Examples

1. Fundamentals of traffic Flow

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1. The figure shown below that the vehicles traveling at constant speed
on two lane highway between section X and Y with their positions and
speeds obtained at an instant of time by photogrammetry. An observer
located at point X observes four the vehicles passing point X during the
period of 2minutes. The velocities of the vehicles measured as 45, 45, 40
and 30 km/hr respectively. Therefore, calculate the flow, density, space
mean speed and time mean speed.

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Given data
 Required
 number of vehicles n = 4
calculate:
The velocities of the vehicles a) flow,
vehicle A = 45 km/hr
b) density,
vehicle B = 45 km/hr
vehicle C = 40 km/hr c) time mean speed and
vehicle D = 30 km/hr d) space mean speed
The time period T = 2minutes

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• Solution •c)  time mean speed

a) Flow It can be found by the equations:
The flow can be expressed by the = 40 km/hr
formula: d) space mean speed
It can be also found by:
= 120 veh/hr
b) Density L is the distance between X and Y.
It can be given by the formula: Now, the time ti takes the ith vehicle
= 13.3 veh/km to travel from X toY at speed ui can
be found by:

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•  = 24 sec • Therefore, the space mean speed becomes:

 = 24 sec
 = 27 sec = 10.81 m/sec
 = 36 sec = 38.92km/hr
Note:
the time mean speed is always higher than
the space mean speed.

i.e 40 km/hr ……ok!!!

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2. Two set of vehicles are timed over a kilometer, and the flows are also recorded.
In the first sets, four vehicles are take 52,56,63 and 69 seconds when the flow is
1500 veh/hr. In the second set, four vehicles are take 70,77,74 and 79 seconds when
the flow is 1920 veh/hr. These vehicles have been timed over space, then calculate
the density, space mean speed, free flow speed, jam density and capacity for the
given two sets of vehicles?

Given:
Data for the first set of vehicles: Data for the 2nd set of vehicles:
Number of vehicles, n = 4 Number of vehicles, n = 4
Timed over a kilometer, ti Timed over a kilometer, ti
52,56,63 and 69 seconds 70,77,74 and 79 seconds
The03/31/2021
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Required:
1. the density, • Solution:
2. space mean speed, 1. the density,
3. free flow speed, It can be found by:
4. jam density and  = 60 sec. for the 1st set of vehicles
5. capacity  = = 75 sec. for 2nd set of vehicles
Now, the density for both sets of vehicles can be:
= 25 veh/km for 1st set of vehicles
= 40 veh/km for 2nd set of vehicles

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Now, substituting the values of
•2.  space mean speed
speed and density into the equation
It can be given by the relations: and get the required values.
60Kj = Uf*Kj- 25Uf……..1
= = 60 km/hr 1st set 48Kj = Uf*Kj- 40Uf……..2
= = 48 km/hr 2nd set of vehicle Multiplying equation 1 by 8 and
equation 2 by -5 and we get:
3. free flow speed
480Kj = 8UfKj – 200Uf….1
In order to determine the free flow speed we
-240Kj = -5UfKj + 200Uf….2
Need to develop the equation using Green 
Add the two equations and we get:
shield model:  k  240Kj = 3UfKj

u  u f 1 
 kj 
   Uf = 80 km/hr.
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4. jam density • 
To determine jam density substitute qcap = 2000 veh/hr.
the value of free flow speed into
equation 1 and we get:
60Kj = UfKj- 25Uf…1
Kj = 100 veh/km
5. Capacity
It can be calculated by:
k ju f
qcap  kcapucap 
4
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3. The speeds of five vehicles were measured (with radar) at the
midpoint of a 0.5-mile section of roadway. The speeds for vehicles 1,
2, 3, 4, and 5 were 44, 42, 51, 49, and 46 mi/h, respectively.
Assuming all vehicles were traveling at constant speed over this
roadway section, calculate the time-mean and space-mean speeds.
Given data
Vehicles Speeds (mi/hr)
1 44
2 42
3 51
4 49
5 46
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• Required:
a) Time mean speed
b) Space mean speed
Solution:
The time mean speed is given by:

= 46.4 mi/hr
 the space mean speed is given by:
vt  vs ok!!!
= 46.17 mi/hr

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4. Vehicle time headways and spacing were measured at a point along a
highway, from a single lane, over the course of an hour. The average values
were calculated as 2.5 s/veh for headway and 200 ft/veh (61 m/veh) for
spacing. Calculate the, flow, density and speed of the traffic.
Given Data:
Average headway = 2.5 sec/veh
Average spacing = 200 ft/veh or 61m/veh
Required:
I. Flow
II. Density and
III. speed
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• Solution: •  applying this spacing over the
I. Flow course of one kilometer:
It can be found by the relation:
1 = 0.4 veh/sec K = 16.4 veh/km
q
h data were collected for an
because the III. Speed
hour: sec/h = 1440veh/h It is given by the formula:
II. Density = 87.8 km/h
It also calculated by using the formula: It can be also computed by:
= 0.0164 veh/m = 24.4 m/s
1
k u = 24.4 m/s*3.6 = 87.8km/h
d

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5. A section of highway is known to have a free-flow speed of 55 mi/h and a
capacity of 3300 veh/h. In a given hour, 2100 vehicles were counted at a
specified point along this highway section. If the linear speed-density
relationship applies, what would you estimate the space-mean speed of these
2100 vehicles to be?
Given data:
Uf = 55 mi/hr
qcap = 3300 veh/h
q = 2100 veh in a given hour

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Required: Substitute the values of the given data in
to the equation and we get:
the space-mean speed
Solution:
By applying quadratic equation we get
linear speed-density relationship the required space mean speed as:
is given by:
u = 44.08 mi/h or 10.92 mi/h
From the results both of these speeds
Rearranging the above equation are feasible.
to solve for u,
Now, determine the jam density
using:

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6. Consider Greenshield’s linear speed-density model U= 55 – 0.45K , then drive
flow-density relationships, and calculate Free flow speed, Jam density and
Capacity.(where speed is in mi/hr, density veh/mi and flow veh/hr).
Given data
Linear speed- density model, U = 55 – 0.45K
Required
Drive flow- density relationships
Free flow speed
Jam density
capacity

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Solution • Jam density
Derivation of flow- density relationships Jam density occurs when speed is
zero.
U= 55 – 0.45K but q = u*k, u = q/k substitute
U= 55 – 0.45K, u = 0
(q/k) = 55 – 0.45K finally we get,
0 = 55 – 0.45*Kj
q = 55k – 0.45k^2 it is parabolic relationship
Kj = 55/0.45 = 122.22 veh/mi
Free flow speed
capacity
Free flow speed occurs when the density is zero.
It is computed by: k ju f
U= 55 – 0.45K, k=0 qcap  k capucap 
4
Uf = 55 – 0.45 *0
Uf = 55 mi/hr
=1680.53 veh/hr/ln
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8.A section of highway has the following speed-flow relationship:
q+100u = 300u -4u^2, then calculate the following:
a) free flow speed
b) density at capacity
c) capacity
d) the flow rate corresponding to a density of 80vpm.

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9. The data shown below were obtained on a highway. Use regression analysis to
develop Greenshields model/equation based on the given data shown below in
the table.

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Solution:
Based on Greenshield model there is a linear relation ship between traffic stream
parameters. Therefore, in order to determine the equation we use linear regression
with the general form shown below.
Where, a and b are regression constant which is given by the formula:

The computation is shown below in the table

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 we see that the speed in the Greenshields expression is represented by y in the
estimated regression function, the mean free speed uf is represented by a, and
the value of the mean free speed uf divided by the jam density kj is represented
by -b. We therefore obtain:

Finally the required regression equation becomes: y = 62.68 – 0.53x

Where, y represents space mean speed and x represents density and we get

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10. Redo example 9 using Greenberg model.
Solution:
Based on Greenberg there is logarithmic relationship between traffic stream
parameters which can be given by the expression
e see that in the Greenberg expression is represented by y in the estimated
regression function, c ln kj is represented by a, c is represented by -b, and ln k is
represented by x. We therefore obtain

The computation is shown below in the table

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 Since a =145.06 and b = -28.68, the speed for maximum flow is c = 28.68 mi/h. Finally,

Then we get the equation

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11. A driver takes 3.5 s to react a complex situation while traveling at a speed of
60 km/hr. how far does the vehicle travel before the driver initiates a physical
response to the situation?
Solution:
The vehicle will travel : dr = 0.278vt, where
v = 60km/h
t = 3.5s
Therefore, the distance traveled by the vehicle cab be:
dr = 0.278*60*3.5
= 58.4 m

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 Thank you

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