TIME MEAN SPEED AND SPACE MEAN SPEED

Time mean speed (TMS) is defined as the average speed of all vehicles passing a point on a
highway over a specified time period.

Space mean speed (SMS) is defined as the average speed of all vehicles occupying a given
section of a highway over a specified time period.

TMS is a point measure and SMS is a measure relating to a length of highway or lane. TMS and
SMS may be computed from a series of measured travel times over a measured distance. TMS
takes the arithmetic mean of the observation. It is computed as:
𝑑
∑
𝑡𝑖
𝑇𝑀𝑆 =
𝑛

SMS could be calculated by taking the harmonic mean of speeds measured at a point over time.
It is computed by dividing the distance by an average travel time, as shown below:
𝑑 𝑛𝑑
𝑆𝑀𝑆 = =
∑ 𝑡𝑖 ∑ 𝑡𝑖
𝑛

where 𝑇𝑀𝑆 = time mean speed (fps, mph, mps or kph)

𝑆𝑀𝑆 = space mean speed (fps, mph, mps or kph)
𝑑 = distance traversed (ft, mi, m or km)
𝑛 = number of travel times observed
𝑡𝑖 = travel time for the ith vehicles (sec or hr)

Relation
The two speeds are related as
𝜎𝑠 2
𝑇𝑀𝑆 = 𝑆𝑀𝑆 +
𝑆𝑀𝑆
Where
𝜎𝑠 = standard deviation of the spot speeds.
Examples:
SPACE MEAN SPEED CALCULATIONS
EX 1: The following data were taken on five cars traversing a 2.4-kilometer highway
Car Time (minutes)
A 1.3
B 1.1
C 1.4
D 1.0
E 1.2
Compute the space mean speed.

Sol’n:
𝑑 𝑛𝑑
𝑆𝑀𝑆 = 𝑡𝑖 = ∑ 𝑡𝑖
∑
𝑛
2.4 𝑘𝑚
𝑆𝑀𝑆 =
(1.3 + 1.1 + 1.4 + 1.0 + 1.2) 1ℎ𝑟
𝑚𝑖𝑛 ×
5 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝑆𝑀𝑆 = 120 𝑘𝑝ℎ

EX 2: There are 5 vehicles passing through an intersection of two highway in a period of 20

seconds.
Spot Speed
Vehicles
(kph)
1 34.2
2 42.4
3 46.3
4 41.1
5 43.4
Compute the space mean speed.

Sol’n:
 Assumin g S = 1 km

S 1km 5
t = t1   hr
v 34 .2kph 17 1

1km 5 1km 10
t2   hr t3   hr
42 .4kph 21 2 46 .3kph 46 3
1km 10 1km 5
t4   hr t5   hr
41 .1kph 41 1 43 .4kph 21 7
nd
SMS =
t i
5 ( 1km)
SMS   41 .05kph
 5 5 10 10 5 hr
     
 17 1 21 2 46 3 41 1 21 7 

ALTERNATE SOLUTION (HA RMO NIC MEAN OF T HE S POT SPEE DS)

n 5
SMS = SMS   41 .05
1 1 1 1 1 1
v 
 s
    
34 .2 42 .4 46 .3 41 .1 43 .4

EX 3: For the 5 vehicles observed at a certain point on a freeway, compute the required space
mean speed if the corresponding time of passing and spot speed are recorded as
follows.

vehicles Time of passing Spot Speed (kph)

A 1.62 sec. 34.50
B 6.12 sec. 42.60
C 8.4 sec. 46.58
D 12.1 sec. 41.20
E 14.9 sec. 43.60

Sol’n:
5
SMS 
1 1 1 1 1
   
34 .5 42 .6 46 .58 41 .2 43 .60
SMS  41 .28kph
EX 4: From the following data of a freeway surveillance, there are 5 vehicles under
observation and the following distances are the distances each vehicle had traveled
when observed every 2 seconds.

Vehicles Distance (m)

1 24.4
2 25.8
3 24.7
4 26.9
5 22.9

Compute the space mean speed in kph.

Sol’n:

Average Speed
Vehicles Distance (m)
(S/t) m/s
1 24.4 24.4/2 = 12.2
2 25.8 25.8/2= 12.9
3 24.7 24.7/2= 12.35
4 26.9 26.9/2= 13.45
5 22.9 22.9/2= 11.45

Space mean speed (SMS) is defined as the average speed (NOT HARMONIC MEAN) of all
vehicles occupying a given section of a highway over a specified time period. SMS is HARMONIC
MEAN of SPOT SPEEDS (observed speed at a certain point on a highway).

12.2 + 12.9 + 12.35 + 13.45 + 11.45

𝑆𝑀𝑆 = 𝑚/𝑠
5
𝑚
𝑆𝑀𝑆 = 12.47
𝑠
𝑆𝑀𝑆 = 44.89 𝑘𝑝ℎ

If the given are distances traversed by cars in the same “t” seconds, then the SMS is
Σ𝑆
𝑆𝑀𝑆 =
𝑛𝑡
TIME MEAN SPEED CALCULATIONS

EX 5: Traffic data collected at two sections of a highway, x-x and y-y located 1500 ft. apart.
Five vehicles pass section x-x at intervals between vehicles of 3, 4, 3, and 5 seconds
respectively. Vehicle speeds are 50, 45, 40, 35, and 30 mi/hr respectively.

Sol’n:
50  45  40  35  30
TMS 
5
TMS  40 mph

EX 6: In a tabulation shown a record of 5 vehicles passing through a certain point on a

freeway, compute the time mean speed.

vehicle Time of passing Spot speed(kph)

A 1.62 sec. 33.92
B 6.16 sec. 44.53
C 8.60 sec. 48.52
D 13.07 sec. 41.16
E 15.77 sec. 41.53

Sol’n:
33. 92  44. 53  48. 52  41. 16  41. 53
TMS 
5
TMS  41. 932 kph

EX 7: From a given data of 5 vehicles passing through a 1-km segment of EDSA.

Car Time (seconds)

1 96
2 72
3 90
4 102
5 108
Sol’n:
𝑑
∑
𝑡𝑖
𝑇𝑀𝑆 =
𝑛
1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
+ + + +
𝑇𝑀𝑆 = 96 72 90 102 108
5
𝑚
𝑇𝑀𝑆 = 10.9 = 39.23 𝑘𝑝ℎ
𝑠

EX 8: Arrival times for 4 vehicles at two sections of highway (XX and YY) that are 500 ft. apart.
Total observation time at XX is 15 sec.
Vehicle Section XX Section YY
A T₀ T₀ + 7.58 sec
B T₀ + 3 sec T₀ + 9.18 sec
C T₀ + 6 sec T₀ + 12.36 sec
D T₀ + 12 sec T₀ + 21.74 sec

Determine the time mean speed.

Sol’n:
Calculat ion o f spo t spe eds

50 0ft ft 50 0ft ft
v1   65 .96 v3   78 .62
( 7.5 8  0 ) s s ( 12 .36  6 ) s s
50 0ft ft 50 0ft ft
v2   81 .57 v4   51 .33
( 9.1 3  3 ) s s ( 21 .74  12 ) s s

v1  v2  v3  v4 ft
TMS   69 .37
4 s

TMS  47 .3mp h
EX 9: The following travel times were measured for vehicles as they traversed a 2.0-mile
segment of highway. Compute the time mean speed (TMS) and space mean speed
(SMS) for this data.
Vehicle Travel Time (s)
1 156
2 144
3 144
4 168
5 126
6 132

Sol’n:

TMS is t he arithmetic mean of t he spot speed s

 2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0  2.0 

 15 6 14 4 14 4 16 8 12 6 13 2  mi 36 00s
TMS    
 6 s 1hr
TMS  50 .12mp h

SMS is t he h armo nic mean of th e sp ot sp eeds

SMS 
 5  mi  36 00s
 1 1 1 1 1 1 s 1hr
      
  2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0   2.0  
  15 6   14 4   14 4   16 8   12 6   13 2  
SMS  41 .38mp h
EX 10: The following data were obtained from a freeway surveillance of 5 vehicles passing
through a point of the freeway with the individual spot speeds. Determine the standard
deviation of the space distribution of speed.

Spot Speed
Vehicles
(kph)
1 41.08
2 48.51
3 50.64
4 46.82
5 44.14

Sol’n:

41 .08  48 .51  50 .64  46 .82  44 .14

TMS 
5
TMS  46 .24

5
SMS 
1 1 1 1 1
   
41 .08 48 .51 50 .64 46 .82 44 .14
SMS  45 .99

2
s
TMS = SMS 
SMS
SMS  TMS
s  SMS   3.3 7
SMS

Prepared by Engr. Francisco R. Onde Jr.