Comparison of Dynamic Passenger Car Values Estimated at Signalised Intersections Under Heterogeneous Traffic Conditions

Abstract

AbstractPassenger car units (PCU) play a pivotal role in the measurement of level of service (LOS) and capacity analysis of signalised intersections in developing countries where heterogeneous traffic conditions are prevalent. Literatures are available with different methods for estimating dynamic PCU values, but less of researches are done on their evaluation based on field measurements. This paper brings out a comparative analysis of estimated dynamic PCU values for signalised intersections having heterogeneous traffic conditions focusing on two methods—(1) dynamic PCU estimation using time headway ratio method and (2) dynamic PCU estimation using clearance time and projected area of vehicles. These two methods are compared with respect to the saturation flow at three signalised intersections to establish the suitability of these methods for dynamic PCU estimation for signalised intersections with heterogeneous traffic conditions. Results show that dynamic PCU estimation based on time headway ratio method and simulation model involving traffic volume and composition analysis goes in better conformity with the Indo-HCM method of saturation flow assessment for signalised intersections with heterogeneous traffic conditions. KeywordsDynamic PCUHeterogeneous trafficSaturation flowSignalised intersections