Traffic Volume Study on Road Connecting Maddilapalem to Pedawaltair

Traffic Volume Study on Road Connecting Maddilapalem to Pedawaltair

Dr. G. Sireesha

Associate Professsor, Department of Civil Engineering, Visakhapatnam, India

E. Durga Nandhini

B.Tech Student, Department of Civil Engineering,

Visakhapatnam, India

Abstract The main objective of Transportation engineering involves safe movement of people and goods on roadways in short time. A number of factors influence the movement of people and goods. The volume, speed and density affect the traffic flow. Traffic volume studies are required as they help in planning, traffic management and predict if any future widening of roads is required.

The current work studies traffic characteristics in the city of Visakhapatnam at Andhra University College of Engineering Road connecting Maddilapalem road to Waltair road.. Traffic flow data was collected by manual methods. The traffic patterns during different time periods were analyzed from the data obtained. Hence the results from the present study are helpful in predicting the peak hour traffic, vehicle composition and estimate average daily traffic.

KeywordsVolume, average daily traffic, peak hour traffic.

1. INTRODUCTION

   The term traffic volume study can be termed as traffic flow survey to determine the traffic flow rate. Traffic survey helps in planning and designing pavements. It is defined as the procedure to determine mainly traffic volume of vehicles moving on the roads at a particular section during a particular time. Traffic volume studies are conducted to determine the number, movements and classifications of roadway vehicles at a given location. These data help to identify critical flow time periods, determining the influence of large vehicles or pedestrians on vehicular traffic flow.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

Chandra et. al(1995) studied the capacity of urban roads. Data collected at Delhi was used to study dynamic nature of passenger car unit for a vehicle type. The mixed traffic flow transformed to equivalent flow in passenger car units (PCU) is given by Ashish and Chandra (2013). These PCU values are utilized to convert highly dynamic traffic volume to homogeneous volume in PCU per hour. New concept of stream equivalency factor is developed and denoted by K. Relation between traffic volume and geometric cross section of road which helps in studying variation in capacity with respect to various widths of road elements is given by Pothula Sanyasi Naidu et.al (2015). The traffic volume and level of service in Punjab University Campus, Chandigarh was studied by Bhavneet Singh and Tripta Goyal (2015). The traffic characteristics in the campus were analyzed and level of service was observed to be of C level.

OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC VOLUME STUDIES

The objectives of carrying out traffic volume study are:

• Determination of vehicle composition in traffic stream

• To determine the flow rate in PCU/PCE unit

• To determine the peak flow rate and minimum flow characteristics.

• To determine directional distribution.

1. STUDY LOCATION

   1. Traffic study done at AUCE road

      Date : 15/03/2021 to 17/03/2021

      • Counting Period : 9 hrs

      • Weather Condition: Day 1 was sunny while Day 2 and 3 were partially sunny.

      • Survey Location: AUCE road connecting Maddilapalem and Waltair main road.

      • Method : Manual Method

      • Duration : 9 hrs

      • Equipments: Data Sheet, Camera (to take photos of vehicles), watch.

2. SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY AREA

   Maddilapalem junction is one among the busy transport hubs in Visakhapatnam. AUCE road which has a connection with this junction serves various purposes.

   One of its main purpose is, not only it serves as a main road connecting the departments, the college, hostels but also connects to the waltair main road. This allows passengers to utilize the road more often for the educational and commercial purposes.

   Traffic volume studies were carried out for three days on the AndhraUniversity college of Engineering road. The Gate 1 connects Maddilapalem Junction and hence the vehicles coming in and going out at this junction were counted. Similarly at Gate 2, vehicles entering this road and leaving were also counted for 3 consecutive days for a period of 9 hours. The traffic volume studies on 15/3/2021at Gate 1 for incoming and outgoing vehicles are given in Table I and II. At Gate 2, the incoming and outgoing vehicles count is given in Table III and IV.

   The traffic volume studies on 16 /3/2021at Gate 1 for incoming and outgoing vehicles are given in Table V and VI. At Gate 2, the incoming and outgoing vehicles count is given in Table VII and VIII.

   Similarly, traffic volume count conducted on 17/3/2021 at Gate 1 and Gate 2 are represented in Table IX to Table XII . PCU factors of 0.75, 2, 1 and 2.2 for 2 wheeler, 3 wheeler, 4 wheeler and 6wheeler are used to calculate the total vehicles in PCU and flow rate is calculated.

3. DATA INTERPRETATION Date: 15-03-2021

Time: 08:30 AM – 05:30 PM

Location: AUCE Road Gate 1

The road selected for study is free from traffic signals. The study is conducted on working days,from Monday to Wednesday. The volume count at both gates is carried out using manual method and also using video camera or photographic method.

TABLE I. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 NORTH TO SOUTH (IN)

Avg. PCU/hr: 956.17 PCU/hr

TABLE II. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 SOUTH TO NORTH (OUT)

TABLE III. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 SOUTH TO NORTH (IN)

Avg. PCU/hr : 779.35 PCU/hr.

TABLE IV. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 NORTH TO SOUTH (OUT)

The maximum number of vehicles entering at Gate 1are 1482 on Monday during 8.30 AM to 9.30 AM ,from Table I. The maximum numbers of vehicles leaving are 1100 between

9.30 AM to 10.30 AM from Table II.

Date: 16-03-2021

Time: 08:30 AM -05:30 PM

Location: AUCE Road Gate 1

TABLE V. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 NORTH TO SOUTH (IN)

TABLE VI. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 SOUTH TO NORTH (OUT)

Avg. PCU/hr: 727.15 PCU/hr.

TABLE VII. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 SOUTH TO NORTH (IN)

Avg. PCU/hr: 708.6PCU/hr

TABLE VIII. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 SOUTH TO NORTH (OUT)

Avg. PCU/hr: 783.32PCU/hr

Date: 17-03-2021

Time: 08:30 AM -05:30 PM

Location: AUCE Road Gate 1.

TABLE IX. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 NORTH TO SOUTH (IN)

Avg. PCU/hr: 864.15 PCU/hr

TABLE X. AUCE ROAD GATE 1 SOUTH TO NORTH (OUT)

Avg. PCU/hr: 712.14 PCU/hr.

Date: 17-03-2021

Time : 08:30AM-05:30 PM

Location: AUCE Road Gate 2

TABLE XI. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 SOUTH TO NORTH (IN)

Avg.PCU/hr :718.89 PCU/hr

The hourly variation for three days for Gate 2 is given in Table III, VII and XI. The maximum numbers of vehicles entering at Gate2 are 1124 on Monday during 8.30 AM to

9.30 AM. From Table IV, VIII and XII, the maximum number of vehicles leaving Gate 2 for three days are 1243on Wednesday during 8.30 AM to 9.30 AM.

TABLE XII. AUCE ROAD GATE 2 NORTH TO SOUTH (OUT)

• The vehicle composition at Gate 1 on Monday was 66.77% two wheelers, 14.31% three wheelers, 18.77% four wheelers and 0.15% six wheelers while at Gate 2, the composition of vehicles was 71%, 12%, 17% and 0.076%.

• On Tuesday, the vehicle composition of 2,3,4 and 6 wheeler at Gate 1 was 67.74%, 15.53%,

  16.55% and 0.15% and at Gate 2, the vehicle

  composition was 71. 67 %, 12.48%, 15.56% and0.0891% .

• On Wednesday, the vehicle composition of 2,3,4 and 6 wheeler at Gate 1 was 68.39%, 14.22%, 17.15% and 0.19% and at Gate 2, the

vehicle composition was 70%, 14%, 16% and

0.0% .

Avg.PCU/hr :804.62 PCU/hr

CONCLUSIONS

REFERENCE

1. Chandra S., Kumar V. and Sikdar P.K., 1995, Dynamic PCU and Estimation of Capacity of Urban Roads, IRC, Vol.23, No.4,pp. 17-28.

2. AshishDhamaniya and S. Chandra, 2013, Concept of Stream Equivalency Factor for Heterogeneous Traffic on Urban Arterial Roads, Journal of Transportation Engineering, Vol. 139, Issue 11, 1117-1123.

3. PothulaSanyasi Naidu, GunduNavya, Chukka Deepika , Mahesh Yamala, 2015, Capacity of Road with vehicle Characteristics and Road Geometrics Interface Modelling, SSRG International Journal of Civil Engineering (SSRG-IJCE), Vol. 2, Issue 10.

4. Bhaavneet Singh and Dr. Tripta Goyal, 2015, Study of traffic volume and level of service of Punjab University, Chandigarh, ijera, vol 5., issue 7, pp.9-14.

   • The number of passengers using 2- wheeler is

     more when compared to the passengers using 3- wheeler, 4- wheeler and 6- wheeler.

   • There is no RTC bus route in this road and there is hardly any bus transportation in this road.

   • The peak hour traffic is between 8.30 – 9.30 AM on Monday 1482 vehicles at Gate 1 and 1124 vehicles from Gate 2 entering the road.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The acknowledgments are due to C.Chandrika, G.Kusumanjali, G. Lakshmi Sai, P.Divya Kumari and D. Nandini.