BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY, DHAKA -1000 OFFICE OF THE MEMBER SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ADVANCED

STUDIES AND RESEARCH, BUET, DHAKA

Application for the approval of M.Sc. Engg. Thesis Proposal Date: - 12-May-13 1. Name of the student : M. M. A. Kader Chowdhury. Status : Full Time Roll no. : 0412042442F Session : April, 2012. 2. Present Address : Green Dale, Flat- A3, 3rd Floor, Road-10, House-13, Section 6, Block- C, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 Civil Engineering M. Sc. Engg. (Transportation)

3. Name of the Department : Programme : 4. Name of the Supervisor :

Dr. Md. Shamsul Hoque Professor Department of Civil Engineering BUET, Dhaka-1000 5. Date of First Enrolment into M. Sc. Program: April, 2012 6. Tentative Title: DETAILED INVESTIGATION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF ROAD INTERSECTIONS OF DHAKA METROPOLITON CITY 7. Background and Present State of the Problem: In a road network, there are two vital elements: link and node. Node is also named as intersection and link is the connecting element between two intersections. In a road traffic system, intersections are one of the important bottlenecks, which interrupt smooth flow of traffic and thereby cause delays. This is the vital area of road network, this small area inside a road network but a very important one. To avoid unnecessary delay or to get an efficient traffic flow movement, these intersections need to be planned and designed properly and carefully. Along with the appropriate road network and geometry, the necessary traffic control devices also need to be applied wisely. In the developed countries like USA, UK, Australia, to obtain orderly movement of vehicles through intersections they have strict traffic control rules, regulations and well established planning, designing methodology for geometric design of road intersection and as well as standard guide lines for the application of traffic control devices. Because of these practice, clear pattern in queue formation and discharging can be seen from road junctions of these

countries. Day by day they have been adopting latest traffic engineering tools to provide better performance of the intersection which is the vital part of road network. The road traffic system in Bangladesh is going through the worst phase since its formation. All major signalized intersections within the urban areas have got the severe traffic congestion which produce long delay and insurmountable sufferings of the road users in Dhaka city. This is happening mainly because of inappropriate / ill planned road network inside the Dhaka city, faulty layout of the intersections, inappropriate synchronization of traffic signals in road network, arbitrary setting of signal time / phase, poor policing activities in signal control and many other factors. However, from the field observation it has been identified that most of the total problems which cause traffic congestion in our intersections mainly because of the insufficient traffic data, ill planned / controlled traffic signal, inappropriate road network and mismanaged traffic control by police Field observation revealed that the faulty geometrical condition of the intersection is responsible for the delay and accidents in many cases. Presence of illegal structures by the side of the road, unnecessary roundabouts, speed breakers, improper turning radius, absence of medians and sign and faulty control operation of police, absence of following the lane system, etc are some factors which cause delay and make the intersection inoperative. Another issue at most approaches of signalized intersections within the Dhaka Metropolitan area; it is usually operated by manual operation by police because irrational distribution of signal phases time, increase delay. It decreases the Level of Service of intersection. So it is necessary to improve traffic control devices (sign, signal, left turn, right turn, etc.) and explore better road network and efficient and sustainable signal system throughout the Dhaka city for improving the level of service of intersections in Dhaka city. This study thus attempts to investigate the present road network, effective and efficient traffic control signal technique and overall enhancement of performance in intersections of Dhaka city. 8. Objectives and possible outcomes: The study is aimed at investigating two main scopes for improving junction capacity viz. appropriate road network and effective and efficient traffic signal control under the supervision of police. The main objectives of the study are: I. II. III. IV. To identify the traffic operational problems within intersection area associated faulty geometric plan and design. To determine the better, well planned, low cost traffic signal system under the supervision of police. To identify the proper road network inside the Dhaka city, this can help the traffic operation system. To increase the Level of Service of intersections inside the Dhaka city.

It is expected the detailed analysis of the field data would provide the following useful results: I. II. III. IV. Identifications of types and nature of geometrical faults. Identification of the better, well planned, low cost and adaptable traffic signal system. Identifications of the inappropriateness of pattern in road network of Dhaka city, these cannot help the operation system. Identify the techniques of increments of the Level of Service of intersections in the Dhaka city.

9. Outline of Proposed Methodology: Observing, how junction is operated? I. Red violation II. Long cycle time III. Over ride by police Identifying Poor performance of signalized junction. Faulty geometry. Poor road net & hierarchy Right turn restriction is not possible. Exclusive left/right turn (See left channel at Rangs intersection). High number of phasing. Closely spaced junction/non-uniform midblock hindrance for coordinated signal. Pedestrian facilities & behavior. Bus stoppages. NMV (Non Motorized Vehicle). Ineffective pre-timed signal (Why & identify events vehicle conflict at junction; unpredicted arrival pattern due to VIP; procession, sudden change of demand). Other side frictions. Why police override signal? o SEE pre-requisite of signal design & observed v/c ratios. o Unpredictable arrival flow and unmatched green time. o Fluctuating Right turn demand.

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII.

10. Devise how to reduce signal phasing? Attempt would be taken to reduce signal phases by introducing improved circulation plan through road network (Non-engineer came to show his one way & U-loop/roundabout solution or signal less operation) [Show one way in Tikatoli, Shantinagar]

11. References: 1. National Association of Australian State Road Authorities [1976], Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice, Sydney, Australia. 2. Road Research Laboratory [1965], Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on Road Traffic. HMSO, London, U.K. 3. Highway Research Board [1994], Highway Capacity Manual, HRB, Special Report No. 209, USA. 4. Institute of Traffic Engineers [1994], Transportation and Traffic Engineering Handbook, Second Edition, Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey, USA. 5. Kadialy, L. R. [1983], Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning, Second Edition, Khanna Publishers, Delhi, India. 6. Papacostas, C. S. & Prevedorous, P. D. [2001], Transportation Engineering & Planning, Third Edition, Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi,110 001,2006. 7. Khisty, C. Jotin & Kent Lall, B. [2003], Transportation Engineering An Introduction, Third Edition, Prentice-Hall of India Private Limited, New Delhi, 110 001, 2006. 8. Matson, M. Theodore, Smith, S. Wilbur & Hurd, W. Fredrick [1955], Traffic Engineering, Mc Graw-Hill Book Company, New York, Toronto and London,1955. 9. Ogden, K. W. [1996], Safer Roads: Guide to Road Safety Engineering, Avebury Technical, Brookfield, USA. 10.