Capacity Estimation for Four-Lane Inter-Urban Roads in Telangana through Speed Data Analysis
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Abstract
Urban and interstate speed restrictions are mainly enacted to improve road safety, efficiency, and the reduction of travel time and accidents. When evaluating the capacity and free-flow conditions of interurban roads, the 85th percentile of free-flow speed is a regularly used metric. With the use of volume and speed data, this study endeavours to estimate the capacity of four-lane inter-urban highways in Telangana. Moreover, it investigates, taking into account vehicle kinds and speed restrictions, the connection between density, capacity, flow, and speed. Two lengths of inter-urban highways close to Hyderabad were measured for free-flow speeds; these segments included both straight and curving parts of the route. The results show that in Hyderabad, automobiles, lorries, and buses make up the majority of traffic, with two-wheelers coming in second.
Volume and speed capacity analysis becomes essential for understanding the density and flow of different vehicles on specific stretches of the road. Estimating capacity is a fundamental aspect of designing, operating, and planning the “layout of a road network system. The estimation of road capacity, as outlined in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) of 2010, relies significantly on the free-flow speed. This speed, indicative of a situation where vehicle movement remains unaffected by the presence of other vehicles in the stretch, holds a pivotal role in capacity assessment. However, the quantification of the influence of free-flow speed on four-lane inter-urban roads is not explicitly addressed in existing methodologies. The heterogeneous nature of traffic on Indian highways, coupled with poor lane discipline, poses challenges for applying simulation techniques. On other hand, values of the Passenger car unit (PCU)” which change homogeneous traffic streams to heterogeneous traffic into a more standardized form. However, PCU values are dynamic and vary under different traffic conditions, necessitating complicated and expensive data collection procedures.
A model is suggested in this study which aims to provide a quick estimation of capacity, removing complexities associated with traditional methodologies, while ensuring accuracy is maintained. This model aims to address the challenges posed by heterogeneous traffic on Indian highways and streamline the estimation process, making it more accessible for field engineers. The model efficiently estimates the capacity of inter-urban roads in Telangana by utilizing speed data and exploring the relationships between flow, speed, density, and capacity.