Office of Operations
21st Century Operations Using 21st Century Technologies

Traffic Analysis Toolbox Volume VI:
Definition, Interpretation, and Calculation of
Traffic Analysis Tools Measures of Effectiveness

Foreword

Traffic analysis tools are used pervasively by transportation professionals to analyze transportation systems. While traffic analysis tools have the capability to provide meaningful insights into transportation analyses, far too often the definition and interpretation of the output measures of effectiveness vary between the analysis tools.

The purpose of the Definition, Interpretation, and Calculations of Traffic Analysis Tools Measures of Effectiveness document is to provide transportation professionals with understanding of some of the most commonly used measures of effectiveness (MOEs) generated by traffic simulation and analytical tools. and provide guidance on the calculation of the MOEs in some of the common analysis tools. It is hoped that this document will assist the transportation community in creating a more consistent process in the interpretation of MOEs from various analysis tools.

The intended audience for this report is the transportation professional or manager who needs an understanding of the MOEs generated by traffic simulation and analysis tools.

Notice

This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.

The U.S. Government does not endorse products of manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.

Quality Assurance Statement

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high-quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.

Technical Report Documentation Page

Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72)        Reproduction of completed page authorized

Metric Conversion Factors
(International System of Units)

APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS TO SI UNITS
SYMBOL WHEN YOU KNOW MULTIPLY BY TO FIND SYMBOL

LENGTH

in

inches 25.4 millimeters mm

ft

feet 0.305 meters m

yd

yards 0.914 meters m

mi

miles 1.61 kilometers km

AREA

in2

square inches 645.2 square millimeters mm2

ft2

square feet 0.093 square meters m2

yd2

square yard 0.836 square meters m2

ac

acres 0.405 hectares ha

mi2

square miles 2.59 square kilometers km2

VOLUME

fl oz

fluid ounces 29.57 milliliters mL

gal

gallons 3.785 liters L

ft3

cubic feet 0.028 cubic meters m3

yd3

cubic yards 0.765 cubic meters m3

NOTE: volumes greater than 1000 L shall be shown in m3

MASS

oz

ounces 28.35 grams g

lb

pounds 0.454 kilograms kg

T

short tons (2000 lb) 0.907 megagrams (or "metric ton") Mg (or "t")
TEMPERATURE (exact degrees)

oF

Fahrenheit

5 (F-32)/9
or (F-32)/1.8

Celsius oC

ILLUMINATION

fc

foot-candles 10.76 lux lx

fl

foot-Lamberts 3.426 candela/m2 cd/m2

FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS

lbf

poundforce   4.45   newtons N

lbf/in2

poundforce per square inch 6.89 kilopascals kPa

 

APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS FROM SI UNITS
SYMBOL WHEN YOU KNOW MULTIPLY BY TO FIND SYMBOL

LENGTH

mm

millimeters

0.039

inches in

m

meters

3.28

feet ft

m

meters

1.09

yards yd

km

kilometers

0.621

miles mi

AREA

mm2

square millimeters

0.0016

square inches in2

m2

square meters

10.764

square feet ft2

m2

square meters

1.195

square yards yd2

ha

hectares

2.47

acres ac

km2

square kilometers

0.386

square miles mi2

VOLUME

mL

milliliters

0.034

fluid ounces fl oz

L

liters

0.264

gallons gal

m3

cubic meters

35.314

cubic feet ft3

m3

cubic meters

1.307

cubic yards yd3

MASS

g

grams

0.035

ounces oz

kg

kilograms

2.202

pounds lb

Mg (or "t")

megagrams (or "metric ton")

1.103

short tons (2000 lb) T

TEMPERATURE (exact degrees)

oC

Celsius 1.8C+32 Fahrenheit oF

ILLUMINATION

lx

lux

0.0929

foot-candles fc

cd/m2

candela/m2

0.2919

foot-Lamberts fl

FORCE and PRESSURE or STRESS

N

newtons 0.225 poundforce lbf

kPa

kilopascals

0.145

poundforce per square inch lbf/in2