Evaluation of Roundabout Capacity Models: An Empirical Case Study

Abstract

AbstractBased on field data collected at nine roundabouts in Gold Coast, Australia, this paper evaluates the performance of the capacity estimation for single-lane roundabouts using analytical models [including the highway capacity manual (HCM) 2000 model, the German Highway Capacity Manual (GHCM) model, the signalized and unsignalized intersection design and research aid (SIDRA) model and a new roundabout capacity (NRC) model] and an empirical model (the HCM 2010 model). First, this study calibrates critical gaps, follow-up times, and conflicting flows. Compared with the capacities measured in the field, the authors carry out a study to analyze the accuracy of the HCM, GHCM, SIDRA, and NRC models. The results show that the five models underestimate capacity but the NRC model produces a smaller range of relative error (−1.07 to −5.74%) and root-mean-square deviation (47.68) than the HCM 2010 (−4.62 to −16.14% and 105.00, respectively), HCM 2000 (−5.76 to −17.21% and 115.29, respectively), GHCM (−8.95 to −...