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Sat Flow Calculator

This document provides instructions for calculating saturation flow rates in the field using a stopwatch. Data is collected on the time of the 4th vehicle to cross the stop line, the time of the last stopped vehicle in the queue, and the number of vehicles in the queue. This data is then entered into a spreadsheet to calculate the saturation headway and saturation flow rate based on the number of vehicles and time differences. A minimum of 15 cycles with 8 or more vehicles are needed for a valid calculation.

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limwell
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as XLS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
164 views

Sat Flow Calculator

This document provides instructions for calculating saturation flow rates in the field using a stopwatch. Data is collected on the time of the 4th vehicle to cross the stop line, the time of the last stopped vehicle in the queue, and the number of vehicles in the queue. This data is then entered into a spreadsheet to calculate the saturation headway and saturation flow rate based on the number of vehicles and time differences. A minimum of 15 cycles with 8 or more vehicles are needed for a valid calculation.

Uploaded by

limwell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as XLS, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Oregon Department of Transportation

Saturation Flow Rate Field Calculation


Version 1.01

August 2013

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


HIGHWAY DIVISION
PLANNING SECTION
TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ANALYSIS UNIT

If there are questions or comments concerning this spreadsheet, please contact Laura Jo Prusakiewicz at:
[email protected] or by phone at 503-986-3367
Instructions

This calculator and field form are based on the HCM 2010 field saturation flow form found in the HCM Volume 4 for Signalized Intersections
Supplemental (Ch 31) or HSM 2000 Chapter 10 Appendix H. The field form has been simplified for a single working person.

1.1 Field Collection

The collection can be ideally done with a stopwatch or a wristwatch with a sweep second hand or a digital seconds readout.

Only the times of the 4th vehicle that crosses the stopbar, the last stopped vehicle in the queue, and the end of green (in case
the signal is in oversaturated conditions and the last stopped vehicle is never reached) is needed. The number (vehicle position
in the queue) of the last stopped vehicle is also needed.

Vehicles should not be counted until they cross the stopbar. If a left or right turn lane is being studied,
only count the vehicles when they clear the intersection if they are delayed waiting for opposing traffic or
pedestrians.

If vehicles are delayed because of buses, emergency vehicles, stalled vehicles, downstream intersection
queues or other disruptions, then the cycle should be discarded by crossing the cycle out on the form.

As long as there are 8 or more vehicles total in the stopped queue, a cycle can be used to calculate
saturation flow. A minimum of 15 cycles with 8 vehicles are needed for a valid
saturation flow measurement.
(Even if there are not 8 vehicles in the total stopped queue, if you want to record the numbers for practice, the spreadsheet used
to calculate will ignore these cycles.)

Saturation Headway Calculation = (Time of last stopped vehicle - Time of 4th vehicle) /
(Vehicle position of last vehicle - 4)

Saturation Flow = 3600 s/hr / saturation headway

For example, if the time of the 4th vehicle was 0:00 (stopwatch start) and the last stopped vehicle
was 20.5 seconds and there were 12 vehicles in the queue, the resulting saturation flow would be :

Headway = (20.5 s - 0 s) / (12 - 4 ) = 2.56 s /veh

Saturation Flow = 3600 s/hr / 2.56 s/veh = 1406 vphpl


1.1 Spreadsheet Usage

Simply take the information gathered in the field and place it in the appropriate column.

If you have more than 25 cycles that you recorded push the
'Add 25 More Cycles' button.

After you have entered all of your cycle data push the
'Calculate Sat Flow'

During the calculation of the Sat Flow, it ignores


any cycles with less than 8 stopped vehicles. It
also will check to make sure you have at least
15 cycles with 8 or more vehicles in the stopped
queue. If you have less than 15 cycles it will not
calculate and you will get a warning. When it is
done calculating you will get a popup box with your
calculated saturation flow rate and it will also
appear below the Calculate button in a colored cell.
Field Saturation Flow Worksheet

Analyst Intersection/Lane
Agency or Company Area Type
Date Jurisdiction
Analysis Time Period Analysis Year
Est. % Turning Veh Est. % Heavy Veh

Sketch intersection to be studied including all lane movements. Clearly indicate the study lane,
turn lane phasing, north direction, and street names.

grade:

grade:

street:

grade:

street:
grade:

Time of Last Avg Sat


Time of 4th # of Last Time at End
Cycle # Stopped Veh Headway
Veh (sec) Stopped of Green
(sec) (sec/veh)
1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
11 0
12 0
13 0
14 0
15 0
16 0
17 0
Notes

1 0
2 0
3 0
4 0
5 0
6 0
7 0
8 0
9 0
10 0
11 0
12 0
13 0
14 0
15 0
16 0
17 0
18 0
19 0
20 0
21 0
22 0
23 0
24 0
25 0

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