This document outlines various types of transportation surveys that are important for transportation planning, including road network inventory, traffic volume counts, origin-destination surveys, household surveys, economic activity surveys, public transportation studies, safety studies, and parking surveys. The objectives, methodology, sampling approach, and expected outputs are described for each type of survey. Conducting comprehensive transportation surveys is essential for developing an effective transportation plan.

1. Dhwani Shah
Assistant Professor
Bhaikaka Centre for Human Settlements
APIED, V.V. Nagar
dhwani.shah@apied.edu.in

2.  The Process for Survey
 Traffic Analysis Zone
 Types of Surveys
1. Inventory of road network system
2. Classified traffic volume counts
3. Road Side Origin and destination surveys
4. Household Survey (Mobility survey )
5. Activity place study
6. Terminal studies
7. Public transport system study
8. Para transit study
9. Safety studies (accident studies, including collision & traffic
incidences)
10. Pedestrian Survey
11. Intersection Survey
12. Speed and delay studies
13. Parking Demand Characteristics
14. Parking Supply
Contents

3. 
The Process for Survey
1. Define the purpose
and usage
2. Define the data collection
Objectives and Constraints
3. Identify the target
population and area
4. Select Survey Mode
and Sampling
Procedure
5. Develop Survey
Questionnaire
6. Survey
Implementation
7. Post processing

4. 
The area for which you want to carry out the
study/ propose a transportation plan.
Depending on the need for the study, your
area can be-
 State
 A particular region
 City
Study Area

5. 
 Geographic areas dividing the planning region into
relatively similar areas of land use and land activity.
 Zones represent the origins and destinations of travel
activity within the region.
 Every household, place of employment, shopping
center, and other activity are first aggregated into
zones and then further simplified into a single node
called a centroid.
Traffic Analysis Zone

6. 
 TAZs serve as the primary unit of analysis in a travel
demand forecasting model. TAZs are where trips
begin and end.
 The smaller the TAZs, the more accurate the
forecasts might be. It depend on what scale you want
to analyse- at state level, city level etc.
 One should consider roadway network and physical
geography when delineating TAZ boundaries.

7. 
 Those zones outside the study area along the model
boundaries are defined as external zones. To
accurately reflect travel patterns within the study
area, the study area should be large enough so that
nearly all (over 90 percent) of the trips begin and end
within the study area.
 Intrazonal trips are those that are short enough to
begin and end within the same zone and, thus are
not assigned to the roadway network.

8.  A single movement from Origin to Destination for a
particular purpose is called a Trip.
 People travel to reach their activities at different
destinations.
Trip
Home
Work
Schools
Shops

9. Surveys

10. 
 Inventory of road network system
“Inventory” - a complete list of items
 Review of existing transport infrastructure and
facilities, including:
 Flyovers/ underpasses,
 Major intersections,
 Parking/ Pedestrian / NMV facilities,
 Level Railway Crossings
Road Inventory

11. 
 Objectives
 To appreciate the physical characteristics of the identified
road network in terms of right of‐ way, carriage way,
number of access points, surface type, etc.
 To identify physical constraints and bottleneck points along
the identified road network.
 To assess the capacity potential of the identified road
network
 To understand the existing transport situation in order to
develop a rational land use and transport plan and mobility
improvement measures.

12. 
 Survey Methods: Manual
 Sampling Size
 Two sections for a roadwith similar land uses
 Samples to be collected where ever section has
variation
 Expected Output
Physical characteristics and physical constraints of
road network and transport infrastructure

13. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

14. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

15. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

16. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

17. 
This survey is carried out to understand the variety of
vehicles that passes through a road over 24 hours a day/
to get Average Daily Traffic (ADT).
 Objectives
 To appreciate traffic characteristics in terms of size,
composition and variation – directional and temporal (wrt
time).
 To appreciate the spatial distribution of traffic
 To establish the level of service on the road network system
Classified Volume Counts (CVC)

18.  Survey Methods
 Manual Method
 Video Photography
 Using automatic devices like Sensors
Sensors
Manual Method
Video Photography

19. 
 Sampling Size
The traffic volume count surveys should be carried out
continuously for 24 hours of the day, for three to seven
days to get Average Daily Traffic (ADT)
 Expected Output
 Traffic Characteristic of the study area
 Traffic volume
 Spatial distribution of traffic
 Circulation of traffic

20. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

21. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

22.  Road Side Origin and destination surveys at
 Cordon and
 Screen lines
Road Side Origin and Destination
Surveys
An imaginary line
circumscribing the boundary
of the study area is termed as
the cordon line.
Imaginary lines along the
physical and natural barriers,
having road crossing points
within the study area, are
termed as screen lines.

23. 
Objectives
 To appreciate the traffic characteristics
 To appreciate the desired patterns of passenger
and goods traffic
 To assess the intensity of through and destined
traffic
 To use in model validation

24.  Survey Methods
 Road Side Interview Method (RSI)
 Registration Number Plate survey
RSI
Registration Number Plate survey
using surveillance camera

25. 
 Sampling Size: The survey should normally be
conducted for three consecutive days, on sample
basis, if possible during a representative week in the
year and must encompass the weekly market day
and one working day
 Expected Output
 Travel pattern
 O‐D matrix to calibrate a transport demand model

26. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

27. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

28. 
 Objectives
 To get the socio‐economic characteristics of the
household
 To get the travel characteristics of the household (total
trips, purpose of trips, mode used, trip length, trip
origin and destination etc.)
 To appreciate desired pattern of traffic
 To get an opinion (of the residents of the study area)
regarding general transport problems of the city and
the probable areas of improvement.
Household Survey
(Mobility survey)

29. 
 Survey Methods: Household interviews
 Sampling Size
Population Sampling rate
<50,000 1 in 5
50,000‐ 1,50,000 1 in 8
1,50,000 – 3,00,000 1 in 15
3,00,000‐ 5,00,000 1 in 20
>10,00,000 1 in 25

30. 
 Expected Output
Socio‐economic profile of the study area, number of
trips, purpose of trips, mode used, trip length, trip
origin and destination, vehicle ownership

31. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

32. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

33. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

34. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

35. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

36. 
 Objectives
 To appreciate the activity pattern in terms of type and
intensity
 To appreciate the employment levels by type of
activity
 To appreciate the trip and other characteristics of
employees
 To develop trip production and attraction rates by
type and intensity of activities
Activity place study/
Economic Activity Survey

37. 
 Survey Methods : Primary survey
 Sampling Size :
 100 % of land use survey and
 Sample size of trip rate to be decided based on the size
of study area.
 Expected Output : Identify trip generation rates

39. 
Terminal- facility where passengers and freight are assembled or
dispersed
 Objectives
 To appreciate physical characteristics of the terminal regarding size,
space usage etc.
 To appreciate the operational characteristics in terms of flow of
vehicles/good/people to and from the terminal
 To appreciate the user characteristics (in case of passenger terminal)
regarding their origin, destination, mode used, trip length etc.
 To appreciate the parking characteristics in the terminal
 To appreciate the problems, constraints and potentials for expansion
of the terminal activity
Terminal studies

40.  Survey Methods
 Inventory
 User surveys
 Operator Surveys
 Sampling Size : Sample size to be decided based on the
size and characteristics of study area and availability of
users
 Expected Output : Physical characteristics of the terminal,
operational characteristics in terms of flow of
vehicles/good/people, parking characteristics in the
terminal

41. 
 Objectives
 To appreciate system and operational characteristics
 To appreciate the performance and economic
characteristics
 Survey Methods
 Inventory
 User surveys
 Operator Surveys
Public transport system study

42. 
 Sampling Size: Sample size to be decided based on
the size and characteristic of study area
 Expected Output : System and operational
characteristics

43. 
 Para transit
 informal means of transit,
 share autos, share taxis, maxi cabs etc moving people
across short distances
 Objectives
 To appreciate role and function of Para transit
 To appreciate the system characteristics of Para transit
 To appreciate characteristics Para transit users
Para transit study

44. 
 Survey Methods
 Inventory
 User surveys
 Operator Surveys
 Sampling Size : Sample size to be decided based on
the size and characteristic of study area
 Expected Output: System and operational
characteristics

45. Bus Stand To Mayagara halli
Sr. No.
GPS
Point Start Time
Boarding
(No.)
Drop Off
(No.) Origin Destination Fare
1 2 3:46 12 0 Bus Stand B.G.S Rotery Hospital 5
2 3 3:48 9 3 B.G.S Rotery Hospital Gandhinagara 5
3 4 3:52 8 1 Gandhinagara S.P Office 5
4 5 3:57 8 0 S.P Office Vijay Nagar 5
5 6 4:04 7 3 Vijay Nagar Gausia Collage 5
6 7 4:11 6 1 Gausia Collage S B Doddi 5
7 8 4:21 6 1 S B Doddi Madapura 10
8 9 4:29 5 5 Madapura Mayagara halli 10
1 10 4:40 8 5 Mayagara halli Madapura 5
2 11 4:47 3 1 Madapura S B Doddi 5
3 12 4:55 3 0 S B Doddi Gausia Collage 5
4 13 5:00 4 0 Gausia Collage Vijay Nagar 5
5 14 5:09 5 0 Vijay Nagar S.P Office 5
6 15 5:13 7 0 S.P Office Gandhinagara 5
7 16 5:17 8 1 Gandhinagara B.G.S Rotery Hospital 10
8 17 5:24 7 7 B.G.S Rotery Hospital Bus Stand 10

46.  Volume Counts
 Along
 Across
 Objectives
 To appreciate pedestrian characteristics in terms of size
composition and variation – directional and temporal.
 To appreciate the spatial distribution
 Safety: Continuity of street lighting for carriageway and
pavements
 Comfort: Continuity of shade, provision of access ramps
 Convenience: Presence of pedestrian pathfinding signage,
street furniture such as garbage bins, seating, drinking
water
Pedestrian Survey

47. 
 Survey Methods
 Manual Counts
 Video
 Sampling Size: Day count will then give the Average
Daily Traffic (ADT)
 Expected Output: number of pedestrians and need for
additional pedestrian facilities

48. /Across the Road

49. 
 Intersection Survey
 Intersection Turning Movement Survey
 Queue length Survey
 Objectives
 Measures turning movements at key intersections
during the morning and evening peak hours.
 A queue length survey at major bottlenecks can show
the severity of traffic congestion quantitatively.
Intersection Survey

50. 
 Survey Methods : Manual counts
 Sampling Size
 Directional movement of traffic in the peak hour
 Counts for 2 hours each in the morning and evening
peak periods unless there exist extended peak hours.
 Expected Output : Performance characteristics of an
Intersection

53. 
 Objectives
 To get the journey and running speed along the road
network
 To identify the bottleneck point
 To quantity delays and identify factors causing delay
Speed and delay studies

54. 
 Survey Methods
 Moving Observer method
 Registration Number Method
 Sampling Size: The average of around six runs
 Expected Output: Journey and running speed, travel
time, delay causing factors

55. Source: Transportation Lab, CEPT University

56. Source: URDPFI Guidelines

57. 
 Objectives
 To appreciate the trends of accidents in the study area
 To appreciate the temporal and spatial variation of
accidents
 To identify the accident prone areas
 To identify planning and management measures for
improvement of traffic safety
Safety studies
(accident studies, including collision & traffic incidences)

58. 
 Survey Methods: Secondary data collection from police
stations
 Sampling Size: Accident record for last 2 years
 Expected Output: Identification of accident prone
areas

59. 
 Data to be collected
 Total Number of Accidents Involving
 Pedestrians
 Cyclists
 2 Wheelers
 Cars
 Buses
 Number of Injured or Dead
 Number of Dead
 Number of Injured
 Identification of hazardous locations
 Major accident causes

60.  Objectives: To assess the Parking Supply
 Survey Methods: Parking Space Inventory
 Sampling Size: Each typology to be covered /
representative sample to be collected
 Expected Output: Determine availability of existing
parking
Parking Supply

61.  Objectives
 To assess the parking characteristics in terms of
parking duration and accumulation by mode
 To assess future levels of demand
 To develop a parking policy
 Survey Methods
 Parking Space Inventory
 Parking usage Survey by patrol
 Questionnaire type
 Parking survey
Parking Demand Characteristics

62. 
 Sampling Size: Each typology to be covered /
representative sample to be collected
 Expected Output: Parking duration, load, volume,
turn‐over