Methodologies for estimating and characterizing truck volumes on rural highways

The research develops and applies methodologies and new information systems for estimating and characterizing truck volumes on Manitoba highways. Monitoring and understanding truck volumes is critical for highway planning, design, and management functions.; The thesis provides a systematic analysis of truck volumes using truck data developed through the period 1993 to 2003 inclusive for Manitoba provincial highways. It develops methods and related criteria for screening and editing truck data, and creates a detailed understanding of annual average daily truck traffic (AADTT), temporal variations, and classification mix of truck volumes.; A subsystem of the University of Manitoba Transport Information Group (UMTIG)-Manitoba Truck Planning Network (Tang, Minty and Han, 2003) is developed and uniquely segmented for purposes of truck volume estimation and characterization for the year 2002.; Three methods are developed and applied for the estimation of truck volumes: (1) direct measurement method; (2) transferring method; and (3) base Manitoba truck volume method. Truck volumes on different highway segments are characterized by temporal variations and classification mix through the assignment of control stations and truck traffic pattern groups developed in this research. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...