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INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DELHI


HAUS KHAS, NEW DELHI-110016

CIVIL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT


Course Number: CVL 742
Traffic Engineering
REPORT

Lab 10: Turning Movements Count and Peak


Hour Factor

Submitted To:
Dr. Kalaga Ramchandra Rao
(Associate Professor)

Civil Engineering Department, IIT Delhi

Submitted By:

Name: TANMOY DAS


Entry No.: 2015CEP2101
M Tech Transportation Engineering, Semester-III

Objectives:
The main objectives of this lab are to record turning movement counts at an intersection and
calculate Peak Hour Factor. The turnings movements count are to be collected during off
peak periods.
Need for the Study:
Existing traffic data at an intersection or on a road section forms the foundation for analysis in
the transportation field. The traffic count data is important for both planning and operational
studies. Turning Movement Counts (TMCs) are the directional volume of traffic passing
through an intersection. The average Daily Traffic (ADT) or the 24-hour volume on a road is
recorded to study the hourly traffic volume variation on the roadway. Also, to determine the
peak period for the road of nearby intersection.
TMCs are usually taken during peak periods at an intersection to conduct Level of Service
(LOS) analysis and Peak Hour Factor (PHF). Sometimes traffic flow during off-peak period is
also recorded. The recorded peak and off-peak period traffic are compared with the ADT.
Overview:
The volume of traffic passing through an intersection is usually recorded as vehicles per hour
(vph). TMCs at an intersection relate to the left, right and through traffic leaving the
intersection from each approach. The representation of intersection geometric is as shown in
Fig. 1. Typical directional flow at a four-way intersection is also shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1: Representation of intersection geometrics and directional movements

Traffic Movement Counts (TMCs):

Traffic counts at an intersection are recorded using Manual Count or Electronic Boards. The
main advantage of electronic boards is that they can be preset to record the volume of traffic
at any required interval. The TMCs are also used foe capacity analysis, signal turning and
signal warrants analysis.

Annual average daily traffic (AADT):

The total volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway in both directions for 1
year divided by the number of days in the year. It is expressed as vpd.
The annual average daily traffic (AADT) is utilized as an important basic data in
transportation and road sector. It predicts the future service level of the road based on the
planned traffic volume and determines the geometry of new roads. The planned traffic
volume serves as the basis of road planning, when AADT is used.
AADT is calculated as follows:
AADT = Total yearly traffic volume/No of days in a year

Average daily traffic (ADT):

The total volume of traffic passing a point or segment of a highway in both directions for a
period of time (in whole days), greater than 1 day and less than 1 year, divided by the
number of days.
ADT = Total monthly traffic volume/No of days in months

Annual average Weekday traffic (AAWT):

Annual average weekday traffic (AAWT) is similar to AADT but only includes Monday to
Friday data. Public holidays are often excluded from the AAWT calculation.
AAWT = Total Weekday traffic volume in a year/No of weekdays in a year

Average Weekday Traffic:

Average Weekday Traffic is an average 24-hr traffic volume occurring on weekdays for some
period less than one year.
AWT = Total weekday traffic volume/No of weekdays

Traffic Volume

Traffic Volume on a road is the number of vehicles passing the measurement point during a
specified time interval.

Demand

Demand is a measure of the number of vehicles (or passengers, or persons) waiting for
service in the given time period.

Capacity

Capacity is the maximum number that can reasonably be expected to be served in the given
time period.

Peak flow rate (PFR):

The peak flow rate is defined as equivalent hourly rate at which vehicles pass over given
point or section of a lane or a roadway during a given time interval less than one hour, using
suitable factors it is expended to represent one hour volume. If the 15 minutes count is
conducted at an intersection volume recorded is multiplied by 4 to up time the hourly volume.
When the maximum 15 minutes flow rate is multiplied by 4 the resulting volumes are called
design peak period volume or peak flow rate volume. So,
Peak Hour Flow = (Maximum total hourly volume)/ (4* V15 maximum)
where:
V15 = Peak 15 minutes volume
Study Components:
The main study components are to record turning movement counts and calculate peak hour
factors. In recording manual turning movement counts, proper procedure is essential to tally
the vehicles travelling in each lane and direction. These data can help in identifying the peak
flow rate at a particular section, trends of traffic pattern, traffic volume etc.
The two basic methods of counting traffic are:

Manual observation

Automatic recording

Many types of counts require classifications that are obtained more easily and accurately with
trained observers. Examples include vehicle occupancy, pedestrians, turning movements,
and vehicle classifications. Other reasons for conducting manual counts are time and
resources.
The automatic counting method involves the laying of surface detectors (such as pneumatic
road tubes) or subsurface detectors (such as magnetic or electronic contact devices) on the
road. These detect the passing vehicle and transmit the information to a recorder, which is
connected to the detector at the side of the road.

REFERENCES:
1. Transportation Research Board (TRB), (2000 &2010), Highway Capacity Manual,
HCM (2000&2010), Fifth Edition, Washington DC.

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