Analysis of Time Headway and Gap Acceptance at Post Office Intersection Maiduguri, Nigeria using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology

Authors: *Bukar A.G., Kundiri A.M. And Waziri, B.S.

DOI Info: http://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.15778252

ABSTRACT

Urban intersections play a crucial role in the efficiency of transportation systems, influencing traffic flow and congestion levels and efficient urban traffic management is vital for ensuring smooth mobility and reducing congestion in rapidly growing cities. This study analyzes time headway and gap acceptance at the Post Office Intersection in Maiduguri, Nigeria using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology. UAV was used to record traffic flow during peak hours (morning, afternoon, and evening), and data were processed using Microsoft Excel for statistical analysis. Results indicate that the observed frequencies during the morning peak were highest for headway classes between 2-5 seconds, revealing a clustering of vehicle arrivals due to high demand and signalized control. While the Poisson distribution provided a reasonable first approximation for modeling vehicle arrivals, significant deviations especially at 0-1 and 9-10 second headways revealed the limitations of assuming randomness under congested conditions. Chi-square test results further confirmed these discrepancies indicating that the influence of factors such as traffic signals, queuing, and driver behavior. Gap acceptance analysis revealed that tricycles accepted the shortest gaps, while trucks required significantly longer gaps. The study recommends the provision of traffic management strategies, including signal timing improvements and infrastructure upgrades.

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