Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts
Abstract The main intent of this study is to investigate the accuracy of short-duration traffic counts conducted during winter months. The investigation is based on 11-year sample data collected using permanent traffic counters at various locations in Alberta, Canada. Four types of road sites: commu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Modern Transportation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40534-017-0133-y |
| _version_ | 1818662892930596864 |
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| author | Solomon Yadessa Kenno Prasanta K. Sahu Babak Mehran Satish Sharma |
| author_facet | Solomon Yadessa Kenno Prasanta K. Sahu Babak Mehran Satish Sharma |
| author_sort | Solomon Yadessa Kenno |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The main intent of this study is to investigate the accuracy of short-duration traffic counts conducted during winter months. The investigation is based on 11-year sample data collected using permanent traffic counters at various locations in Alberta, Canada. Four types of road sites: commuter, regional commuter, rural long-distance, and recreational sites are studied. The sample data constitute six different durations of counts (12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-h, and 1 week) taken during summer and winter months. The coefficient of variation (CV) is used as the relative measure of deviation for counts of different durations to measure the accuracy of short-period traffic counts. The study results indicate that 48-h count seems to be the most cost-effective counting interval during both summer and winter months. It is also found that the lowest values of CV result for counts taken at commuter sites, and the highest values are observed for recreational sites. Frequent changes in temperature and other weather events cause significant variation in traffic volume, which results in an increase in CV values for counts taken during winter months. The application of an adjustment factor to remove the effect of cold and snow from short-period counts is also included in this study. Introduced adjustment factors can reduce the values of CV for all counts taken during winter months. The findings of this study can lead highway agencies to improve the cost-effectiveness of their short-period traffic counting programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:08:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afaec1c286b3427fb1eb6fe2dbe8ba55 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2095-087X 2196-0577 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:08:11Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Modern Transportation |
| spelling | doaj.art-afaec1c286b3427fb1eb6fe2dbe8ba552022-12-21T22:02:20ZengSpringerOpenJournal of Modern Transportation2095-087X2196-05772017-06-0125315016210.1007/s40534-017-0133-yInvestigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic countsSolomon Yadessa Kenno0Prasanta K. Sahu1Babak Mehran2Satish Sharma3Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and InfrastructureDepartment of Civil Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani (BITS Pilani)Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of ReginaFaculty of Engineering and Applied Science, University of ReginaAbstract The main intent of this study is to investigate the accuracy of short-duration traffic counts conducted during winter months. The investigation is based on 11-year sample data collected using permanent traffic counters at various locations in Alberta, Canada. Four types of road sites: commuter, regional commuter, rural long-distance, and recreational sites are studied. The sample data constitute six different durations of counts (12-, 24-, 48-, 72-, 96-h, and 1 week) taken during summer and winter months. The coefficient of variation (CV) is used as the relative measure of deviation for counts of different durations to measure the accuracy of short-period traffic counts. The study results indicate that 48-h count seems to be the most cost-effective counting interval during both summer and winter months. It is also found that the lowest values of CV result for counts taken at commuter sites, and the highest values are observed for recreational sites. Frequent changes in temperature and other weather events cause significant variation in traffic volume, which results in an increase in CV values for counts taken during winter months. The application of an adjustment factor to remove the effect of cold and snow from short-period counts is also included in this study. Introduced adjustment factors can reduce the values of CV for all counts taken during winter months. The findings of this study can lead highway agencies to improve the cost-effectiveness of their short-period traffic counting programs.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40534-017-0133-yShort-period traffic countsAverage annual daily trafficDesign hourly volume |
| spellingShingle | Solomon Yadessa Kenno Prasanta K. Sahu Babak Mehran Satish Sharma Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts Journal of Modern Transportation Short-period traffic counts Average annual daily traffic Design hourly volume |
| title | Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts |
| title_full | Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts |
| title_fullStr | Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts |
| title_short | Investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short-period traffic counts |
| title_sort | investigation of the factors affecting the consistency of short period traffic counts |
| topic | Short-period traffic counts Average annual daily traffic Design hourly volume |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40534-017-0133-y |
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