TRAFFIC ENGINEERING STUDIES

VELASCO, COLEENE
ZULUETA, KYLE CEDRICK
“Understanding Traffic Flow and
RODAS, JOHN KENNETH
PAL, SAMEER
Safety.”
BANIQUED, KYLE ALESSANDRA
BARRNACHEA, TRISTAN FAITH
BUCCAT, PRESCILLA
INTRODUCTION
Traffic engineering is a subdiscipline of civil engineering that focuses on
the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on roadways. It
involves planning, designing, and operating streets and highways using
engineering techniques.

This branch of engineering deals with the geometric design and traffic
operations of roads to optimize transportation systems. Essentially,
traffic engineering is a phase of transportation engineering that aims to
improve traffic flow and safety on roads.
G O A L S / O B J E C T I V E S
v id e d fo r th e p u b li c th ro u g h
safety - can be pro e , k n o w le d g e , a n d
positive programs, go o d p ra c ti c
proper procedure.
tr a n s p o rt a ti o n te c h n o lo g y ,
speed - it is limited by n e e d to p ro v id e
human characteris ti c s , a n d th e
e a n s s h o rt e r tr a v e l ti m e .
safety. (Higher speed m lo n g d is ta n c e tr ip s .)
Interstate highways encou ra g e
GOA L S / O B J E C T I V E S
th e p h y s ic a l c h a ra c te ri s ti c s o f
comfort - Involves in fl u e n c e d b y o u r
vehicles and roadwa y s a n d th e ir
perception of safety
f m a k in g tr ip s a n d th e a b il it y
convenience - The ease o o d a te a ll tr a v e l n e e d s
of transport systems to acco m m
GOA L S / O B J E C T I V E S
e b e s t p o s s ib le s y s te m s
economy - Try to provide th
for the money.
ti b il it y - P ro v id e s u s ta in a b le
environmental compa
transport systems.
TRAFFIC FLOW THEORY Traffic flow theory: models and hypotheses for
explaining traffic flow, for example. What would
happen to traffic streams if they were to flow on
AND TRAFFIC FLOW roads under different conditions, potentially not
yet observed

Traffic flow: study of the movement of

individual drivers and vehicles between two
points and the interactions they make with one
another.
 ROAD USER CHARACTERISTICS
It is important to study the characteristics and limitations of road users because the physical,
mental, and emotional characteristics of human beings affect their ability significantly.
Several factors influence road user characteristics:

1. Physical factors: Vision, hearing, strength, and general reactions to traffic situations
2. Mental factors: Knowledge, skill, intelligence, experience, and literacy
3. Psychological factors: Fear, anger, superstition, impatience, and general attitude towards
traffic laws and regulations.
4. Environmental factors: Facilities to the traffic, atmospheric condition, and locality.
 VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS

Vehicle characteristics in traffic engineering affect the design as well as the performance
of traffic. This includes the following parameters:

1.Vehicle Dimension: Vehicle dimensions mainly considered are the overall width, height,
and length of the largest vehicles on the roads. The width of the vehicle affects the
overall width of the carriageway, traffic lanes, shoulders, and parking facilities. The
height of the vehicle affects the clearance to be provided under structures like over
bridges, underpasses, and electric and other service lines. The length of the vehicle is an
important factor in the design of horizontal alignment, like in the calculation of turning
radius, extra widening, etc.

2. Weight of loaded vehicle: The maximum weight of the loaded vehicle affects the design
of pavement thickness and gradients.
 VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS

3. Power of vehicle: The power of heavy vehicles and their loaded weights decide
the permissible and limiting values of gradients on roads. The total resistance to
traction consists of inertia, rolling, air, and grade resistance.
4. Speed of vehicle: The speed of the vehicle in traffic affects various parameters in
the geometric design of highways like sight distances, superelevation, length of
transition curve, gradients, and width of pavements, especially in horizontal and
vertical curves.

+ BRAKING
Deceleration and braking characteristics of vehicles depend on the design and types of
the braking system and its efficiency. The safety of vehicle operation, stopping
distance, and space headway between two consecutive vehicles are affected by
braking characteristics of traffic engineering.
 STUDIES AND ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC
ENGINEERING
Traffic analysis is important to have a proper traffic survey for efficient
traffic flow. The traffic surveys for collecting traffic data are called traffic
censuses. These studies not only help in deciding the geometric design
features but also help in the development of safe traffic control. The
different types of traffic studies to be carried out are as follows:

1. Traffic volume study

2. Speed study
3. Origin and Destination Study
4. Traffic capacity study
5. Parking study
6. Accident study
 TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDY
The number of vehicles crossing a section of road per unit of time is called traffic volume. It
measures the quantity of traffic flow (vehicles/hour or vehicles/day).
Mathematically,
Traffic volume, q=(n x 3600)/T
Where,
n = number of vehicles passing through a point in the road in T seconds
q = the equivalent hourly flow.
The process of conducting a traffic volume study can be done by toll plaza ticketing, registration
offices, statistical approach, interviews, check posts, and by using modern technology like GPS.

USES AND OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDIES

1. It provides a true measure of the relative importance of roads and decides the priority of improvement and
expansions.
2. It is used in planning traffic operations, controlling existing facilities, and designing new facilities.
3. It helps in the analysis of traffic patterns and trends.
4. It is used in planning one-way streets and other regulatory measures.
5. Pedestrian traffic volume study is used for planning sidewalks, crosswalks, subways, and pedestrian signals.
 SPEED STUDY
The speed of different vehicles varies with respect to time and space. To represent these variations,
two main types of speed are defined: Spot speed and Average speed.
Spot speed is the instantaneous speed of a vehicle at a specified location. It is needed to design
horizontal and vertical curves, location and size of signs, design of signals, and accident analysis.
Spot speed is measured using endoscopy, pressure contact tubes, and doppler radar.
Average speed is the average spot speed of all vehicles passing a given point. There are two types of
average or mean speed.

Time mean speed: It is the arithmetic mean of the speed of all vehicles passing during a time
interval.
Space mean speed: It is the average speed of vehicles over a certain road length at any time. It is
actually represented as the harmonic mean of the speed of vehicles.
 ORIGIN AND DESTINATION STUDY

Origin and destination study of vehicles determines their

numbers, origin, and destination in the concerned zone of
study. It gives information like the actual direction of travel,
selection of routes, and length of the trip. Therefore, these
studies are very helpful in planning new highways and
improving existing services. O&D study is also helpful in
planning mass rapid transit systems.
 TRAFFIC CAPACITY STUDIES
Traffic Volume
It is the number of vehicles that pass a given point during a specified time. It is
usually expressed as vehicles/hour or vehicles/day.
Traffic Capacity
It is the number of vehicles occupying a unit length of the lane of the roadway at an
instant in time. It is usually expressed as vehicles/km.
The relationship between traffic volume and traffic density is given by
Traffic volume = Traffic density X Traffic speed
Time Headway: It is the time interval between the passes of rear bumpers of
successive vehicles at a point.
Space Headway: It is the distance between the rear bumpers of successive vehicles.
 PARKING STUDY
There are two basic types of parking facilities:
On-street or curb parking
Off-street parking facilities.

ON-STREET OR CURB PARKING

In this type of parking, vehicles are parked on the curb designed for parking.
Angle parking or parallel parking may be allowed on the curb parking. Angles commonly
used are 30°, 60° or 90°, etc.
The maximum number of vehicles can be parked when the angle of parking is 90°.
However, 45° parking is considered to be the best of them all.
OFF-STREET PARKING
When the parking facility is provided at a separate place away from the curb, it is known as
off-street parking.
The advantage of off-street parking is that there is no undue congestion or delay in traffic
movement.
 ACCIDENT STUDY
Accidental study is done to determine the location and cause of
accidents and take preventive measures in design control. The various
records that are maintained in accident studies are :

1. Location files: It is useful in the identification of points of serious

accidents
2. Spot maps: These maps show accidents by spots, pins, symbols, etc.
3. Condition diagram: Important physical conditions of accidents are
studied using condition diagrams.
4. Collision diagram: Collision diagrams show the approximate path of
vehicles and pedestrians involved in accidents.
TRAFFIC ENGINEERING

CONTROL AND
REGULATIONS
Traffic control devices are employed to regulate traffic. They
include all the traffic signals, signs, pavement markings, etc.

Traffic function devices are classified based on function as

follows:
Regulatory devices
Warning devices
Guiding devices
 TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES
REGULATORY DEVICES
These give the road user notice of traffic laws or regulations at a given place or on the roadway.
Disregarding such devices is punishable as an infraction, violation, or misdemeanor, for e.g. Stop, no
turning, do not enter, no parking, one-way street, etc.

WARNING DEVICES
These call the attention of the road user to conditions, on or adjacent to the roadway, that are
potentially hazardous to traffic operations, for e.g. road narrows, divided highway ends, railroad
crossings, etc.

GUIDING DEVICES
These provide directions and information to the road user regarding route designations, distances,
destinations, points of interest, and other geographical and cultural information, for e.g. Airport 20
km, Train Station 25 km
 INTERSECTIONS AND INTERCHANGES
INTERSECTION

•It is the area where two or more roads join or cross.

•It is where the changes in the direction of moving traffic occur.
•Due to the movement of traffic at intersections, various types of conflicts may
occur, for example: merging conflict, diverging conflict, and crossing conflict.
 INTERSECTIONS AND INTERCHANGES
INTERSECTION CONTROLS
• Active control measures involve real-time intervention to manage traffic flow and
reduce conflicts.
• Passive control measures involve designing the intersection geometry and layout
to reduce conflicts.
• Semi-control measures involve a combination of active and passive control
strategies.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL
MEDIAN STRIP PEDESTRIAN-ACTIVATED SIGNALS
 INTERCHANGE

An interchange is a grade-separated intersection with connecting roadways for

turning traffic between highway approaches.

TYPES OF INTERCHANGE
 TRAFFIC ROTARIES
A traffic rotary is a specialized form of at-grade intersection where vehicles from the
converging arms are forced to move around an island in one direction in an orderly
manner and weave out of rotary movement into their desired direction. It reduces the
complexity of crossing traffic by forcing them into weaving operations.
The shape and size of the rotary are determined by the traffic volume and share of
turning movements. Capacity assessment of a rotary is determined by analyzing the
section having the greatest proportion of weaving traffic.
 IMPORTANT TERMS IN ROTARY

At-grade intersection: An Diverging: The diving of a single Intersection angle: The angle
intersection where all stream of traffic into separate between two intersection legs.
roadways join or cross at the streams.
same level.
Rotary intersection: A load junction laid out Rotary island: A traffic island located in the
for the movement of traffic in one direction center of an intersection to compel
movement in a clockwise direction and thus
around a central island. substitute weaving of traffic around the
island instead of direct crossing or vehicle
pathways.

Weaving: The combined movement of

merging and diverging traffic streams moving Weaving length of roadway: The length of a
in the same direction. section of a rotary in which weaving occurs.
 CONCLUSION
Traffic engineering focuses on optimizing the movement
of people and goods while prioritizing safety and
efficiency on roadways. It utilizes data-driven decisions,
technological advancements, and multimodal
considerations to enhance urban mobility and reduce
environmental impact. Continuous evaluation, community
engagement, and adaptability are essential for addressing
the dynamic challenges in transportation systems.
THANK YOU