RADAR GUN BASED SPEED STUDIES

SUBMITTED TO
SARDAR VALLABH BHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

MASTER OF TECHNOLOGY
IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

WITH SPECIALIZATION
IN
(TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND PLANNING)

SUBMITTED BY
Abhishek Sharma
P23TP005

GUIDED BY
Dr. G.J. Joshi
Dr. Ashish Dhamaniya

PG SECTION TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING AND PLANNING

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
SARDAR VALLABHBHAI NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
SURAT-395007, GUJARAT, INDIA
 Contents
1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Radar gun method ....................................................................................................... 4
2 Select location and placement of Radar gun ...................................................................... 4
3 Spot speed study ................................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Speed Percentiles......................................................................................................... 5
3.2 Speed Spread Ratio (SSR): ......................................................................................... 6
4 Data collection .................................................................................................................... 6
5 Data analysis ....................................................................................................................... 7
5.1 Inferences .................................................................................................................. 11
5.2 Speed spread ratio (SSR)........................................................................................... 12
6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 12

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 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Data collection ............................................................................................................ 5

Figure 2: CDF of 2W ................................................................................................................. 8
Figure 3: CDF of small car ........................................................................................................ 8
Figure 4: CDF of big car ............................................................................................................ 9
Figure 5: CDF of autorickshaw .................................................................................................. 9
Figure 6: CDF of bus ............................................................................................................... 10
Figure 7: CDF of truck ............................................................................................................. 10
Figure 8: CDF of LCV ............................................................................................................. 11

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1 Introduction
Speed is an important transportation consideration because it relates to safety, time, comfort,
convenience, and economics. Spot speed studies are used to determine the speed distribution
of a traffic stream at a specific location. The data gathered in spot speed studies are used to
determine vehicle speed percentiles, which are useful in making many speed related decisions.

Speed is an essential measure to assess security of the street organize. Speed is likewise a
critical transportation parameter in light of the fact that other than wellbeing, it identifies with
time, solace, comfort, and financial aspects. As indicated by, rapid conveys high hazard, while
low speed is moderately protected. The plan speed ought to be made relying upon the sheltered
speed point of confinement of the street Speed is one of the activity operational components
that ought to be considered in the outline of the street geometrics.

Spot speed data have a number of safety applications mentioned below:

• Determining existing traffic operations and evaluation of traffic control devices.

• Establishing roadway design elements.
• Assessing roadway safety questions.
• Monitoring traffic speed trends by systematic ongoing speed studies.
• Measuring effectiveness of traffic control devices or traffic programs, signs and
markings traffic operational changes, and speed enforcement programs.

1.1 Radar gun method

• A radar gun is a commonly used device for directly measuring speeds in spot speed
studies.
• The effective measuring distance for radar meters ranges from 200 feet up to 2 miles.
• A radar gun requires line-of-sight to accurately measure speed and is easily operated
by one person.

2 Select location and placement of Radar gun

Proper placement of the radar meter at the study area is critical. The positioning of the radar
unit is determined by the capabilities of the radar unit. The unit should also be concealed from
the view of motorists. Effective ranges may be up to 100 meters, but as the distance increases

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the effectiveness decreases. The least accurate position which often results in no readings at
all is obtained when the meter is aimed at a 90-degree angle to the roadway centreline.

To evaluate and determine proper speed limits for Mid-Block from Ichhanath chowk to Kargil
chowk, we determine spot speed data for different vehicle classes.

Figure 1: Data collection

3 Spot speed study

A spot speed study measures the speed of individual vehicles passing a specific point on a
roadway. The data collected is used to determine the distribution of traffic speeds at that
location. The data can also be used to calculate vehicle speed percentiles.

The data collected in a spot speed study should accurately reflect the speed characteristics of
the population. The data can be used to make many speed-related decisions.

3.1 Speed Percentiles

• 15th Percentile Speed: The 15th percentile speed represents a measure of performance
that exceeds the speeds achieved by 15% of the studied population. It provides insight
into the lower end of the speed distribution, allowing for an understanding of the
baseline capabilities of athletes or participants in a specific activity.
• 50th Percentile Speed (Median): The 50th percentile, often referred to as the median
speed, represents the middle point of the speed distribution. This is the speed at which

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 50% of the participants or athletes in a given population fall below, and 50% fall above.
The median speed is a key indicator of the central tendency of speed within a group.
• 95th Percentile Speed: The 95th percentile speed signifies a level of performance that
surpasses the speeds achieved by 95% of the studied population. This metric is crucial
for identifying high-performing individuals or assessing the upper echelons of speed
capabilities within a specific context.
• 98th Percentile Speed: The 98th percentile speed represents an even higher level of
performance, exceeding the speeds achieved by 98% of the studied population. This
metric is particularly useful for pinpointing exceptional speed capabilities and
understanding the top tier of athletes or participants in terms of speed.

3.2 Speed Spread Ratio (SSR):

It is the ratio of the difference between the 85th percentile and 50th percentile to the difference
of 50th percentile speed and 15th percentile speed.

𝑉85−𝑉50
SSR =
𝑉50−𝑉15

4 Data collection
Data was collected from Ichhanath chowk to Kargil chowk. It involves different classes of
vehicles mention below:

• 2W
• Small Car
• Big Car
• Auto-Rickshaw
• Truck
• Bus
• LCV

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 Table 1:Spot speed data

2W SMALL CAR BIG CAR AUTO BUS TRUCK LCV

37 32 12 27 12 11 18

15 12 21 12 11 19 25

26 29 14 16 14 12 20

18 18 11 25 16 13

23 30 12 11 15

25 42 21 13

25 28 17 20

17 24 26 34

46 20 20 24

24 35 29 23

30 18 32

28 35 17

27 33 23

36 32 18

30 36 27

20 39

27

29

5 Data analysis
Based on the above samples of different vehicle speed, graph are plotted of Speed (kmph)
verses Cumulative vehicle frequency. Based on the graph percentile speeds are been
calculated.

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 Figure 2: CDF of 2W

Figure 3: CDF of small car

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 Figure 4: CDF of big car

Figure 5: CDF of autorickshaw

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Figure 6: CDF of bus

Figure 7: CDF of truck

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 Figure 8: CDF of LCV

Table 2: Speed percentiles

Mode of share 15th percentile 50th percentile 85th percentile 98th percentile
speed (Km/h) speed (Km/h) speed (Km/h) speed (Km/h)
2W 18.36 26.69 35.01 43.18
Small Car 19.71 28.27 36.83 45.23
Big Car 11.89 18.3 24.71 31
Bus 11.45 13.6 15.75 17.86
Truck 9.48 14.00 18.52 22.95
Auto-rickshaw 15.10 23.17 31.24 39.16
LCV 13.85 19 24.15 29.20

5.1 Inferences
The design speed for the facility is 45.23 kmph. If any vehicle exceed its speed more than
design speed, the vehicle is more prone to accident. The operating speed for this facility is
36.83 kmph. If any vehicle exceed the operating speed the vehicle breaks the traffic signal and
will be fined.

For our observation time, the frequency of small car and auto is more, where truck, LCV, Bus
having least frequency.

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5.2 Speed spread ratio (SSR)

Above sport speed ratio (SSR) table is a measure of how evenly speed is distributed across all
users on a network.

Table 3: Spot speed ratio of different class of vehicle

Vehicle class Spot speed ratio (SSR) values
2W 0.9987
Small Car 1
Big Car 1
Auto-Rickshaw 1
Truck 1
Bus 1
LCV 1

A ratio of 1 typically indicates an even distribution of speed, meaning that all users are
experiencing similar speeds. However, a ratio less than 1 can indicate that some users are
experiencing faster or slower speeds than others, while a ratio greater than 1 can indicate that
some users are experiencing faster speeds than others. Therefore, a ratio of 1 is generally
considered to be good, while ratios less than or greater than 1 may indicate issues with network
performance.

6 Conclusion
Speed is one of the development operational parts that should be considered in the layout of
the road geometrics. The effects of road geometrical design on the speed of the vehicles exhibit
that the differences in road geometrical framework would particularly impact the speed of the
vehicles. The vehicles found in the lower 15 percent are considered to be travelling
unreasonably direct and those saw over the 85th percentile are thought to outperform a secured
and reasonable speed. 85th percentile could be a govern in setting up the speed limit as this
speed is seen as protected and reasonable under conditions states of the road.

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