Transport Data Collection and Analysis

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TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 1

Transportation Data Collection and Analysis 2019/2020

Fieldwork Notes

Author: Andrew Tomlinson, Eva Heinen

Date Description

16th August 2019 Original

Introduction The document describes the TDCA fieldwork data collection tasks and outlines and expectations and

responsibilities for each student involved in the activity.

The aims of the fieldwork data collection activity follow the module objectives

 To ensure that students understand the quality of different data and data collection techniques and can discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

 To develop students’ ability to design transport data collection activities.

 To ensure that students understand the needs for data generation and approaches to collecting a range of transport data and are able to justify techniques appropriate for given research requirements.

 To ensure that students understand the principles underlying the statistical analysis of transport data and are equipped to select appropriate statistical tests and associated interpretation of results.

 To develop students’ ability to employ relevant software packages for data analysis and presentation.

Fieldwork Structure The TDCA fieldwork involves working in groups across all the activities associated with a range of transport

data collection activities:

 Preparation: Design a set of data collection forms for use within your group during the fieldwork

activities

 Collection: Participate in a range of fieldwork activities during an intensive data collection day

 Post-processing and Reporting: Collate the information recorded during the fieldwork activities and

transcribe and code this into an electronic document.

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 2

Site/Location Map The fieldwork data collection will take place at the three locations identified on the following map.

Location A: Opposite the LCC speed loops, on the footway of outbound carriageway of Woodhouse Lane

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 3

Location B: Junction of Clarendon Road, Moorland Road and University Road (outside ITS)

Location C: The “Sign For Art” sculpture (also known as Wobbly Bacon), in the thoroughfare opposite the Great Hall

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 4

Fieldwork activities The following fieldwork activities will be conducted.

Activity Number

Fieldwork Activity Description Location

1 Bus service frequency, occupancy and headway reliability A

2 Mid-link classified count A

3 Spot speed measurement A

4 Turning movement count B

5 Cyclist crossing volume and routes B

6 Pedestrian crossing volume count B

7 Intercept questionnaire C

8 Emissions levels. Automatic collection with manual note taking B+C

9 Ambient noise levels. Automatic collection with manual note taking B+C

The plan is to assemble nine comprehensive datasets (one for each activity) fully covering an eight-hour

period across the fieldwork data collection day. These datasets will be made available to all students taking

the module.

Groups All students will be allocated to one of 16 groups. Each group will have 7 or 8 members. Eight of the groups

will be given the identifiers Ma through Mh and will conduct the data collection activities during the morning

period (09:00-13:00). The remaining 8 groups will be given the identifiers Pa through Ph and will conduct

their data collection activities in the afternoon (13:00-17:00).

Each member of the group will be allocated a recorder number between 1 to 8 and will be given an

identification badge to be worn for the duration of the fieldwork day.

Each group will be responsible for collecting data for each fieldwork activity during some part of the day.

Schedule The data collection activities will all take place over the course of a single day, Friday 25th October from

09:00 – 17:00 with each group performing 2 hours of fieldwork activities over a four-hour period.

The schedule for the fieldwork activities to be conducted is given in a separate document, which shows the

overall programme and a list of the time slots for the individual activities to be performed by each group.

Students should check the activity schedule to ensure that they can attend all data collection slots. Any

clashes or issues should be reported to Andrew Tomlinson.

Group Responsibilities Each group has a responsibility for the following activities:

 Discuss the design of each data collection activity within the group and ensure that all group members

understand what data is to be collected

 Design a series of data collection forms, one for each data collection activity, to be used by group

members to collect and record data for each activity.

 Ensure that the data collected for each activity is accurate and complete

 Transcribe the captured the data collected into an Excel spreadsheet and submit this spreadsheet for

collation into a single overall datasets

It is expected that groups will meet once a week, for the three weeks prior to the data collection itself. These

meetings will be used to allocate responsibilities, discuss the design of the data collection forms, monitor

progress and to discuss and resolve problems.

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 5

Groups are required to create data collection forms for all activities apart from activity 7, the intercept

questionnaire.

There are three key dates for group deliverables:

 Thursday 3rd October: Details of the makeup of each group published. Students make themselves known

to other members of their group and arrange a suitable time to meet to allocate work between group

members.

 Tuesday 22nd October @ 14:00: Groups must submit their data collection forms for checking in

Word/Excel format.

 Wednesday 30th October @ 12:00: 17th October: Groups submit their collated data for in Excel format.

It is the responsibility of each group to manage their workload to ensure that these deadlines are met and

that the required elements are delivered. The groups will only have 20 days to design and submit their

forms, and it is important that this task is begun promptly and not left until the day before the submission

date.

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 6

Personal Safety and Responsibilities

NO DATA IS WORTH MORE THAN LIVES. SAFETY IS THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY IN THIS DATA COLLECTION EXERCISE.

The data collection supervisors are on site to look after you, but it is individual students’ responsibility to protect themselves from any potential dangers and hazards. No student will be required to work on the roadway, but it will be necessary to cross roads in order to move between locations: when doing so, take the utmost care. Remember to look carefully in BOTH directions before crossing the road. Be alerted at all time when crossing roads. All students must observe and comply with the following safety rules:

 The highway is a dangerous place for pedestrians. Be alert at all time.

 Stand in a position which is both safe for you and does not obstruct the safe passage of others.

 Fluorescent vests are provided and must be worn by all students during all activities and in moving between locations – this is ITS policy. Responsibility for failing to wear them, or failing to wear them properly, lies with each student.

 Cross the road by pedestrian crossings when available. In the absence of pedestrian crossings, special care must be taken to look and listen as you cross the road between safe gap in the traffic flow.

 Never stand with your back to the traffic.

 When carrying out activities, do not obstruct the pathway, as this causes pedestrians to walk onto the road (dangerous to them), and do not stand close to the outer edge of the footpath (dangerous to you).

If you are approached by a member of the general public asking about the activities that you are carrying out, politely explain that you are a student at the University and are collecting data for your coursework. If they try to engage in further conversation, seek assistance from the data collection supervisors and do not let it distract you from your activity. TOILETS: If needed, the nearest are at Location B (in the ITS building) and at Location C (in the Parkinson Building). Coffee bars are also available at these two buildings, should you wish to energise yourself during breaks (i.e. between some activities) – but don’t be late for your next activity. BAD WEATHER: If it rains (also sleet, snow, tornado, plague of locusts)…we carry on collecting data! The electronic equipment should be waterproof but it is best to move to a reasonably sheltered spot if the rain becomes very hard – the supervisor will advise you. Carry on collecting data in the rain, sleet or snow unless the Supervisor tells you to stop. Bring warm and rainproof clothing. An umbrella is impractical whist working, though it may be useful when walking between activities. Much heat is lost through the head and other extremities, so you should consider wearing thick socks, sturdy shoes (not trainers) and a hat, as well as your jumper(s), jacket(s) or coat(s). It can get very cold over several hours – it is better to be too warm than too cold. Gloves are OK provided you can write and operate the equipment (if not, take them off during tasks). Sheltered spots are as follows (they are not ideal places for the fieldwork activities, so will only be used in the case of heavy rain. Move back to proper place when rain abates):

 Location A: Bus shelter adjacent to the entrance to the Hyde Park

 Location B: Under the tree outside the ITS building

 Location C: Under the social science building

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 7

Individuals have a responsibility for their personal health and safety. There will be a health and safety

briefing at which attendance is mandatory, and all students will be required to read the risk assessment for

the activity prior to the data collection day.

A yellow jacket must be worn by all students at all times during the fieldwork activities.

A badge bearing your group and recorder ID will be given before the data collection day. You must wear your badge in a visible position on your outer clothing, so the data collection supervisor knows who you are. Please report to the data collection supervisor at each activity location promptly according to the rota. This is a group effort. In some cases you are relying on each other to produce a complete data set. Late arrival or ‘no-show’ will jeopardise the success of the data collection activity and your ability to complete the coursework. When you arrive at each location:

 Check that you have been given the correct equipment for the task

 Start and stop work according to the rota times unless the supervisor tells you otherwise

 When you have finished each task, pass all the equipment back to the Supervisor.

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 8

Data Collection Specification Sheets A specification of the data to be collected in each of the activities is outlined below.

Data Collection Specification Sheet 1 Title: Bus Service Frequency, Occupancy and Headway Reliability

Data Collection Location: A

Purpose: To record information on all inbound AND outbound bus services to allow data to be extracted around:

 Service frequency

 Service capacity and actual occupancy

 Headway reliability across the day

Data To be collected:

For each bus which passes the data collection location in either direction record the following data items:

 Time (nearest minute)

 Bus service number (displayed on the front of the bus: 1, 6, 28, 97, X85 etc). If the bus is out of service record the service number as zero.

 Bus Type: The size and type of the bus operating the service using the following coding:

o 1 = small single deck, 9 metres, (27 seats + 17 standing) o 2 = larger single deck, 12 metres, (39 seats + 23 standing) o 3 = double deck, 10 metres (61 seats + 20 standing) o 4 = bendy bus, 18 metres, (49 seats + 100 standing)

 Bus Direction using the following coding: o 1 = towards Leeds (travelling on opposite carriageway) o 2 = towards Headingley (travelling on near carriageway)

 Passenger Occupancy Level using the following coding: o 0 = Bus out of service, no passengers o 1 = 0-25% of capacity used o 2 = 26%-50% of capacity used o 3 = 51%-75% of capacity used o 4 = 76%-100% of capacity used o 5 = >100%, bus full with standing passengers

Likely Data Size: 20-25 services per hour in each direction

Data Recording Requirements

Data entry form, one per direction, two clipboards, two people recording (one per direction)

Data Quality and Comments:

Rank the quality of the data recorded on a five-point scale from 1 very poor quality (many missing or inaccurate entries) to 5 very good quality (no missing or inaccurate entries). Add a comment to describe any specific problems and/or issues

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 9

Data Collection Specification Sheet 2 Title: Mid Link Classified Count and Vehicle Occupancy Location: A

Purpose: To record information on the traffic makeup and occupancy of all vehicles travelling outbound along Woodhouse Lane towards Headingley to allow data to be extracted around:

 Highway usage across the day

 Traffic composition across the day

 Usage of Uber and other public hire vehicles (taxis).

Data To be collected:

For each vehicle which passes location A in the Headingley direction only but in either lane of the nearside carriageway count the vehicle against the following categories:

 Private car with 1 occupant

 Private car with 2 occupants

 Private car with 3 occupants

 Private car with 4 occupants

 Private car with 5 or more occupants

 Uber/Lyft ride hailing vehicle with 1 occupant (driver)

 Uber/Lyft ride hailing vehicle with 2 occupants (driver + 1 passenger)

 Uber/Lyft ride hailing vehicle with 3 occupants (driver + 2 passengers)

 Uber/Lyft ride hailing vehicle with 4 occupants (driver + 3 passengers)

 Uber/Lyft ride hailing vehicle with 5 or more occupants (driver + 4+ passengers)

 Taxi or other private hire vehicle with 1 occupant (driver)

 Taxi or other private hire vehicle with 2 occupants (driver + 1 passenger)

 Taxi or other private hire vehicle with 3 occupants (driver + 2 passengers)

 Taxi or other private hire vehicle with 4 occupants (driver + 3 passengers)

 Taxi or other private hire vehicle with 5 or more occupants (driver + 4+ passengers)

 LGV - Light Goods Vehicle: typically, a van (less than 3.5 tonnes)

 HGV – Heavy Goods Vehicle: typically, a lorry (greater than 3.5 tonnes)

 Bus

 Motorcycle

 Bicycle

Likely Data Size: Up to 800 vehicles per hour, can come in pulses due to the traffic lights at the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Clarendon Road

Sample Period Size: 15 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

Data entry forms, 2 or 3 clipboards. Use five bar gate method to count vehicles. Record counts for each sample period on a separate form. Use 2 or 3 data recorders each allocated to count different vehicle types.

Data Quality and Comments:

Rank the quality of the data recorded in each 15 minute slot on a five-point scale from 1 very poor quality (many missing or inaccurate entries) to 5 very good quality (no missing or inaccurate entries). Add a comment to describe any specific problems and/or issues

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 10

Data Collection Specification Sheet 3 Title: Spot Speed Location: A

Purpose: To record information on the speeds of private cars travelling outbound along Woodhouse Lane towards Headingley to allow data to be extracted around:

 Average speed

 Speed distribution around the mean.

Data To be collected:

For each 15 second period select the first eligible approaching vehicle. An eligible vehicle is one which is not accelerating/decelerating and whose speed is not constrained by the vehicle in front. Ignore all vehicle types apart from private cars. Do NOT select Uber/Lyft vehicles, taxies, light goods vehicles (LGV’s), heavy goods vehicles (HGV’s), buses, motorcycles or bicycles. Use the speed gun to obtain the spot speed of the vehicle. How to use the Bushnell Speed Radar Gun:

 This gun works for traffic approaching you and for traffic going away from you, but only gives reliable readings if the vehicle is travelling more or less in line (plus or minus 10 degrees) with the barrel of the gun (for this reason you will not be able to measure the speed of vehicles as they actually pass you).

 Turn ON using the button underneath the display screen. The display will switch on and you will see ‘MPH’ units on the screen. If the unit does not switch on, please see the supervisor for spare batteries.

 Wait until a vehicle has passed you and then point the speed gun at the next target (do not try and get a reading if two vehicles are passing each other).

 Press the TRIGGER.

 When you release the trigger, the display will show the fastest speed recorded during the time the trigger was pressed.

 Tell your colleague what it says on the display.

 The speed gun will stay switched on. To take the next reading, repeat the process by holding the TRIGGER again.

 To switch OFF, hold the button underneath the display screen for 3 seconds. The display will switch off.

 DO NOT LEAVE THE SPEED GUN UNATTENDED AND DO NOT GIVE IT TO ANY UNAUTHORISED PERSON.

Likely Data Size: Up to 4 vehicles per minute. Do not record more than the stated quota of one vehicle every 15 seconds.

Sample Period Size: 15 minutes. The target is to capture exactly 60 vehicles during a sample period.

Data Recording Requirements:

Speed gun, data entry form (one per sample period), one clipboard, one operator for the speed gun, one data recorder.

Data Quality and Comments:

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 11

Data Collection Specification Sheet 4 Title: Turning Movement Count Location: B

Purpose: To record data on the origin and destination of all vehicle movements at the junction of Clarendon Road, Moorland Road and University Road. This data allows analysis of:

 The total number of motorised vehicles crossing the junction within given time periods and across the day

 The total number of vehicles originating from each leg of the junction and travelling towards destinations served by each leg of the junction

 The arrival rate of vehicles at each leg of the junction

Junction Diagram

Data To be collected:

For each leg of the junction (N, E, S, W) count the number and direction of all motorised vehicles which turn across the junction. Ignore all pedestrians and cyclists (active travellers).

Likely Data Size: Up to 12 vehicles arriving on each leg of the junction every minute

Sample Period Size:

5 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

Data Entry forms (one for each five-minute sample period), 2 clipboards, 2 data recorders each covering two legs of the junction (N&E or S&W). As the junction is signal controlled traffic on only two of the four legs will be moving at any time. Use the 5 bar gate method to count vehicles.

Data Quality and Comments:

Moorland Road W, 4 University Road E, 2

Clarendon Road N, 1

Clarendon Road S, 3

12 13

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 12

Data Collection Specification Sheet 5 Title: Cycling Activity at West entrance to University Campus Location: B

Purpose: To record the number, direction, characteristics and behaviour of any cyclists using/crossing the junction of Clarendon Road, Moorland Road and University Road. This data allows analysis of:

 Cyclist behaviour at the junction.

Junction Diagram:

Data To be collected:

For each cyclist make a note of the following data items:

 Time at Junction

 Origin and Destination Zones (N, S, W, E, A, B, C)

 Presenting Gender (Male or Female)

 Approximate Age Category: <18, 18-30, 31-40, 40+

 Cyclist is wearing a helmet? (Yes/No)

 Type of clothes worn by cyclist: Normal, Lycra, Other

 Type of bike: Standard, Racing bike (Road bike), Hybrid (Off road), Other

 Bike has electrical assistance? (Yes/No/Unknown)

 If crossing Clarendon Road: o Crossed on road during green car phase, o Crossed on road during red car phase o Crossed using pedestrian crossing during green pedestrian phase o Crossed using pedestrian crossing during red pedestrian phase o Cyclist dismounted when crossing Clarendon Road (Yes/No)

 Any specific comments about the cyclist

Likely Data Size: Up to 100 bicycles per hour in total

Sample Period Size:

30 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

Data Entry form, one clipboard, 1 or 2 data recorders.

Data Quality and Comments:

Moorland Road W University Road E

Clarendon Road N

Clarendon Road S

Park Gates, A

Business School, C

Cycle path, B

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 13

Data Collection Specification Sheet 6 Title: Pedestrian crossing count Location: C

Purpose: To record the number of pedestrians crossing Clarendon Road. This data allows analysis of:

 The tidal flow of pedestrians moving onto and off the main campus, and/or travelling between the Business School and the main campus

Data Collection Area Schematic:

Data To be collected:

A count of each pedestrians crossing Clarendon Road to the north and to the south of the junction. Only count pedestrians, not cyclists or other road users Use a tally counter to record the number of movements in each direction.

Likely Data Size: Up to 2,000 people per hour in each direction

Sample Period Size:

5 minutes, repeated 6 times (30 minutes in total)

Data Recording Requirements:

Data Entry form, two clipboards, 3 tally counters, 3 data recorders, one for the north crossing point (recording pedestrians in either direction) and two for the south crossing (each recording one direction only).

Data Quality and Comments:

Moorland Road W University Road E

Clarendon Road N

Clarendon Road S

N to E

E to N

S to E

E to S

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 14

Data Collection Specification Sheet 7 Title: On Campus Intercept Questionnaire Location: C

Purpose: Stop and interview a number of pedestrians walking around campus. This data allows analysis of:

 Participant attitudes, views and usage of public transport

Data Collection Area Schematic:

Data To be collected:

 Time of Interview

 Participant Demographics: o Presenting Gender (Male/Female) o Approximate Age Category: <18, 18-30, 31-40, 40+ o Relationship to University: Student, Staff, Visitor, Member of Public

 Detailed questions to be specified later

Likely data size Over 500 people crossing the area per hour

Sample Period Size:

30 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

Work in pairs, intercept people as they pass through the data collection area and ask if they would be willing to take part. If people don’t wish to be interviewed respect their decision. Data Entry form will be provided by TDCA team. Each pair of data recorders should attempt to interview at least 10 subjects within the 30 minute period.

Data Quality and Comments:

University Road

(Great Hall)

Steps Steps

Beech Grove Terrace Edward Boyle Library

Union + Refectory

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 15

Data Collection Specification Sheet 8 Title: Air quality: particle counter Location: B/C

Purpose: Automatically collect number of particles per second at two locations.

 Location B: Junction of Clarendon Road, University Road, Moorland Road

 Location C: Central traffic free space on campus

Data To be collected:

Number of particles by second The air quality instrument will record and log samples of the particles per second automatically. The current reading is also displayed by the instrument. The reasons for any significant variation in the readings should be recorded manually:

 Time of observation

 Nature of observation (description) The instruments at both locations must be monitored and explanatory notes recorded

Sample Period Size:

30 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

One data recorder per location for the duration of the sample period

Data Quality and Comments:

Add a comment to describe any specific problems and/or issues

TRAN5032 – Transport Data Collection and Analysis, Fieldwork Notes 16

Data Collection Specification Sheet 9 Title: Noise measurements Location: B/C

Purpose: Automatically collect noise levels at two locations

 Location B: Junction of Clarendon Road, University Road, Moorland Road

 Location C: Central traffic free space on campus

Data To be collected:

Noise levels by second The noise measurement instrument will record and log samples of noise levels per second automatically. The current reading is also displayed by the instrument. The reasons for any significant variation in the readings should be recorded manually:

 Time of observation

 Nature of observation (description) The instruments at both locations must be monitored and explanatory notes recorded

Sample Period Size:

30 minutes

Data Recording Requirements:

One data recorder per location for the duration of the sample period. Note anything that you think may affect the measurements

Data Quality and Comments:

Add a comment to describe any specific problems and/or issues