IJSTE - International Journal of Science Technology & Engineering | Volume 2 | Issue 11 | May 2016

ISSN (online): 2349-784X

Vehicle Usage Pattern

Femina A
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical Engineering
TKM College of engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India

Abstract
Our environment has been polluted due to various reasons. Depletion of air quality is an alarming factor in developing countries
like India. The population growth, rapid industrialization, increase in vehicle volume, natural and anthropological activities, etc
are some of the reasons. Among the above factors vehicles are considered as the major contributors for air pollution. More than
that the type of vehicles, distance travelled, their usage patterns and congested roads also play major roles for the evolution of
various type of harmful pollutants from vehicles. Congested roads are mainly due to more number of two wheelers and three
wheelers. This is part of the work associated with Central Pollution Control Boards (CPCB) National Ambient Air Quality
Monitoring (NAMP) Network project. Here in this paper one particular location in Chennai city is taken for the study to find the
mostly used vehicle type and the vehicle usage pattern and the study observed that more than 50% of the vehicles on the road
are two wheelers and most of the 2 stroke two wheelers are used by ladies.
Keywords: Environment, National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring, Pollutants, Usage Pattern, Two Wheelers
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I.

INTRODUCTION

Now a days people in India are suffering from various health issues because of poor air and water. Global warming, climate
change, greenhouse effect etc are the other challenging issues. Our water resources and atmosphere are polluted in various ways
because of population growth, rapid industrialization, increase in vehicle volume, modern life style, natural and anthropological
activities, etc. The quality of air we breathe consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% argon and 0.03% carbon dioxide by volume.
The addition of foreign materials produced from the above activities will alter this quality. The resulting unbalanced air initiates
unwanted photochemical atmospheric reactions and causes formation of harmful products and highly reactive reaction
intermediates like ions. According to World Bank and Asian Development Bank joint study of air pollution for 20 major Asian
cities between 2000 and 2003, Delhi is the most polluted city of the Asia [1]. The urban areas are considered the most polluted
cities in the world in an air quality status point of view (CPCB, 2000; CPCB, 2001; TERI, 2001)[2]. Air pollution from transport
sector has also become a major contributor to increasing human health effects in Asia. Petrol and Diesel vehicles are the main
contributor as 84% and 81% for vehicular emission of CO and PM10 respectively. Vehicular source is found to be the main
contributor as 76%, 26% and 25% of total CO, PM10 and NOx emissions respectively [3].
Air pollution problems exists in five different scales local (up to about 5km), urban (up to 50km), regional (50-500km),
continentals (from 500 to several thousand km) and global scale extends worldwide. Pollution of the atmosphere increases almost
directly to the population density. The intensity of pollution problem is usually related to the amount of pollutants emitted into the
atmosphere and to the atmospheric conditions that exist. Most serious situations develop when local conditions favour atmospheric
inversions and the products of combustion and industrial processing are contained within a confined air mass. The pollution from
motor vehicles has become an issue because of the steady increase in both the number of vehicles in use and the distance travelled
by each vehicle in each year. More than that the other reasons for increasing vehicular pollution is the types of engines used, age
of vehicles, congested traffic, poor road conditions, and outdated automotive technologies and traffic management systems[4]. The
contribution as well as character of the pollutants varies according to fuel composition and their mode of application. The
technology development, awareness at different levels, the legislature by enhancing laws and its effective implementation reduces
the pollution to a considerable level. Besides this standards and legislations, air pollution due to vehicular emissions are increasing
in alarming levels due to expansion of city, increase in vehicle volume and distance travelled by each vehicle, life style and climate
change. For these reasons emissions from road traffic must be estimated as accurately as possible.
CPCB has established the National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAMP) Network, covering 209 cities/towns of the country
in compliance with the mandate under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 to collect compile and disseminate
information on air quality. . This is part of the work associated with this, where Indian Institute of Technology Madras campus is
taken as the reference siteThe emissions from two wheelers(2stroke and 4- stroke engines), three wheelers and four wheelers are
different. Based upon the consumption of fuels, distance travelled and emission factors (from the CPCB) pollutants from different
types of vehicles are calculated. The procedure for classification and vintage of vehicles are strictly followed as per CPCB and
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) norms

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II. METHODOLOGY
Selection of Study Area:
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) campus, which is located right at the centre of the Chennai metropolitan city on the
Sardar Patel Road, midway between the Raj Bhavan and Adyar bus terminus and flanked by Adyar, Taramani and Velachery.
Other landmarks include: the Guindy Snake Park near the IIT main gate and the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) opposite
to the IIT campus. The climate is generally hot and humid. In summer (May-July) the temperature reaches up to 420C while in
winter (December- February) it is slightly less hot, 180C. The Monsoon season starts in September and lasts till November.
Land Use Pattern and Major Roads:
The entire 247.3 ha (1 hectare = 2.471 acres,) of land has been divided into four zones such as Academic zone, Residential zone,
Hostel zone and wilderness zone. Each of these zones are comparable in size (approximately 60ha), though not in shape,
configuration or topography. The wilderness zone is spread over the entire campus.
The residential institute which is providing accommodation to its students, faculty, administrative and supporting staff and their
families. Catering to the needs of the student population and other on-campus residents are the banks, shopping centres, food joints,
schools, hospital etc. which virtually make the campus self-contained. The Institute has two guest houses within the campus. One
is used for accommodating participants attending seminars and short-term courses and other official visits. Parents visiting the
institute to meet their wards can also avail accommodation this Guest House. Another one is usually used for accommodating
VIPs, Institute guests and invited guests.
Two main parallel roads in the campus, Bonn Avenue and Delhi Avenue - connect the in/out gate of the campus and
academic/hostel zones via Gajendra Circle (GC), main traffic intersection point in the campus. Main mode of transportation in
IITM campus is, for hostel inmates, bicycle but residents in quarters and residents outside the campus are mostly using powered
vehicles. Institute runs battery operated and diesel buses from gate to other locations at regular intervals from 6.15am to 10pm
through Bonn Avenue, Alumini Avenue and Hostel Road. Private vehicles coming from outside are directed through Delhi Avenue
to academic and hostel zone. Madras Avenue connects residential zone with academic zone. But people are mostly using Bonn
Avenue which connects schools, kindergarten/play class, Banks, shopping complex etc.
Table 1
List of Roads and Its Length
Major roads
Length of roads (m)
Madras avenue (MA)
1995
Bonn avenue (BA)
1886
Delhi avenue (DA)
1739
Alumini avenue (AA)
1322
Hostel Road (HA)
1284

Vehicle Usage Pattern:

Questionnaire circulated among the people in department and administrative office, total vehicles registered in the campus taken
from the transportation section, hourly data of vehicles coming to and going out from the campus taken by manual counting from
selected sites and vehicle parked in academic section and residential section collected separately based on model and kind of
vehicles are used for analysing and comparing the vehicle usage pattern of people.
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Questionnaire Survey:
Questionnaire survey is conducted for getting idea about the vehicle usage pattern, fuel consumption for vehicles, vehicle mileage
etc. The data collected shows that 79.5% of gents and 11.5% ladies are using vehicles. Among the total 11.5% ladies, 78.5% are
using 2W and 21.4% using 4W vehicles. In the case of gents 82.47% are using 2W in that 30% are scooter and 70% are motor
cycle and 17.53% 4W.
Table 2
Vehicle Usage Pattern and Distance Covered
questionnaires circulated
Questionnaires collected back
Number of people using Private vehicles
Number of people using Public/ other mode of system for transportation
Percentage of Ladies using vehicle
Percentage of Gents using vehicles
Vehicle usage pattern (Ladies)

160
122
111
11
11.5%
79.5 %
2W-78.5 %
4W-21.4 %

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Vehicle usage pattern (Gents)

Average Distance covered per day (Ladies)
Average Distance covered per day (Gents)

2W
- 82.47 %
4W
- 17.53%
Scooter
- 30.00 %
Motorcycle 70.00 %
14.805 Km/day
17.74 Km/day

The distance traveled by the ladies is less than gents, but the fuel consumption is more for ladies. This is because ladies are using
2 stroke vehicles with less mileage and less efficiency (incomplete combustion and loss of fuel leads to HC emissions). 70% of the
gents are using 2W motorcycles. Almost all motorcycles are having 4 stroke engines with good mileage (2 times than 2S engines).
Parking Volume Study:
Among the total vehicles registered in the campus 80.8% are two wheelers and remaining four wheelers. The percentages of
vehicles for 2W are distributed based on academic section parking volume study and for 3W and 4W vehicles percentages are
distributed based on the type, engine capacity and fuel type of the vehicles coming inside the campus. This kind of classification
has been carried out mainly because of the importance of academic activity in the campus. Both residential section parking volume
and academic section parking volume study are used for determining the vehicle usage pattern among people inside and outside
IITM. Vehicle count in Velacherry gate is also listed, where only 2W vehicles are permitted. The vehicles are categorised on the
basis of CPCB emission factor document.
Table 4
Parking volume details
Vehicle type
Academic section (%)
2Wheelers (No.)
Percentage of Motor cycles
47.43
Percentage of Scooterettes / mopeds
44.87
Percentage of Scooters
7.69
4Wheelers (No.)
Maruti / hatchback style vehicles
76
Luxury / sedan style vehicles
17
Quails, Bolero, etc / multiutility vehicles
7

Residential section (%)

39.28
55.95
4.76
79.2
18.06
2.8

Vehicle Load in Campus Roads:

The hourly data collected are plotted with the number of vehicles against each hour for all the roads (only one set is included) show
noticeable variations during day time. Main observation from the figures is that two wheeler (2W) vehicles are the most dominating
vehicles in all the roads and in Weekdays the percentage contribution of 2W, three wheeler petrol (3W-P) and four wheeler
petrol ( 4W-P) are high in all roads except three wheelers (3W) in AA road. The vehicle movement is very high during office
hours with maximum peak at 5pm-6pm in all roads and second largest at 10am. Morning the vehicle volume starts increasing from
6 am and reaches its maximum at around 10am then reduces to a minimum at 12 noon. Further it again starts increasing till 2pm.
In Saturdays 3W-P and 4W-P vehicles are showing mixed peaks. 4W- P vehicle movement in all the roads is also noticeable
during Saturdays. The four wheeler diesel (4W-D) count in IITM roads (HA and AA) is mainly due to construction activities in
Hostel side and near Ocean engineering department. But the 3W vehicle volume in Hostel Avenue may be because of the visitors
to hostel inmates, movement of people to Tharamani guest house and visitors to Central Library facility. The morning peak in
Sturdays is shifted to around 7.30am in all roads with high peak in BA. Saturday is the working day for Kendriya vidyalaya School
which starts at 7.30am. 2W and 4W-P vehicles are the predominating vehicles in BA in this hrs. Afternoon peak is same in all
other roads with comparatively low vehicular count than Week days. In DA, 4W-P, 4W-D and 3W-P are showing some counts
with 4W-D has some high peak in the morning and 3W-P and 4W-P has peaks in the evening .and in Saturdays the 2W,4W P
and 4W-D are in higher contributions.

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Vehicle characteristics in Delhi Avenue Road - Weekdays

Vehicle characteristics in Bonn Avenue Road-Weekdays

2W

4W D

3W D

20-21 pm

22-23 pm
22-23 pm

18-19 pm

16-17 pm

14-15 pm

12-13 pm

Time

Vehicle characteristics in Hostel Road - Weekdays

Ve hicle characte ristics in Alumini Ave nue Road - We e kdays

3W P

4W D

20-21 pm

Time

2W

4W P

10-11 am

8-9 am

0-1am

No of vehicles

22-23 pm

20-21 pm

18-19 pm

16-17 pm

14-15 pm

12-13 pm

10-11 am

8-9 am

6-7 am

4-5 am

2-3 am

3W P

80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

6-7 am

4W P

4-5 am

3W D

2-3 am

3W P

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

0-1am

No of vehicles

2W

3W D

4W P

4W D

2W

70

3W P

3W D

4W P

4W D

80

50

70

No. of Vehicles

60

40
30
20

60
50
40
30
20

10

10

Time

18-19 pm

16-17 pm

14-15 pm

12-13 pm

10-11 am

8-9 am

6-7 am

4-5 am

2-3 am

0-1am

22-23 pm

20-21 pm

18-19 pm

16-17 pm

14-15 pm

12-13 pm

10-11 am

8-9 am

6-7 am

4-5 am

2-3 am

0-1am

No. of vehicles

90

Time

Fig. 1: Hourly vehicle characteristics during Week days

% of Vehicles Delhi Avenue - Weekdays

% of vehicles Bonn Avenue Road - Weekdays

4W P
10%

4W D
2%

3W D
8%

4W P
15%

4W D
2%

3W D
3%
2W
50%

2W
58%

3W P
22%

3W P
30%

% of vehicles in Alumini Avenue - Weekdays

3W D
0%

4W P
19%

% of vehicles in Hostel Road - Weekdays

3W D
1%

4W D
3%

4W P
3%

4W D
2%

3W P
19%

3W P
3%

2W
75%

2W
75%

Fig. 2: Percentage contribution of vehicles during Week days

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More people are moving out / in to the campus using private vehicles, (4W-P) mostly from quarters and from hostels using
3Wheelers, 4W-D or taxis (most of the taxis are running with diesel fuel).
In AA and HA the peaks are spreaded over the entire day with different vehicle counts. This vehicular concentration depends
upon the availability of the students and their visitors movement in the campus and also other activities inside the campus.
Vehicle pattern in Velacherry gate- Week days
scooters/ mopeds

mopeds (<80cc )

% category of vehicles weekdays

motorcycles

No of vehicles

250
200

scooters
29%

150
100
50

motorcycles
55%

mopeds (<80cc )
16%

17-17.30 pm

16-17 pm

15-16 pm

14-15 pm

13-14 pm

12-13 pm

11-12 am

10-11 am

9-10 am

8-9 am

7-8 am

Time

Vehicle pattern in Velacherry gate saturday

scooters/ mopeds

% category of vehicles Saturday

mopeds (<80cc )

motorcycles

140

scooters
25%

No of vehicles

120
100
80
60
motorcycles
57%

40
20

mopeds (<80cc )
18%

16-17 pm

15-16 pm

14-15 pm

13-14 pm

12-13 pm

11-12 am

10-11 am

9-10 am

8-9 am

Time

Vehicle pattern in Velacherry gate sunday

scooters/ mopeds

mopeds (<80cc )

% category of vehicles sunday

motorcycles

120

No of vehicles

100

scooters
29%

80
60
40

motorcycles
54%

20

mopeds (<80cc )
17%
15-16 pm

14-15 pm

13-14 pm

12-13 pm

11-12 am

10-11 am

9-10 am

8-9 am

7-8 am

Time

Fig. 3: vehicle volume and Percentage contribution of vehicles during Week days, Saturdays and Sundays in Velacherry road.

During Sundays total vehicle count in all roads are very less compared to Week days. Afternoon peak is almost same as that of
other days (6-7pm) in all the roads. The peak observed in BA between 8am - 10am shows people are going for prayers in Sunday
morning. 4W-P vehicles also show some peak during these hours in BA and DA. Sundays the percentage contribution of vehicles
is almost in mixed nature.
The vehicle volume in Velacherry gate at different days (Weekday, Saturday and Sunday) are also plotted. Here in all days two
wheeler motorcycles are dominating with second and third preferences for scooters and mopeds respectively. Among the two
wheelers, motorcycles are dominating. Its count is around 2times than scooters and 3times than mopeds in all days. Here the
morning peak time is coming around 10am and afternoon peak around 3pm.

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(IJSTE/ Volume 2 / Issue 11 / 135)

IV. CONCLUSION
The study conducted in IITM Campus shows that more than 50 percent of people are using two wheelers and among that gents are
using 4 stroke motor cycles and most of the ladies are using 2 stroke engines. During the peak times vehicle count in campus roads
are very high in working days.
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[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]

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Anikender_Kumar_Presented_by_Nestor_Rojas_POST.pdf
http://cpcb.nic.in/sourceapportionmentstudies.pdf
http://www.cpcb.nic.in/Emission_Factors_Vehicles.pdf
ARAI (The Automotive Research Association of India) (2007). Air Quality Monitoring Project-Indian Clean Air Programme (ICAP), Draft Report on
Emission Factor Development for Indian Vehicles as a part of ambient air quality monitoring and emission source apportionment studies.
NEERI (2010). Air quality monitoring, emission inventory & source apportionment studies for Delhi. Prepared by National Environmental Engineering
Research Institute, Nagpur, India, http://www.cpcb.nic.in/Delhi.pdf.

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