| description abstract | This research work puts an emphasis on passenger car unit (PCU) estimation using different methods on eight-lane divided urban multilane roads using a well-calibrated and validated microsimulation model. In this context, at first, three methods were applied for PCU estimation and were checked for its accuracy, which are: (1) PCU estimation using the TRRL (Transport Road Research Laboratory, UK) definition; (2) PCU estimation using the speed–area ratio concept; and (3) PCU estimation using a newly proposed methodology in this study, which is based on an area occupancy–based matrix solution of simultaneous equations developed between a mixed-traffic scenario and an all-cars traffic scenario. The PCU equivalent flow using three methods, compared with the all-cars scenarios at different flow levels, resulted in mean absolute percentage errors (MAPE) of 6%, 12%, and 7%, respectively. Subsequently in this study, a new concept of homogeneous equivalent is also proposed, which directly converts heterogeneous flow into a homogeneous equivalent using the area occupancy value of a mixed-traffic stream. The concept is tested over varying traffic compositions and different traffic volumes and resulted in a MAPE of 8 to 18%. The output from the present study may be useful to traffic engineers, researchers, and practitioners for getting equivalent flow on different uninterrupted facilities, using this simplified yet scientific methodology. | |
