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ROAD TRAFFI C S Y S TE M AND S AFE TY S TRATE GI E S
Traffic Engineering 101: Scope of Traffic Engineering Studies Michael Armit
Traffic engineering studies concentrate on finding the most optimal way of controlling the movement of traffic and people. The role of a traffic engineer is to identify the impact that upcoming projects can have on the way traffic moves in and around the development site. Fundamentals of traffic engineering also aim at forecasting the need for traffic signals, future traffic and include provisions to route traffic to and from the development site. To achieve these objectives, a traffic engineering study
focuses on conducting the following
different researches. 1. Traffic Impact Studies Most regulating bodies require developers to conduct traffic impact studies/traffic impact analysis; especially if the proposed development is expected to generate significant traffic inflows or has the potential to change the existing traffic patterns.Traffic impact studies aim to study the impact that the proposed development would have on the traffic in and around the site and find the most optimal method to transport men and material. Most studies are conducted on three different levels according to the size of the project. Level 1 - small commercial developments Level 2 - moderately sized developments Level 3 - very large commercial developments 2. Corridor and Feasibility Studies Corridor and feasibility studies aim to develop solutions to transport improvement needs. These studies analyze various factors such as traffic volumes, parking demands, parallel routes, and median spacing and also find out how these different elements will interact to arrive at ideal corridor (the space within which traffic moves) solutions. Feasibility studies aim at determining the project costs and the benefits of taking the actions proposed by corridor studies. 3. Access Management Due to the heavy inflow of traffic in and around the development, site corridors may become congested. It is, therefore, imperative for traffic engineers to ensure access, design, and spacing of the site without compromising on safety and convenience. Access management is a set of techniques that planners use to control access to roadways. Traffic engineers take various steps to ensure proper access management such as allowing more distance between traffic lights, planning roundabouts, and two-way left turn lanes. These measures can result in lesser crashes, and reduced vehicle conflicts, and are some of the most effective traffic management
tools.
Conclusion An ideal traffic engineering study stresses at accounting for all the above aspects to optimize traffic movement patterns. Apart from conducting the above studies, transport engineers also conduct volume studies, spot speed studies, delay studies, and parking studies to solve traffic congestion and related issues. Only an expert understands these concepts in their entirety. It is, therefore, advisable that you proceed after finalizing a professional.You can use location specific keywords to refine your search results. For example, if you have a project in Sydney an apt search term is ‘transport engineers in Sydney’. 716 views · Posted Jul 30 2016