Transportation Surveys

Transportation surveys are methodologies employed to investigate and analyze the flow and issues of transportation in urban and regional contexts. They serve as critical components in urban planning and the formulation of transportation policies. This article provides an explanation of the necessity and techniques involved in transportation surveys.

Objectives of Transportation Surveys

Transportation surveys facilitate a deep understanding of various elements, including vehicle flow, pedestrian movement, traffic congestion, safety, and the effectiveness of public transportation. These surveys are conducted for several purposes:

• Analysis and Alleviation of Traffic Congestion
  Through transportation surveys, one can comprehend which roads are most congested and identify the primary causes of congestion, enabling effective countermeasures.

• Ensuring Safety
  Surveys help reveal accident-prone areas, causes of accidents, especially hazardous intersections and roads.

• Enhancing Public Transportation Efficiency
  They provide insights into which routes are most utilized and areas that require new routes.

• Prioritizing Infrastructure Investments
  Surveys evaluate which roads necessitate repair or expansion and which transportation systems are most effective.

• Environmental Impact Assessment
  The relationship between transportation flow and environmental impact is assessed to develop strategies for reducing environmental burden.

• Socioeconomic Impact
  Surveys analyze the impact of transportation flow on regional economy and society, offering insights for comprehensive urban planning.

• Technology Assessment
  The effectiveness of new transportation technologies and systems, such as autonomous vehicles and smart city technologies, can be evaluated.

• Sustainability
  Transportation surveys play a key role in enabling cities to grow sustainably. This may involve promoting public transportation, expanding pedestrian areas, and creating bicycle lanes.

Vehicle Movement-focused Transportation Survey

Transportation surveys that focus on vehicle movement involve collecting data on vehicle movements on road networks. These surveys are conducted to provide information beneficial for assessing traffic conditions and formulating transportation policies. A notable initiative within this category is the "Road Traffic Census."

Road Traffic Census

The Road Traffic Census is a survey program primarily aimed at understanding road and traffic realities. It is carried out in specific areas or cities to collect data used for improving traffic infrastructure and planning. The Road Traffic Census employs various data collection methods, but two major components often include:

• Origin-Destination (OD) Survey
  OD surveys investigate where vehicles travel from and to (origin and destination), revealing major travel patterns and demand trends. This information aids in optimizing traffic networks and alleviating congestion.

• General Traffic Volume Survey
  This survey measures the volume of vehicles passing through specific locations like roads or intersections. It provides insights into peak traffic hours and daily variations, contributing to road design and traffic flow optimization.

The Road Traffic Census combines these elements to collect data for devising strategies to enhance traffic networks and improve transportation infrastructure.

Human Mobility-focused Transportation Survey

Human mobility-focused transportation surveys gather information about people's movements and travels in specific areas or cities. The collected data is then analyzed to optimize traffic infrastructure and formulate transportation policies. A representative survey in this category is the "Person Trip Survey" (PT survey).

Person Trip Survey (PT Survey)

The Person Trip Survey collects data on people's movements and travels in a particular region or city. This survey method gathers information such as:

• Origin and Destination
  It identifies where people travel from and to and their reasons for traveling, revealing major travel patterns and demand trends.

• Mode of Transportation
  The survey records the transportation methods people use for their travels (car, public transportation, bicycle, walking, etc.), providing insights into transportation mode usage.

• Departure and Arrival Times
  It captures the timing of travel and duration, facilitating analysis of traffic issues like congestion and peak hours.

• Purpose of Travel
  The survey investigates the purpose of travel (commuting, shopping, leisure, etc.), unveiling types of demand and trends.

• Travel Distance and Duration
  Recording travel distance and time helps evaluate the efficiency of transportation systems and potential areas for improvement.

This data aids in urban planning, optimizing public transportation schedules, mitigating congestion, evaluating environmental impacts, and solving various transportation-related challenges.

Probe-based Survey

Probe-based surveys employ GPS data to collect information about traffic conditions and travel patterns, benefiting traffic network evaluation and policy formulation. Probe-based surveys are divided into two types: "Probe Vehicle Survey" and "Probe Person Survey."

Probe Vehicle Survey

Probe Vehicle Survey collects movement data of vehicles (probe vehicles) equipped with GPS devices to assess traffic conditions and road network performance. These probe vehicles are often taxis, delivery trucks, or other commercially used vehicles with built-in GPS devices, enabling real-time traffic flow data collection.

Probe Person Survey

Probe Person Survey analyzes travel patterns and behavior using GPS data obtained from individuals' smartphones and other devices. This offers insights into individual commuting routes, travel purposes, departure times, etc. Probe Person Survey provides valuable insights into specific individuals' behavior patterns, contributing to urban planning and policy formulation.

Benefits of Probe-based Surveys

Traditional transportation survey methods relied on data collection through surveys or sensors, each having its limitations. Surveys depended on participant responses and required substantial time and effort to yield accurate data. Sensors were limited to specific locations, making it challenging to gather data across wide areas.

Probe-based surveys enable real-time data collection, allowing for immediate understanding of traffic conditions and travel patterns. Moreover, they can collect large-scale data covering extensive areas and diverse travel patterns. Probe-based surveys offer more accurate data, aiding effective transportation planning and policy formulation. Probe Person Surveys provide insights into individual behavior patterns, helping tailor services and infrastructure to individual needs.