TOPIC: SPEED SURVEY (SPOT SPEED SURVEY)

Presented by:
Prithvi C Patil
Sanjay Kumar M.
3rd Sem B. Tech Planning
School of Planning and Architecture, Mysuru
 MAJOR TOPICS COVERED

Methods of Speed
Introduction Delay Studies
01 02 Survey 02 what is delay? what are
why do we need Speed Long base and short the purposes and
Survey? base methods applications of Delay
studies

Methods of Delay Calculations and References &

studies Casestudies 04 Conclusions
03 by using test vehicle
04 Example problems and What we can take
and without using case studies of Gujarat home from this
test vehicle presentation?
 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.

Spot speed is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle at a specified location.

Spot speed can be used to design the geometry of road like horizontal and
vertical curves, super elevation etc.

Location and size of signs, design of signals, safe speed, and speed zone
determination, require the spot speed data.
 Methods of Measuring spot speeds:
The methods available for spot speed measurement may be classified as:
1. Direct observation of the time taken by a vehicle to cover a known distance.
2. Radar speed-meter method.
3. Electronic meter method.
4. Photographic methods.
The Long-Base Methods : Short-Base Methods:
I. Direct measurement of time. I. Radar Speed-meter Method.
II. Enoscope. II. Electronic Meter Method.
III. Pressure contact tubes. III. Photographic Methods.
 direct MeasureMent of tiMe
Key Steps to a pavement/ direct
measurement of time Spot Speed Study:

1. Obtain appropriate study length.

2. Select proper location and layout.

3. Record observations on stopwatch

spot speed study data form.

Traffic Stream Average Recommended Study
Speed Length
4. Calculate vehicle speeds.
(feet)
5. Generate frequency distribution Below 25 kmph 88

25-40 kmph 176

table and determine speed
Abobe40 kmph 264
percentiles.
Standard distance table for spot survey
 enoscope:

• The parallax error of the observer can be eliminated by

using a simple device called ‘Enoscope’, especially in
the case of a single observer. Also known as ‘Mirror
box’, it is an L-shaped box, open at both ends; a mirror
is set inside it at 45° to both the arms.

• The reference points are marked by fixing poles at the

side of the road. As soon as the vehicle passes the first
reference point or the enoscope the timer is started
and it is stopped as soon as it passes the observer.

• This method is not suitable for heavy multilane traffic

because it is difficult to associate an observed shadow
with a particular vehicle. Further, it is difficult to
conceal the enoscope and the observer from the driver,
whose attention would be distracted, giving scope for
false readings.
 In this method, pneumatic tubes laid across
the carriageway at the two reference act a
pressure detectors.

contact tube When a vehicle passes over them, air impulses

are sent to an electromagnetically controlled
stop-watch in the hands of the observer,
starting the time at the first reference point
and stopping it at the second.

The readings can be recorded by automatic

date records also, reducing the manual work.
Another most widely used method is
INDUCTIVE LOOP DETECTOR which works on
the principle of magnetic inductance.

Road will be cut and a small magnetic loop is

placed. When the metallic content in the
vehicle passes over i t , a s i g n a l w i l l b e
generated and the count of the vehicle can be
found automatically.
• The advantage of this detector is that the counts can be obtained throughout
the life time of the road.
• However, chances of errors are possible because noise signals may be
generated due to heavy vehicle passing adjacent lanes. When dual loops are
used and if the spacing between them is known then speed also can be
calculated in addition to the vehicle cost.
short-base Methods
Radar Speed Method
Radar Speed-meter Method Electronic Meter Method Photographic Methods

The radar speed-meter works on the principle of This requires the use of pneumatic tube and air switch, Photography with time-lapse cameras has been
Doppler Effect. Microwaves of radio frequency are or electric contact stripes as detectors. successfully used to determine spot speeds of vehicles
transmitted to a moving vehicle. even in crowded zones.
On actuation, the current in milli-amperes is allowed
The speed of the vehicle is proportional to the change to accumulate in a condenser for a period of two Photographs are taken at fixed intervals of time (say,
in the frequency of microwaves received back at the electric pulses from the switches on the road. one second per exposure) using a special camera.
transmitter after being reflected by the vehicle.
Vehicle speeds can be recorded only manually but the The passage of any vehicle can be traced with reference
The speed-meter is calibrated to read the speed meter is calibrated to read the speed in km/h. to time by projecting the exposed film on a screen.
directly in km/h . it is set up near the edge of the road at Video cameras also may be used for the purpose.
about 1 m height above the road surface. 
 Travel time and Delay study
Travel time study determines the amount of time required to travel from one point
to another on a given route.

In conducting such studies information on locations, durations, and causes of delay

mabe be collected.

When this is done the study is known as a travel time and delay study.

The data obtained give a good indication of the level of service on the study section

The data also aid traffic engineers in identifying problem locations which may
require special attention in order to improve the overall flow of traffic on the route.

What is Delay ?
Delay is defined as an extra time spent by drivers against their expectation. Delay
can have many forms depending on different locations. A study made to provide
information concerning the amount, cause, location, duration and frequency of
delay as well as travel time and similar value. The time lost by traffic due to traffic
friction and traffic control device is called delay.
 Types of delay:
1. Congestion delay
Congestion delay is the delay caused by the constricting or slowing down effect of overloaded intersections,
inadequate carriageway widths, parked cars, crowded pavement and similar factor.

2. Fixed Delay
The delay to which a vehicle is subjected regardless of the amount of traffic volume and interference present.

3. Operational Delay
The delay caused by interference from other component of the traffic stream. Examples include time lost while
waiting for a gap in a conflicting traffic stream, or resulting from congestion, parking maneuvers, pedestrians,
and turning movement.

4. Stopped Delay- The time a vehicle is not moving.

5. Travel Time Delay

The difference between the actual time required to traverse a section of street or highway and the time
corresponding to the average speed of traffic under uncongested condition. It includes acceleration and
deceleration delay in addition to stopped delay.

6. Approach Delay - Travel time delay encountered to an approach to an intersection.

 ComponenTs of delay
Delay Uniform Random Overflow
diagram Delay Delay Delay
 DELAY SURVEY Performing a delay study involves counting the vehicles stopped in the intersection approach at
successive intervals.

PROCEDURE Time of Study

The intersection delay study should be performed during periods of congestion. Typically, the peak
delay occurs during the peak hour, which can be identified from the traffic counts.

1. CommuniCaTe wiTh oTher

Equipment
sTaffs/ deparTmenTs Unless the district has a delay meter, the intersection delay data is usually collected manually. In
2. review hisToriCal daTa Trends most cases, one observer is required for each intersection approach being evaluated. In some cases,
3. review CiTizen inpuT traffic volumes are too heavy for one person to handle alone, and a second observer is used.
4. requesT TraffiC ConTrol

Selecting the Interval:

The typical duration for the interval is 15 seconds. Other values can be selected; however, if a larger
interval is selected, the amount of overestimation of delay increases. Conversely, if a smaller
PREPARE 1.
2.
seleCT The proper loCaTion.
plan The daTa ColleCTion.
interval is selected, the amount of overestimation of delay is lower, but the amount of data
collected increases. So the 15 second interval represents a good compromise.
3. CompleTe The pre sTudy
doCumenTaTion
Preparing the Form:
PLAN Before the start of the study, the identifying information is entered in the appropriate places on the
Intersection Delay Study Form. The first column is completed to indicate the starting times in
minutes for the indicated succession of sampling intervals.
1. ColleCT The daTa
2. evaluaTe The sTaTisTiCs Counting and Recording:
CONDUCT 3. CalCulaTe final delay Trend When the starting time arrives, the observer counts and records the number of vehicles stopped on
the approach for each observation time indicated. As a vehicle arrives, it is recorded on the “Total
Number of Vehicles” section in the column corresponding to the 15 second interval when the vehicle
arrived.
DOCUMENT
1. finalise The reporT. Study Results
2. file The reporT Each vehicle counted in the delay study is assumed to be stopped for the duration of the selected
3. CommuniCaTe The resulTs wiTh
publiC
interval. Each column is added up in each of the subtotal blocks, and the total is recorded in the
“Total” block.
purposes of Travel Time appliCaTions of Travel Time
and delay sTudies and delay sTudies
The data obtained in these studies can be used in any one of the following
traffic engineering tasks: § The Advantage of a Travel Time and Delay Study is that it enables to evaluate
the quality of traffic movement along a route and determine the locations,
§ Determination of the efficiency of a route with respect to its ability to carry types, and extent of traffic delays by using a moving test vehicle.
traffic.
§ To compare operational conditions before and after roadway or intersection
§ Identification of locations with high delays and the cause of those delays. improvements have been made.

§ Performance of before and after studies to evaluate the effectiveness of § It can also be used as a tool to assist in prioritizing projects by comparing the
traffic operation improvements. magnitude of the operational deficiencies (such as delays and stops) for each
project under consideration.
§ Determination of relative efficiency of a route by developing sufficiency
ratings or congestion indices. § Used by planners to monitor level of service for local government
comprehensive plans.
§ Determination of travel times on specific links for use in trip assignment
models. § Provides the engineer with quantitative information with which he can
develop recommendations for improvements such as traffic signal re-timing,
§ Performance of economic studies in the evaluation of traffic operation safety improvements, turn lane additions, and channelization enhancements.
alternatives that reduce travel time.
 meThods of delay
sTudies

With Test Vehicle Not using

Test Vehicle
1. FLOATING-CAR 1. LICENSE- PLATE
TECHNIQUE OBSERVATION

2. AVERAGE SPEED 2. INTERVIEW

TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE

3. MOVING - VEHICLE
TECHNIQUE
 floaTInG Car
meThod
Floating car data are positions of vehicles traversing city streets throughout
the day. In this method the driver tries to float in the traffic stream passing as
many vehicles as pass the test car.

If the test vehicle overtakes as many vehicles as the test vehicle is passed by,
the test vehicles should, with sufficient number of runs, approach the median
speed of the traffic movement on the route.

In such a test vehicle, one passenger acts as observer while another records
duration of delays and the actual elapsed time of passing control points along
the route from start to finish of the run.

§ The test car is driven by an observer along the test section so that the test
car “floats” with traffic.
§ The test vehicle attempts to pass as many vehicles as those that pass his
test vehicle.
§ The time taken to traverse the study section is recorded.
§ The procedure repeated and the average time is recorded as the travel
time.Minimum number of test runs
§ N = [(ta x s )/ d]2
averaGe speed
meThod
In this method the driver is instructed to travel at a speed that is judge to the
representative of the speed of all traffic at the time. Involves driving the test
car along a length of the test section at a speed that, in the opinion of the
driver, is the average speed of the traffic stream.

• The time required to traverse the test section is noted. Test is repeated for
min. number of times, and the average time is recorded at the travel time.
• In both floating-car and average-speed methods the travel time is usually
obtained by observer who starts a stop watch at the beginning point and
stops it at the end of the section.Another stop watch may be used to
measure stops times which are summed to find the stopped-time delay.
• Alternatively, this can be done using a laptop with internal clock and
distance function.
• The data are recorded automatically and the cause of delay are then
recorded by the driver on a tape recorder.
 movInG vehICle
meThod

In this method, the observer moves in the traffic stream and makes a round
trip on a test section.

The observer starts at section, drives the car in a particular direction say
eastward to another section, turns the vehicle around drives in the opposite
direction say westward toward the previous section again.

Let, the time in minutes it takes to travel east (from X-X to Y-Y) is ta, the time
in minutes it takes to travel west (from Y-Y to X-X) is tw, the number of
vehicles traveling east in the opposite lane while the test car is traveling west
be ma, the number of vehicles that overtake the test car while it is traveling
west be mo, and the number of vehicles that the test car passes while it is
traveling west from be mp.

The volume (qw) in the westbound direction can then be obtained from the
expression

and the average travel time in the westbound direction is obtained from
 liCense plaTe
meThod
When the amount of turning off and on the route is not great and only over all speed
value are to be secured, the license-plate method of speed study may be satisfactorily
employed.

Investigator stationed at control point along the route enters, on a time control basis,
the license-plate numbers of passing vehicles. These are compared from point to
point along the route, and the difference in time values, through use of synchronized
watches, is computed. This method requires careful and time-consuming office work
and does not show locations, causes, frequency, or duration of delay.

• Requires that the observers be positioned at the beginning and end of the test
section.
Four basic methods of collecting and processing license plates normally considered are:
• Each observer records :The last three or four digits of the license plate of each car
that passes. • Manual: collecting license plates via pen and paper or audio tape recorders and manually
entering license plates and arrival times into a computer.
• Time at which the car passes.Matching of times of arrival at the beginning and
• Portable Computer: collecting license plates in the field using portable computers that
end of the test section for each license plate is made in the office. automatically provide an arrival time stamp.
• The difference between these times is the traveling time of each vehicle. • Video with Manual Transcription: collecting license plates in the field using video cameras
• The average of these times is the average traveling time on the section.Sample or camcorders and manually transcribing license plates using human observers.
• Video with Character Recognition: collecting license plates in the field using video, and
size of 50 matched license plate will give reasonably accurate results. then automatically transcribing license plates and arrival times into a computer using
computerized license plate character recognition.
 maximum-Car meThod:
In this procedure, the driver is asked to drive as
fast as is safely practical in the traffic stream
without ever exceeding the design speed of the
hiGhway CapaCiTy meThod facility.

This method is applicable to all under saturated signalized intersections. For over-
saturated conditions, queue buildup normally makes the method impractical. The elevaTed observer
method described here is applicable to situations in which the average maximum meThod:
queue per cycle is no more than about 20 to 25 veh/ln. In urban areas, it is sometime possible to
station observers in high buildings or other
When queues are long or the demand to capacity ratio is near 1.0, care must be taken elevated points from which a considerable
to continue the vehicle-in-queue count past the end of the arrival count period, length of route may be observed. These
vehicles that arrived during the survey period until all of them have exited the investigator select vehicle at random and
intersection.as detailed below. record; time, location and causes-of-delay. The
drawback is that it is sometime difficult to
secure suitable points for observation
throughout the length of the route to be
studied.

InTerview meThod:
In this method selected individuals are
interviewed for their travel time and delays
experienced on the trips. Sometimes they are
asked in advance to record their experience.
With good cooperation the results may be
satisfactory and requires minimum time.But
this type of survey is a bit volatile in nature
with less accuracy.
 Example of Delay Analysis

RTE
Location:
Operation: Multilane Closure

Percent Truck: 0.0% Cost per Truck: $24/Veh-Hr

Percent Passenger Cars: 100.0% Cost per Passenger Car: $9/Veh-Hr
Number of Lanes Existing: 4 Lanes Cost for Mixed Flow Traffic: $9/Veh-Hr
Number of Lanes Open: 2 Lanes Single-Lane Capacity: 1500 Veh/Hr
Open-Lane Capacity: 3000 Veh/Hr

Count Date: 5-3-2001

Cumulative Cumulative Queue Individual
Demand Difference Area
Time Demand Capacity Length Delay
(Veh) (Veh) (Veh-Hr)
(Veh) (Veh) (mile) (minutes)

6 AM 0 0 0 0 0 0.0
7 AM 5309 5309 3000 2309 1154.5 2.7 46
8 AM 6945 12254 6000 6254 4281.5 7.4 125

Max. Individual Delay: 125 minutes

Vehicle Delay Hours:
Total Cost of Delay: $48,924
Delay Cost/10min: $4,077
In this study, there are two locations which are studied under Route basic information ·
different methods of study. Here, in this below case they Type of pavement surface:
calculated by test car method and other details related to Bituminous and R.C.C ·

FLOATING CAR METHOD

TEST VEHICLE METHOD AND
CASESTUDIES THAT FOLLOWED
study are mentioned below Number of lanes: 8(including BRTS lanes) ·
Peak traffic: 8:00PM-11:00PM ·
Details about Location Number of speed breakers: 4 ·
Majuragate to Athwagate · Number of intersections: 5 ·
Distance: 1.031 Km Street Lighting: Yes ·
Single direction turn Rotary Intersection: Yes ·
Athwagate: 18m carriage way · Distance:2700m
Majuragate: 45m carriage way
Calculations
Details of Survey Calculation of the data collected during observation is done by below equations: ·
Test Car method utilized · Journey Speed(km/hr.) =Distance(m)/Total Time including delay(sec)*3.6 ·
Ideal speed considered: 40 Km/hr. · Running Speed(km/hr.) =Distance(m)/Total Time excluding delay(sec)*3.6
Mode considered: 2W- Two-wheeler 4W-Four-wheeler ·
Stopwatch: Android Smartphone ·
Vehicles used: · GJ 05 LD 8892 · GJ 05 JP 2870 · GJ 05
NB 5312

Inferences:
The cost of journey depends upon the speed at which it is made. In all highway economic studies,
travel time and delays are highly important.
Delay studies help in trip assignment. ·
It helps in identifying the effectiveness of intersections. ·
It helps in evaluating the causes of congestion, level of service, scope of improvements and helps in
implying them. ·
Floating car method and Test vehicle methods are quicker, less cumbersome and less time-
consuming compare to License plate method
references

Ø Highway capacity manual, 2000. chapter-16.

Ø Manual on uniform traffic studies, 2000. Topic No. 750-020-007 Travel Time and Delay Study.
Ø Travel Time Data Collection Handbook. 2019.
Ø https://slideplayer.com/slide/16033274/
Ø https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/courses/105101008/downloads/cete_07.pdf
concLusIons

Ø Spot speed studies are conducted to estimate the distribution of speeds of vehicle in the traffic stream at a particular position on
highway.

Ø This is done by recording the speeds of vehicle at the specified location. These data are used to obtain speed characteristics such as
mean speed, modal speed, pace, standard deviation and different percentile of speeds.

Ø The important factors which should consider during plan of studies is the location of study, time and duration of study.

Ø The data sample collected should contain samples size. These gives precision and accuracy of result.

Ø While collecting the spot speed data a number of safety applications are to be considered and they are as mentioned under,
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