Nordic highway capacity : uninterrupted flow facilities in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden Luttinen, R Tapio ; Innamaa, Satu
Series: Finnra internal publications ; 4/2000Publication details: Helsingfors Finnish National Road Administration, 2000Description: 30 sSubject(s): Online resources: Abstract: The comparison of Nordic highway capacity calculation methods is part of the Nordic capacity cooperation project NORDKAP. This report presents a comparison of Nordic capacity calculation methods for uninterrupted flow facilities (highway segments). The Norwegian method follows the 1985 HCM most closely. In Finland the 1985 HCM is followed on freeways and four-lane highways. For two-lane highways the method is modified so that the parameters can be obtained from the Finnra highway database. In Denmark new methods have been documented in draft guidelines. These follow roughly the 1994 HCM, but with a slightly modified logic and locally adjusted parameters. The Swedish method is also under development. The structure of the model is similar to the 1985 HCM, but many adjustment factors are still undefined. For two-lane highways the ideal capacity is 2,800 pc/h in all Nordic countries. For freeways and multilane highways the ideal capacity 2,000 pc/h/lane of the 1985 HCM is used in Finland and Norway. In Denmark and Sweden higher ideal capacities are used, which reflect more recent results. The capacities obtained by the Finnish and Norwegian methods are practically the same as the 1985 HCM capacities. The adjustment factors in the Danish method cause a steeper capacity reduction than in the 1985 HCM as the conditions become less ideal. The Swedish method, on the other hand, uses the 1985 HCM adjustment factors for the roadway width, but other adjustments are mostly omitted. Consequently, the Swedish method gives high capacity estimates under unfavorable conditions. In many countries calculations are performed by special computer software. These software have not been used here, but the calculations and descriptions are based on reported capacity models. The parameters of Finnish IVAR software are, however,The comparison of Nordic highway capacity calculation methods is part of the Nordic capacity cooperation project NORDKAP. This report presents a comparison of Nordic capacity calculation methods for uninterrupted flow facilities (highway segments). The Norwegian method follows the 1985 HCM most closely. In Finland the 1985 HCM is followed on freeways and four-lane highways. For two-lane highways the method is modified so that the parameters can be obtained from the Finnra highway database. In Denmark new methods have been documented in draft guidelines. These follow roughly the 1994 HCM, but with a slightly modified logic and locally adjusted parameters. The Swedish method is also under development. The structure of the model is similar to the 1985 HCM, but many adjustment factors are still undefined. For two-lane highways the ideal capacity is 2,800 pc/h in all Nordic countries. For freeways and multilane highways the ideal capacity 2,000 pc/h/lane of the 1985 HCM is used in Finland and Norway. In Denmark and Sweden higher ideal capacities are used, which reflect more recent results. The capacities obtained by the Finnish and Norwegian methods are practically the same as the 1985 HCM capacities. The adjustment factors in the Danish method cause a steeper capacity reduction than in the 1985 HCM as the conditions become less ideal. The Swedish method, on the other hand, uses the 1985 HCM adjustment factors for the roadway width, but other adjustments are mostly omitted. Consequently, the Swedish method gives high capacity estimates under unfavorable conditions. In many countries calculations are performed by special computer software. These software have not been used here, but the calculations and descriptions are based on reported capacity models. The parameters of Finnish IVAR software are, however,