Any traffic analysis and subsequent design has to be based on sound data. Any work based on inaccurate or unreliable traffic data is open to question at a later stage. Correcting such uncertainty can lead to delays and significant extra cost. It is important to be sure that traffic data are appropriate, and collected in a controlled and auditable manner to avoid such issues. However, often budgets for data collection are limited, and it is important to understand the risks run by constraining budgets. There is always a tension in deciding how much to spend in order to reduce risk. This course is designed to explore these issues and give delegates a sound understanding of the data collection process.
Aims & Objectives:
The course aims to provide delegates with:
- guidance on choosing the appropriate type of traffic survey in different circumstances
- an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of traffic survey, including safety issues
- an introduction to preparing a survey brief
- the basic information needed to understand and review survey outputs
- practical experience of a number of tasks in the survey process
On completion of this course, delegates will be able to:
- Describe a variety of methods for common forms of traffic data collection
- Determine how to select the best form of traffic survey to provide appropriate data
- Examine the cost vs accuracy trade-off in planning data collection
- List the considerations necessary when planning traffic surveys
- Understand the advantages and disadvantages of carrying out surveys in-house against commissioning sub-contractors
- Understand how to search for common inconsistencies and errors in survey results
Course Outline:
- Introductions and rapport building
- Overview of course
- Presentation: "Why do we collect traffic data?"
- Background/history
- Basic principles
- Advantages and disadvantages of collection methods
- Presentation: "Types of survey"
- Human observation
- Video recording
- Sensor output recording
- Questionnaire surveys
- Practical: in pairs, discuss and select best way to survey in a number of scenarios; full group discuss of solutions
- Presentation: Planning surveys
- Defining what is needed
- Balancing data accuracy and scope against value-for-money
- Preparing a brief
- Do-it-yourself or commission subcontractors?
- Pre-survey preparation
- Practical: small groups - prepare a survey brief; full group discussion of briefs
- Presentation: Carrying out surveys
- Practical: individual - analysing movements from video; full group - comparing results
- Presentation: Checking and validating survey output
- Practical: individual - reviewing example survey results for inconsistencies and errors; full group - discussion of results
- Workshop - open discussion with tutors responding to delegate questions
The course uses a combination of:
- presentations
- discussion sessions
- individual, small group and full group practical activities
- an open workshop session to respond to delegates' problems
- comprehensive briefing in issues relating to understanding the importance of data collection
- understanding of the types of survey available, and which type to use
- knowing how to plan cost-effective data collection
- knowing how to review survey results to identify short-comings and common faults
Intended For:
- New graduates/technicians with little or no practical transport planning or traffic engineering experience
- More experienced staff taking up new responsibilities in transport planning or traffic engineering, and looking for a briefing on this topic
Course does not require any prior knowledge.
Delegates are required to bring a calculator to the course.
