Traffic Studies: Volume Count

What is traffic volume study? Why is it important?

Traffic volume is the most basic data needed for any traffic study. Volume studies are conducted to obtain factual information on the number of vehicles and/or persons that pass at a specified point on the highway system. The resulting volume data are expressed in relation to time. (Sigua, 2008)

So, that's the brief what and why of traffic volume count! There are a lot more about the types of volume, types of data collected, time of study, etc that you might need to know. However, it would be best to refer to Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering (Sigua, 2008) textbook.

Engineer-einjel is actually excited to share her experiences with volume studies. She had her first hand experience of conducting volume count study during a required activity for one MS course. She together with her group mates were assigned at Magsaysay Street corner Ylanan Street inside the UP Diliman Campus to do AM peak hour volume count. A survey form was prepared before the day of study. During the survey, Engineer-einjel and her companions had to tally the vehicles according to vehicle classes. The survey generally went well since a) there were four of us doing it; each assigned to every leg of the intersection, b) the streets have 2 lanes only for both directions, c) the weather was fine. A 2-hr count was bearable.

Last week however, Engineer-einjel crazily did an off peak (1pm-2pm, consider the HEAT!) volume study in Quezon Ave. and Commonwealth Ave! She counted a total of 2000+ and 3800+ for the main thoroughfares respectively. Crazy indeed because she covered for two directions:  right turn from minor road and through traffic of the major road. Ooh lala.. Hahaha! There came a point when she almost surrendered in counting and closed her eyes just for about five seconds - ah, never mind those vehicles! Geez, surely this could be a huge source of error!

This week, Engineer-einjel did a volume count in Mindanao Avenue which is a lot easier than last week's. Despite the HOT sunny day, she pulled it through. But if in the future that she will have a study similar to this, she decided to hire someone else to do the volume count instead of doing it herself. Hahaha. Those four counts are enough to tell what an experience that is!