. The travel time and delay data of Moving Vehicle Technique
enables the traffic engineer to define problem locations to design improvements that
may be essential to increase operational efficiency and safety.

©UiTM OCT 2021

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY 2

In this technique, the driver and observers makes a round trip on a test section like
the one shown below, where it is assumed that the road runs eastward to section Y-
Y, and then turn the vehicle around and drives westward to section X-X again.

X west Y

X east Y

Students are required to conduct an experiment by using moving vehicle technique.

PROBLEM During this study, student needs to determine the locations, types and extent of traffic
STATEMENT delays, average flow and journey time of traffic that may affect the running speed of
the traffic.

APPARATUS
I. A test vehicle, driver, observers
II. Two stopwatches
III. Distance measurement equipment / Odometer
IV. Two field forms.

PROCEDURES
I. Define the study area by selecting all control points before beginning the
study.
II. The time periods recommended for studies are A.M. and P.M. peak hours
as well as off peak hours.
III. The test car shall be traveling at the average speed of all vehicles.
WAYS & IV. The test car shall proceed from east to west direction along the road.
MEANS Record the travel time to move from east to west.
V. Counts time for stop delay at the junction along the route.
VI. Count the number of vehicle in the opposite direction, Number of cars
overtaking the test car and no of cars overtaken by test car.
VII. In this technique, the observers makes a round trip on a test section, and
then turn the vehicle around and drives back again for at least four (4)
times.

Test Requirement/Condition:

a. These studies should be conducted during average or typical weekday

traffic conditions.
b. These studies should be made during reasonably good weather so that
unusual conditions do not influence the study. Also, since crashes or
other unusual delays will produce erroneous results, any runs made

©UiTM OCT 2021

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY 2

during such an occurrence should be terminated and another run

conducted.

Sample of observation form:

Run Eastward distance =

Travel Total No. of Vehicles

Time, te Delay – in Overtook Overtaken
(min) stopped Opposite Test by Test
time Direction, Vehicle, y1 Vehicle,
(secs.) x y2
1

Average

Run Westward distance =

Travel Total No. of Vehicles

Time, te Delay – in Overtook Overtaken
(min) stopped Opposite Test by Test
time Direction, Vehicle, y1 Vehicle,
(secs.) x y2
1

Average

©UiTM OCT 2021

SCHOOL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
LABORATORY 2

Analysis of Result
Students have to acquire ways to present collected data and to determine important
parameters from the study.
All references have to be listed using standard format or given by the lecturer.

Discussion and Conclusion

Students have to write discussion and conclusion based on the objectives of the
RESULTS
study.
(OPEN)
The group is required to submit the technical report of the laboratory results
highlighting the apparatus used, the procedures undertaken for the test, data
acquisition process, analysis carried out and the relevancy of the set-out output to
address the given problem. The format of the technical report is left to the creativity
discretion of the group.

The report must be submitted 7 days after the completion of the test.

©UiTM OCT 2021