Evaluation and Analysis of Traffic Flow at Signalized Intersections in Nicosia Using of SIDRA 5 Software

Shaban Ismael Albrka Ali,Hudaverdi Tozan,Rifat Reşatoğlua

doi:10.17576/jkukm-2018-30(2)-06

Abstract

Traffic congestion on road networks and signalized intersections have posed significant problems worldwide. One of the significant ways to reduce traffic congestion in cities is by improving the public transportation system. Therefore, it is essential to use advanced software tools to ensure that the current system can be controlled and evaluated. This study was aimed at assessing and analysing the performance of traffic flow at signalized intersections and roundabouts at peak hours in the city of Nicosia (northern part of the island) using the SIDRA INTERSECTION 5 software. It was also aimed at comparing the performance of traffic flow during the morning and evening peak hours at four intersections and two roundabouts. The parameters used to assess the performance of the traffic flow were the level of service, delays and delayed travel speed, performance index, operating cost, fuel consumption, and carbon dioxide emission. It was found that the SIDRA INTERSECTION software was able to give an estimate of the current situation of traffic flow in the city. The results showed that the level of service was low, resulting in low speeds and lots of delays during the evening and morning peak hours. The delay was up to 9318.9 seconds and the fuel consumption was nearly 1431.6 lit/h, while the CO2 emission was up to 3594.7 kg/h.

Highlights

Road traffic congestion comprises of several complex procedures and incorporates numerous components cooperating simultaneously
The occurrences of traffic congestion in urban areas have noticeably posed some severe problems to drivers especially during the peak hours, whereby significant effects are felt on the land use, driver’s behavior and the economy
Several solutions were applied to the congestion to combat this problem either by re-coordinating the cycle time of intersection according to the volume of traffic flow in morning and evening or increasing the capacity of the road at the areas of intersections, whereby the latter is not favorable as it is the high-cost solution

Summary

Introduction

Road traffic congestion comprises of several complex procedures and incorporates numerous components cooperating simultaneously. According to the state planning organization, statistics and research department Nicosia in 2017 the number of registered vehicles increase nearly 66% compared with 2015, including registered vehicles around 182709 and none-registered vehicle approximately 109665 (Statistics and Research Department, Nicosia 2017) With those huge numbers of vehicles on the road, the responsible authorities for the roads are required to develop tidal traffic capacity by controlling and estimating the future growth of traffic movement as well as to find out appropriate solutions to prevent the overcrowding of traffic congestion on intersections and roundabouts (Akçelik et al 1999). Its function is to compare different treatments of separate intersections as well as networks of intersections involving signalized and un-signalized intersections roundabouts

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion