Traffic Engineering Lab Report

This lab report discusses the use of the license plate matching technique to determine the speed of cars in traffic engineering. It includes objectives, introduction, theory, apparatus, methodology, data and calculations, results and graphs, discussion, conclusions, and references.

Assessment Tool
School/Department Name School of Engineering – Department of Civil Engineering
Program Code and Title: BECS16 – Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil)
Course Code and Title: 16SCVE420 – Traffic Engineering
Assessment Number and Title: Lab Report x – name of lab report
Assessment Type: Laboratory Technical Report
Assessment Location: ACK – Building 4 – T28
Assessment Date: Insert date of submission here
Assessment Time/Duration: Two (2) hours
Student Name:
Student ID:
Section (s): G4C1 / G4C2
Assessment General
Instructions:
 Write a satisfactory laboratory technical report that discusses the
experiment you performed.
 Your work must be original. Copying from other students, the
internet, or from yourself from a previous semester is considered
plagiarism and you will receive a grade of zero.
 Please submit this report electronically using the designated Turnitin
submission box on myLMS.
DO NOT WRITE IN THE AREA BELOW
Question Number Maximum Marks Student Marks
1 100
Total Mark 100
Assessor Feedback:
Assessor Name: Abdulrahman Al Aqqad Date:
Assessor Signature: Abdulrahman Al Aqqad
Student Name: Date:
Student Signature:

School of Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering
16SCVE420
Traffic Engineering
Experiment No.
<Insert experiment name>
<Insert student name>
<Insert student ID>
G4C1 / G4C2
<Insert date of experiment>
<Insert date of submission>
Eng. Abdulrahman Al Aqqad

16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
Contents
I. OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................................6
II. INTRODUCTION AND THEORY................................................................................7
III. APPARATUS.................................................................................................................8
IV. METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE.......................................................................9
V. DATA AND CALCULATIONS..................................................................................10
VI. RESULTS AND GRAPHS...........................................................................................11
VII. SAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS.................................................................................12
VIII. DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................13
IX. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................14
X. REFERENCES..............................................................................................................15
XI. DATA APPENDIX/ DATA WORKSHEET................................................................16
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
List of Figures and Tables
Table 1- Group 8 Data............................................................................................................................9
Table 2- Group 7 Data..........................................................................................................................10
Table 3 -Speeds of Matched License Plates.........................................................................................12
Figure 1 paper and pen..........................................................................................................................7
Figure 2 stopwatch................................................................................................................................7
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
I. OBJECTIVES
 To use the license plate matching technique to determine the speed of each car
 To determine the cars average speed
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
II. INTRODUCTION AND THEORY
This experiment demonstrates how the license plate matching technique can be used by
observers to determine the speed of cars. This is significant as it facilitates the design of a
reliable and safe road by the highway traffic performance (Abrishamkar, 2012).
Basically there are two ways of measuring speed: space mean speed and time mean speed. To
understand these methods is to know the basics of traffic flow (Elefteriadou, 2013). Space
mean speed is arrived at by dividing the travel time average by the distance while time mean
speed is arrived at by considering the speed of each car as it passes a specific point in a given
time span.
These can be further expressed as: (M, 2009)
Time mean speed =mean speed= Σv
n
Space mean speed= distance covered
meantravel time = d
Σt
n
Where,
v = vehicle speed (km/h)
d = covered distance or road length (km)
t = time used by vehicle in travel (h)
n = number of observations recorded
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
III. APPARATUS
Items used:
1. Paper and pen for recording the data
2. Stopwatch
3. Means of gauging the distance
Figure 1 paper and pen (Shorts, 2015)
Figure 2 A Stopwatch (Robic Timers , 2018)
Measured variables/ used parameters:
1. Distance (m)
2. Time (Hrs., Min., s)
3. Speed ( Km/h)
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
IV. METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURE
1. Identify a main road that is straight.
2. The same road should be used by the two groups, one on the start side of the road while the
other group to move on to the finishing end of the road. Observers should beware of the
moving vehicles and stand at a safe distance (Garber & Hoel, 2014).
3. The distance between the two groups should be measured.
4. For the next half hour, record the time of entry and license plate for each vehicle as they
pass.
5. Upon collection of the data, the groups should gather inside and compare the timing
collected for every license plate and determine the speed of every vehicle.
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
V. DATA AND CALCULATIONS
Measured distance of 0.45 km between group 7 and group 8
Start time 12:53
Stop time 1:17
From the beginning end of the road (start time)
Table 1- Group 8 Data
License
Plate Time
License
Plate Time
License
Plate Time
License
Plate Time
5066822 12:53:09 40479 12:57 81083 13:03:27 221257 13:09
69855 12:53:24 2964 12:57:49 3071393 13:03:29 1420 13:09:46
47766 12:35:31 630097 12:58 836483 13:03:57 23779 13:09:49
827943 12:53:36 30688 12:58:00 1041619 13:04 69333 13:09:51
61370 12:35:39 3958 12:58:01 4052708 13:04:07 2041843 13:10
29690 12:35:42 2091201 12:58:06 3879 13:04:10 88316 13:10:04
4019960 12:53:48 3666277 12:58:09 408446 13:04:14 3041526 13:10:08
24572 12:53:54 83100 12:58 3023583 13:04:17 57314 13:10:19
8919 12:53 3016972 12:58:14 11851 13:04:22 16226 13:10
34790 12:54:05 308072 12:58:17 47121 13:04:24 22839 13:10:25
209316 12:54:10 3025162 12:58:24 3080682 13:04:31 5454 13:11:04
4088732 12:54:10 43167 12:58:26 44615 13:04:40 47918 13:11:52
59867 12:54:14 36214 12:58:33 91506 13:04:41 3043604 13:15:00
301979 12:54 16160 12:58:39 27476 13:04:55 3082634 13:15:05
20360659 12:54:31 11394 12:58:51 31976 13:04:58 4076377 13:15:14
98643 12:54:37 1029019 12:58:55 3042305 13:05:00 304385 13:15:17
47699 12:54 2006 13:01 134413 13:05:04 1050849 13:15:18
11278 12:54:52 4065328 13:01 50367 13:05:08 1157 13:15:21
1929172 12:54:58 62305 13:01:23 7549 13:05:09 42652 13:15:27
30897 12:55:07 88120 13:01:27 59683 13:05:12 1016581 13:15:30
1098658 12:55:21 2098133 13:01:30 57055 13:05:21 3076289 13:15:35
1080815 12:55:22 1017717 13:01:37 1046650 13:05:24 3393 13:15:46
2040778 12:55 5042614 13:01:39 58029 13:05:26 1051811 13:16:05
78066 12:55:31 2010474 13:01:47 3077935 13:05:27 7783 13:16:15
5320 12:55:36 5041864 13:01:50 24354 13:05:30 52625 13:16:31
34233 12:55:38 2054669 13:01:53 401894 13:05:54 56360 13:16:42
952533 12:55:45 23356 13:02:06 39371 13:06:00 23702 13:16:43
33770 12:55:52 99310 13:02 30897 13:06:05 45713 13:16:54
62859 12:56:09 3050410 13:02:12 5057943 13:06:08 3085770 13:17:00
89524 12:56:13 67544 13:02:16 21381 13:06:15 46132 13:17:03
336140 12:56:14 4030764 13:02:18 25094 13:06:31 15306 13:18
31311 12:56:18 73937 13:02:19 67330 13:06:32 63757 13:18:16
3756 12:56:20 8063 13:02:28 9669 13:06:46 19319 13:18:22
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
190787 12:56:24 2192 13:02:32 294943 13:06:49 52533 13:18:25
29152 12:56:26 3070376 13:02:39 32009 13:06:52 4085137 13:18:26
4097613 12:56:29 2015867 13:02:44 4149 13:08:40 98233 13:18:28
3535 12:56:44 3079262 13:02:45 27190 13:08:43 2089644 13:18:29
14693 12:56:49 5029630 13:02:53 2076005 13:08:54 92557 13:18:31
5246 12:57:03 2044051 13:02:56 30282 13:08:58 1022097 13:18:44
909926 12:57:06 5432 13:02:59 1029867 13:09:05 36589 13:18:48
2226 12:57:09 5692 13:03:03 7574 13:09:05 5014871 13:19:03
47165 12:57:11 5027706 13:03:05 5668 13:09:08 3014000 13:19:07
99444 12:57:28 3019277 13:03:12 78079 13:09:08 2092104 13:19:22
34862 12:57:31 2086646 13:03:19 64004 13:09:19 92339 13:19:31
1059145 12:57 15375 13:03:22 48493 13:09:23 35743 13:19:31
32820 12:57 204319 13:03:27 109189 13:09:35 71326 13:19:37
At the finish end of the road (stop time)
Table 2- Group 7 Data
License
Plate Time License Plate Time License Plate Time
64350 12:53:15 25398 1:02:39
PM 5668 1:08:59 PM
43254 12:53:23 99625 1:02:50
PM 7574 1:09:07 PM
76508 12:54:28 98545 1:03:03
PM 78079 1:09:36 PM
61370 12:54:42 5432 1:03:06
PM 20928 1:09:37 PM
7222 12:54:51 41915 1:03:19
PM 34004 1:09:39 PM
19797 12:55:03 83100 1:03:24
PM 88293 1:09:47 PM
3969 12:55:14 20960 1:03:27
PM 1420 1:09:52 PM
11278 12:55:36 47699 1:03:38
PM 71128 1:09:55 PM
78066 12:56:14 81066 1:03:44
PM 88316 1:10:11 PM
34233 12:56:47 92494 1:04:02
PM 22839 1:10:15 PM
82835 12:57:02 29494 1:04:09
PM 93510 1:10:29 PM
3570 12:57:11 26067 1:04:14
PM 93198 1:10:36 PM
88996 12:57:17 38179 1:04:23
PM 5454 1:10:54 PM
28560 12:57:22 11851 1:04:33
PM 49272 1:10:59 PM
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
99444 12:57:42 3892 1:04:42
PM 98285 1:11:17 PM
34862 12:57:56 16803 1:04:47
PM 47918 1:11:37 PM
40479 12:58:01 9457 1:04:53
PM 43232 1:11:50 PM
8072 12:58:13 88427 1:05:29
PM 1049 1:12:30 PM
43167 12:58:26 PM 71316 1:05:42
PM 22875 1:12:55 PM
3644 12:58:56 1037 1:05:49
PM 53845 1:13:20 PM
8744 12:58:58 PM 21381 1:06:02
PM 66321 1:13:30 PM
11394 12:59:00 PM 67330 1:06:17
PM 1729 1:13:33 PM
83881 12:59:13 PM 25094 1:06:22
PM 19428 1:13:42 PM
96983 12:59:31 PM 39371 1:06:25
PM 66517 1:13:48 PM
22292 12:59:49 PM 9669 1:06:36
PM 56598 1:14:10 PM
35847 12:59:59 PM 32009 1:06:55
PM 99516 1:15:39 PM
39316 1:00:25 PM 98448 1:07:06
PM 50849 1:15:53 PM
6930 1:00:42 PM 10523 1:07:13
PM 1-157 1:16:08 PM
5246 1:00:47 PM 65662 1:07:25
PM 57314 1:17:21 PM
89524 1:00:59 PM 7005 1:07:40
PM 8063 1:17:58 PM
2006 1:01:05 PM 66004 1:07:58
PM 23702 1:17:14 PM
9416 1:01:26 PM 15438 1:08:03
PM 56265 1:17:20 PM
62305 1:01:32 PM 68585 1:08:09
PM 91631 1:17:35 PM
87665 1:01:49 PM 1506 1:08:30
PM 27344 1:17:47 PM
88120 1:01:52 PM 50278 1:08:35
PM 10040 1:17:59 PM
99310 1:01:56 PM 27190 1:08:40
PM
46555 1:02:37 PM 76005 1:08:46
PM
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Traffic Engineering
VI. RESULTS AND GRAPHS
The speed of each vehicle can be determined after comparing all plates recorded by both
groups.
Table 3 -Speeds of Matched License Plates
No. of
Vehicle
Matched
License Plate
Time In
(hh:mm:ss)
Time Out
(hh:mm:ss)
Time Taken
(secs.)
Distance
(m)
Speed
(km/h)
1 61370 12:35:39 PM 12:54:42 PM 1143 450 1.4
2 11278 12:54:41 PM 12:55:36 PM 55 450 29.5
3 78066 12:54:52 PM 12:56:14 PM 82 450 19.8
4 34233 12:55:07 PM 12:56:47 PM 100 450 16.2
5 99444 12:55:31 PM 12:57:42 PM 131 450 12.4
6 34862 12:55:38 PM 12:57:56 PM 138 450 11.7
7 40479 12:56:13 PM 12:58:01 PM 108 450 15.0
8 43167 12:57:03 PM 12:58:26 PM 83 450 19.5
9 11394 12:57:28 PM 12:59:00 PM 92 450 17.6
10 5246 12:57:31 PM 1:00:47 PM 196 450 8.3
11 89524 12:57:49 PM 1:00:59 PM 190 450 8.5
12 2006 12:58:12 PM 1:01:05 PM 173 450 9.4
13 62305 12:58:26 PM 1:01:32 PM 186 450 8.7
14 88120 12:58:51 PM 1:01:52 PM 181 450 9.0
15 99310 1:01:04 PM 1:01:56 PM 52 450 31.2
16 5432 1:01:23 PM 1:03:06 PM 103 450 15.7
17 83100 1:01:27 PM 1:03:24 PM 117 450 13.8
18 47699 1:02:08 PM 1:03:38 PM 90 450 18.0
19 11851 1:02:28 PM 1:04:33 PM 125 450 13.0
20 21381 1:02:59 PM 1:06:02 PM 183 450 8.9
21 67330 1:04:22 PM 1:06:17 PM 115 450 14.1
22 25094 1:06:00 PM 1:06:22 PM 22 450 73.6
23 39371 1:06:05 PM 1:06:25 PM 20 450 81.0
24 9669 1:06:15 PM 1:06:36 PM 21 450 77.1
25 32009 1:06:31 PM 1:06:55 PM 24 450 67.5
26 27190 1:06:32 PM 1:08:40 PM 128 450 12.7
27 5668 1:06:46 PM 1:08:59 PM 133 450 12.2
28 7574 1:06:52 PM 1:09:07 PM 135 450 12.0
29 78079 1:08:43 PM 1:09:36 PM 53 450 30.6
30 1420 1:09:05 PM 1:09:52 PM 47 450 34.5
31 88316 1:09:08 PM 1:10:11 PM 63 450 25.7
32 22839 1:09:08 PM 1:10:15 PM 67 450 24.2
33 5454 1:09:46 PM 1:10:54 PM 68 450 23.8
34 47918 1:10:04 PM 1:11:37 PM 93 450 17.4
35 57314 1:10:19 PM 1:17:21 PM 422 450 3.8
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Traffic Engineering
36 8063 1:10:25 PM 1:17:58 PM 453 450 3.6
37 23702 1:16:43 PM 1:17:14 PM 31 450 52.3
Total 853.5
Mean = 23.0666 km/h
Mode = no speed reoccurs
Median = 15.7 km/h
Range = 79.6km/h
RMS Deviation = 20.4981519 km/h
Calculations
Distance = 0.45 km
∑v = 853.5 km/h
∑t = (12:53 – 1:17 pm) = 4
10 hour
n = 37
Using the equations indicated for speed in the introduction section, we calculate for time
mean speed and space mean speed (Knoop, et al., 2009)
Time mean speed = Σv
n = 853.3
37 = 23.06 km/h
Space mean speed =
d
Σt
n
=
0.45
0.4
37
= 41.63 km/h
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
VII. SAMPLE OF CALCULATIONS
For vehicle 1
Speed =
0.45
( 1143
3600 )
=1.4 km/h
For all vehicles
Average speed (∑v) = 853.3 km/h
Total distance (d) = 450 m = 0.45 km
Average time (∑t) = 0.4 hours
Number of observations (n) = 37
Time mean speed (TMS) = 853.3
37 = 23.06 km/h; also considered as the mean
Space mean speed (SMS) =
0.45
0.4
37
= 41.63 km/h
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16SCVE420 <INSERT EXPERIMENT NAME>
Traffic Engineering
VIII. DISCUSSION
From analysis of the recorded data and calculations done, it can be seen that speed difference
exists with all the cars because some move faster than others. The figures obtained for speed
were expected since the road has a speed limit of 45km/h which forced the drivers to use an
average speed of 23km/h, which is within the provided limit and also considered safe
(Tiwaari & Mohan, 2018). Another factor that influenced the speed of the road users were the
two exits and entry points within the distance being used for this experiment hence road users
had to slow down appropriately to allow for passage of other vehicles.
The objectives of this experiment were met since we were able to determine each car speed
and the mean speed on the road. However, some errors might have occurred which could
have been caused by use of different stopwatches by either groups that were not updated to
real time. Also the people recording data might have a problem to view some of the license
plates because of them being faded (Baxter, et al., 2011).
The values obtained from the experiment are logical since each car was driven within the
given speed limit. Difference in speed is also logical since the cars and drivers are different
and hence each one will operate how they see fit (Sala, et al., 2017).
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Traffic Engineering
IX. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The experiment was successful since we met all our objectives. Meaning that this specific
method can be employed in local roads and highways to assess and determine the speed of
cars (Schaeffer, 2010). The first objective which was to use the license plate matching
technique to determine the speed of each vehicle recorded in table 3 and the mean speed
of vehicles which was determined as 23 km/h.
However, I can make some recommendations in order to make this experiment more
effective. One would be to conduct the exercise during the day so that both observers can
be able to see the license plates as they come. Another would be to divide the work
amongst group members, for instance, two would check the license plates while the other
two would record the speed to increase accuracy in measurement (The University ofNorth
Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2011).
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Traffic Engineering
X. REFERENCES
Abrishamkar, A., 2012. License Plate Survey for Traffic Analysis. ScholarSpace , p. 43.
Baxter, L. K., Wright, R. & Paciorek, C., 2011. Effects of Exposure Measurement Error in the Analysis
of Health Effects from Traffic-Related Air Pollution. National Center for Biotechnology Informatio,
Volume 20, p. 486.
Elefteriadou, L., 2013. Fundamental Relations of Traffic Flow. In: An Introduction to Traffic Flow
Theory. Berlin : Springer Science & Business Media.
Garber , N. & Hoel, L. A., 2014. Traffic and Highway Engineering. 5th ed. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Knoop, V., Hoogendoorn, S. & Zuylen , H., 2009. Empirical Differences Between Time Mean Speed
and Space Mean Speed. Traffic and Granular FLow 2007, pp. 351-356.
M, L. G., 2009. Handbook of Road Technology, Fourth Edition. 4th ed. Florida: CRC Press.
Robic Timers , 2018. SC-539 Event & Split Timer-Black. [Online]
Available at: http://www.robictimers.com/robic-handheld-stopwatches/sc-539-event-split-timer-
black/
[Accessed 9 February 2019].
Sala, M., Martinez, I., Soriguera, F. & Menendez, M., 2017. Effects of low speed limits on freeway
traffic flow. Science Direct, Volume 77, pp. 257-274.
Schaeffer, M., 2010. License Plate Matching: Practical issues and Statistical Considerations. Institute
of Transport Engineers, pp. 37-42.
Shorts, S., 2015. Pen and Paper Notepad Write Writing Notebook. [Online]
Available at: https://pixabay.com/en/pen-and-paper-notepad-write-969298/
[Accessed 9 February 2019].
The University ofNorth Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2011. Measurements and Error Analysis. [Online]
Available at: https://www.webassign.net/question_assets/unccolphysmechl1/measurements/
manual.html
[Accessed 9 February 2019].
Tiwaari, G. & Mohan, D., 2018. Transport Planning and Traffic Safety: Making Cities, Roads, and
Vehicles Safer. Boston : CRC Press.
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Traffic Engineering
XI. DATA APPENDIX/ DATA WORKSHEET
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