1. Lec 8, Ch4, pp.99-115:Volume Studies Know the definitions of typical volume study terms Know typical volume count methods (through reading) Be able to state the purpose and methods of typical volume counts Know how to present volume count data (through reading) Know how to determine the number of count stations Know how to adjust periodic counts

2. What we cover in class today… Terminology Types of volume counts Determination of number of count stations Adjustment of period counts

3. Terminology  Traffic volume studies are conducted to collect data on the number of vehicles and/or pedestrians that pass a point on a highway facility during a specified time period.  Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT): the average of 24- hour counts collected every day in the year.  Average Daily Traffic (ADT): the average of 24-hour counts collected over a number of days greater than 1 but less than a year.  Peak Hour Volume (PHV): the maximum number of vehicles that pass a point on a highway during a period of 60 consecutive minutes.

4. Terminology (cont)  Vehicle Classification (VC): Records volume with respect to the types of vehicles.  Vehicle Miles (Kilometers) of Travel (VMT, VKT): A measure of travel along a section of road. A product of roadway in miles to which the volume is applicable.  Hourly Flow Rate: An hourly volume expanded from a counter taken in a period shorter than 60 minutes. The typical one is Peak hourly flow rate which is 4 times the peak 15- minute count. V peak = 4*V peak 15-min

5. Volume count by microwave sensors RTMS Box Multiple-lane sensing by one microwave sensor Firing example

6. Types of volume counts Cordon countsWhen vehicle accumulation pattern within an area is needed Screen line counts When changes in traffic flow from one area to another need to be evaluated Intersection counts When turning movements are needed Pedestrian volume counts When pedestrian demand needs to be evaluated Periodic volume counts When traffic volume characteristics are needed: Continuous, control, and coverage counts

7. Determination of number of count stations Common precision level for volume counts: 95-5, which means 95% confidence level and the precision level (tolerance) expressed as 5% of the estimated mean volume. Where, n = minimum number of count locations required t = value of the student’s t distribution with (1 -  /2) confidence level (N – 1) degree of freedom (Review Example 4.4)

8. Adjustment of periodic counts Hourly expansion factors (HEFs) Daily expansion factors (DEFs) Monthly expansion factors (MEFs) HEF = (total volume for 24-hr period)/(volume for particular hour) DEF = (average total volume for week)/(avg. volume for particular day) MEF = AADT/(ADT for particular month) (Review Example 4-5)

9. Finding truck adjustment factors This adjustment is needed when we make volume counts by checking the number of axles TypeNo. of AxlesNo. of vehicles No. of axles Passenger cars Trucks 2 3 4 3850 4110 7700 1370 2080 520 Total 574013890 Truck adjustment factor = 13890/5740 =2.42 axles/vehicle Manual count result (for obtaining the truck factor value for the site under study)