Needs of traffic forecasting
- To determine depth and type of pavement.
- To calculate environmental impacts, e.g., air pollution and noise.
- To define the scope, the geometry of the project and sometimes even help determine if a project is needed.
- To calculate the capacity of infrastructure, e.g. to determine number of lanes of highway, the length or number of turning lanes.
- Traffic forecasts are also used for many other purposes including corridor planning, systems planning and many special projects.
- Highway design and planning are usually based on estimates of traffic 20 years beyond the construction date. While no one knows the future, trained traffic forecasters and modelers use special tools and experience to estimate these numbers.
- To estimates the financial and social viability of projects, e.g., using cost-benefit analysis and social impact assessment; A Viability study is an in depth investigation of the profitability of the business idea to be converted into a business enterprise.
