M.Ing. / Link performance curwes represent the relationship between the travel time and the traffic flow on a link in a traffic network. This relationship is an essential input for trip assignment procedures. A number of different forms of link performance curves have been suggested. These curves are defined as mathematical functions (known as travel time functions) with link flow as the independent variable. Travel time functions usually have a number of parameters that may be varied according to link characteristics...

M.Phil. (Civil Engineering) / The SIDRA (Signalised Intersection Design and Research Aid) is calibrated for South African traffic conditions. Traditionally, South African traffic engineers made use of American or Australian based information to analyze traffic operations at signalised intersections. Two major models used in South Africa are HCM (Highway Capacity Manual) by the Transportation Research Board in the USA and SIDRA by the Australian Road Research Board. SIDRA is gaining popularity in South Africa because of the practical problems of the mirror image, which has to be maintained in using the HCM method due to the right side driving in the USA and other possible differences on driver behavior, vehicle attributes, geometric design and traffic control. SIDRA seems to be more suitable for South African conditions. Recently the use of SIDRA in this country has been increased to 44 organizations. This study aims to prepare a unified default file for South African users. Due to the large number of model parameters in SIDRA, priority is given to important ones for which information is readily available. And this study is confined to signalised intersections rather than all intersection types.

Thesis (MEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Peak mornmg traffic-flow data were obtained from video footage of three representative freeway sections on the Nl and N2 westbound towards Cape Town. Flow, speed, and density measurements were made from the footage with the aid of a stopwatch. Many researchers (2-12) have originated and developed models to describe the relationships between traffic flow characteristics (speed, flow, and density) on freeways. In this report, a number of these models have been investigated with data obtained from South African freeways. The ability of each model to predict flow parameters over the entire range of data was evaluated with the aid of statistical methods. The tests were performed by regressing average speed vs. average density. Flow-density and speed-flow relationships were derived through application of the steady-state equation (2.6). In each case, a final model was chosen through visual inspection that consisted of two separate curves, one for the uncongested flow regime and one for the congested flow regime. Furthermore, speed-flow relationships were examined for individual lanes and compared to relationships established for average lanes. The models were also compared to models obtained from overseas studies (1,16,19) as well as from studies done locally (17). A secondary objective of this study is to investigate the performance of existing freeway facilities through application of the relevant models to the traffic-flow data of a particular facility. The current peak-morning performance of the N2 freeway section is investigated in terms of travel-time and travel cost. The particular study section consists of three lanes, the right hand lane being an HOY lane dedicated to taxis and buses. Different hypothetical cases are investigated. The first hypothetical case is an investigation into the traffic situation on the freeway section without the influence of the HOY lane. The second hypothetical case investigates the traffic situation on the section with perfect operation of the HOY lane. The current performance of the N2 section is compared to the performance of each of the hypothetical cases. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oggend-spits verkeersvloei data is verkry vanaf drie verteenwoordigende seksies op die Nl en N2 deurpaaie naby Kaapstad met die gebruik van 'n video kamera. Vloei, spoed, end digtheid opnames is gemaak met behulp van 'n stophorlosie. Verskeie navorsers (2-12) het modelle gepostuleer en ontwikkelom die verhoudings tussen verkeersvloei eienskappe (spoed, volume, en digtheid) op deurpaaie te beskryf. In hierdie verslag word 'n aantal van hierdie modelle ondersoek met data wat verkry is van Suid-Afrikaanse deurpaaie. Die vermoë van elke model om vloei eienskappe oor die hele bestek van die data te voorspel is geëvalueer met behulp van statistiese metodes. Statistiese toetse behels 'n regressie analise van gemiddelde spoed teenoor gemiddelde digtheid. Volume-digtheid en spoed-volume verwantskappe is direk afgelei vanaf Vergelyking 2.6. Vir elke geval is 'n finale model m.b.v. visuele inspeksie gekies wat bestaan het uit twee afsonderlike kurwes, een kurwe vir die vryvloei regime en 'n ander kurwe vir hoë-digtheid toestande. Verder word spoedvolume verwantskappe vir afsonderlike deurpad-lane ondersoek en vergelyk met verwantskappe wat verkry is vir gemiddelde lane. Die modelle word ook vergelyk met modelle wat verkry is vanaf oorsese studies (1,16,19), sowel as met modelle wat plaaslik verkry is (17). 'n Sekondêre doel van hierdie studie is om die prestasie van bestaande deurpadfasiliteite te ondersoek deur die verskillende modelle aan te wend tot die verkeersvloei data van 'n betrokke fasiliteit. Die prestasie van die N2 deurpad seksie gedurende oggend-spits verkeer is ondersoek in terme van reistyd en ryskoste. Die betrokke seksie bestaan uit drie lane, waarvan die regter laan gereserveer is vir busse en taxis. Verskeie hipoteses is ook ondersoek. Die eerste hipotese is 'n ondersoek na die verkeers-vloei kondisie op die seksie sonder die invloed van die bus- en taxi-laan. Die tweede hipotese ondersoek die seksie met perfekte werking van die bus- en taxilaan. Die huidige prestasie van die N2 seksie is vergelyk met die prestasie van elk van die hipoteses.

Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Magister Technologiae: Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / The annual incidence of pedestrian casualties on South African roads is approximately 34 000. This includes 4 000 deaths, 10 000 serious injuries and 20 000 minor injuries, costing the country an estimated R2,55 billion. A large number of injuries involve children and this is distressing but preventing this is a challenge. Statistics indicate that pedestrians are most at risk. School children have been identified as forming a considerable percentage of pedestrians. Consequently it is important to understand factors that influence children's travel patterns as an initial step toward reducing the accident rate. This study examines children's travel patterns at primary and secondary schools in the eThekwini area. In the absence of statistics regarding journeys to transport children to school, a questionnaire survey was designed to determine demographics, mode of travel to school, travel cost and duration, factors influencing choices of alternate modes of travel and problems experienced during school travel in terms of road safety. In addition, an on-site investigation was undertaken to assess the relevant engineering aspects including geometric design, traffic calming, signage and other traffic management aspects. This study focuses on scholar transport and discusses the findings of pilot and focal surveys. On analyzing the data, various problems were identified, namely: the road environment favours drivers over pedestrians, an absence of a formal travel plan, poor driver behaviour and an absence of dedicated school buses. A range of possible solutions is recommended. The recommendations focus on the Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation aspects.

Submitted in fulfilment of the academic requirements for the degree of Magister Technologiae: Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, 2009. / The annual incidence of pedestrian casualties on South African roads is approximately 34 000. This includes 4 000 deaths, 10 000 serious injuries and 20 000 minor injuries, costing the country an estimated R2,55 billion. A large number of injuries involve children and this is distressing but preventing this is a challenge. Statistics indicate that pedestrians are most at risk. School children have been identified as forming a considerable percentage of pedestrians. Consequently it is important to understand factors that influence children's travel patterns as an initial step toward reducing the accident rate. This study examines children's travel patterns at primary and secondary schools in the eThekwini area. In the absence of statistics regarding journeys to transport children to school, a questionnaire survey was designed to determine demographics, mode of travel to school, travel cost and duration, factors influencing choices of alternate modes of travel and problems experienced during school travel in terms of road safety. In addition, an on-site investigation was undertaken to assess the relevant engineering aspects including geometric design, traffic calming, signage and other traffic management aspects. This study focuses on scholar transport and discusses the findings of pilot and focal surveys. On analyzing the data, various problems were identified, namely: the road environment favours drivers over pedestrians, an absence of a formal travel plan, poor driver behaviour and an absence of dedicated school buses. A range of possible solutions is recommended. The recommendations focus on the Engineering, Enforcement and Evaluation aspects.