Determination of Dynamic PCU in Ahmedabad city

Abstract

Due to rapid growth in population and vehicle ownership, there is tremendous traffic congestion on
signalized intersections of urban corridors. If signalized intersections coming frequently on the corridor without
coordination, then the vehicular delay is enormous during peak hours. Signal cycle timings are generally depending
on arrival rate and saturation flow rates of approaches. For the mixed traffic conditions, vehicles are converted into
Passenger Car unit (PCU)to estimate the flow values. PCU values of different types of vehicles are varying with
composition of vehicles, time, situation, location and their interaction. Static PCU values suggested by Indian Roads
Congress (IRC) for the signalized intersection is generally overestimate the saturation flow rate. Dynamic PCU value
for mid- block section in the Indian traffic scenario has been found by the several researchers, but very few
researchers have attempted to find the dynamic PCU on the signalized intersections. Dynamic PCU can be co-related
with projected area of car and vehicle category as well as with departure flow rate (saturation flow rate), speed,
headway, travel-time etc. The actual travel-time to cross the signalized intersection includes most of the factors like
acceleration, deceleration, manoeuvrability etc.