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What is Traffic What is Level of
TRAFFIC FLOW Service (LOS)
TRAFFIC FLOW
FUNDAMENTALS
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Traffic is considered very difficult due to
several factors that cause its irregularities
or unpredictability. These factors could be
attributed to several events which could
happen on the road:
• Accidents
• Stalled Vehicles
• Parking Maneuvers
• Lane Changing or Swerving
• Etc.
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
UNINTERRUPTED FLOW INTERRUPTED FLOW
Flow occurs at long sections of road where Flow occurs at intersections or driveways
vehicles are not required to stop by any where vehicles are required to stop by any
cause external to the traffic stream. cause outside the traffic stream, such as
traffic signs, traffic lights, etc.
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Uninterrupted Flow can be described using any of the
following variables:
1. Flow rate or Volume
2. Speed
3. Density
Flow rate is defined as the number of vehicles passing a
point during a specified period of time. It is often
referred to as volume when measured over an hour.
If N vehicles passed at a given point in time T, flow rate
q may be expressed as:
q = N/T
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Speed is defined as the rate of motion in distance per unit of time. When
describing traffic stream, two types are used:
TIME MEAN SPEED SPACE MEAN SPEED
ui = speed of vehicle i, kph
uT = time mean speed of vehicles, kph
us = space mean speed of vehicles, kph
ti = time it takes for vehicle i to traverse the trap length, seconds
∆x = trap length, meters
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
1. Time mean speed – also called spot speed, simply the arithmetic mean
of the speeds of vehicles passing a point within a given interval of time.
Distance or length of road must be known in order to measure speed.
This distance is normally called trap length in spot speed studies.
uT = ∑ui/n ui = ∆x /ti x 3.6
ui = speed of vehicle i, kph
uT = time mean speed of vehicles, kph
us = space mean speed of vehicles, kph
ti = time it takes for vehicle i to traverse the trap length, seconds
∆x = trap length, meters
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
2. Space mean speed – is used to describe the rate of movement of a
traffic stream within a given section of road. It is the speed based on the
average travel time of vehicles in the stream within the section. It is also
called the harmonic speed.
n
us = 1
∑u
i
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Density is defined as the number of vehicles in a given length of road at an
instant point in time.
If N vehicles counted at time t divided by the length of the section L gives a
measure of density k:
k = N/L
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
EXAMPLE 1: SOLUTION:
A 15-minute count of vehicles bound for The total number of vehicles counted in 15
Manila was conducted at a particular location minutes is 420+300+16+28 = 764. This is
on Quezon Ave. A summary is shown below: expanded to one hour by multiplying by 4.
Therefore, the flow rate is:
TYPE 15-MINUTE COUNT
Car/Van 420
Jeepney 300 q = 764 x 4 = 3,056 vehicles per hour
Bus 16
Truck 28
Estimate the flow rate in vehicle per hour.
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
EXAMPLE 2: EXAMPLE 3:
The speeds of 25 cars were observed. Using example 2, determine the space mean
10 cars were noted to travel at speed.
35kph, 8 cars at 40kph, 2 cars at SOLUTION:
50kph, and 5 cars at 45kph. Assuming
that each car was traveling at a
constant speed, determine the time
mean speed. uT = 25
SOLUTION: 10 + 8 + 2 + 5
35 40 50 45
uT = (10x35)+(8x40)+(2x50)+(5x45) uS = 39.26 kph
25
uT = 39.8 kph
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
EXAMPLE 4:
Two sets of students are collecting traffic data in two sections A and B of a highway 200m
apart. Observation shows that four vehicles pass that section at intervals of 8.18 sec., 9.09
sec., 10.23 sec., and 11.68 sec.
a. Determine the time mean speed in kph
b. Compute the space mean speed in kph ANSWER FOR B:
SOLUTION A: Velocity = distance/time uT = 4
SOLUTION B: 1/24.45 + 1/22 + 1/19.55 +
t1 = 18.8 sec. d = 200 m, therefore; 1/17.12
t2 = 9.09 sec. V1 = 24.45 m/s
V1 = 24.45 m/s
t3 = 10.23 sec. V2 = 22 m/s uS = 20.42 m/s or 73.50 k/h
V2 = 22 m/s
t4 = 11.68 sec. V3 = 19.55 m/s
V3 = 19.55 m/s
ANSWER FOR A: V4 = 17.12 m/s
V4 = 17.12 m/s
uT = 24.45+22+19.55+17.12
4
uT = 20.78 m/s or 74.81 k/h
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
LEVEL OF SERVICE
Level of Service (LOS) represents a qualitative ranking of the traffic
operational conditions experienced by the users of the facility under
specified roadway, traffic, and traffic control conditions.
Current practice designates six levels of service ranging from A to F, with
level of service A representing the best operating conditions and level of
service F the worst.
To apply the level of service concept to the traffic analysis, it is necessary to
select a performance measure that is representative of how motorists
perceive the quality of service that are receiving in a facility.
Motorists tend to evaluate their received quality of service in terms of factors
such as speed and travel time, freedom to maneuver, traffic interruptions,
and comfort and convenience.
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
CAPACITY AND LEVEL OF SERVICE
Level of Volume/Capacity
Description
Service Ratio
A Less than 0.20 Free flow traffic
B 0.21-0.50 Reasonable freedom to select speed.
C 0.51-0.70 Restricted in selecting speed.
D 0.71-0.85 Moderate/Unstable flow
E 0.86-1.00 Heavy Traffic
F >1 Forced flow, stop and go
Reference: Department of Public Works and Highways, Highway Planning Manual, 1982
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Capacity is defined as the maximum hourly rate at which persons or vehicles can
reasonably be expected to traverse a point or uniform section of a lane or roadway during
a given period under prevailing roadway, traffic, and control conditions.
• The table shows the BHCC (basic hourly capacity in passenger car units)
• The capacity is normally expressed in passenger car unit per hour (pcu/hr) and would
depend on the so-called passenger car equivalent factors (PCEF) of the different
vehicle classes that compose the traffic.
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
Passenger Car Equivalent Factors (PCEF):
Reference: Department of Public Works and Highways, Highway Planning Manual, 1982
TRAFFIC FLOW FUNDAMENTALS
EXAMPLE: SOLUTION:
LOS = V/C
Capacity = 600 x 90% = 540
V1 = 100 (2.5) = 250
V2 = 70 (1.0) = 70
6.8 m
V3 = 10 (1.5) = 15
0.75 m 0.75 m VT = 250+70+150 = 335
Therefore: LOS = V/C = 335/540 = 0.62 = LOS C
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MODULE 3: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT