---
title: "Origin-destination study uses and methods"
subject: "Transportation Engineering II"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii:origin-destination-study-uses-methods"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/origin-destination-study-uses-methods
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Origin-destination study uses and methods

Transportation Engineering II · Chapter 1: Traffic Engineering

- Asked in: 2071 Chaitra, 8 marks
- Video: [Origin and Destination Studies - Traffic Engineering - Transportation Engineering - I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQvtfaumA9s) — Ekeeda
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/origin-destination-study-uses-methods
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/transportation_engineering_ii/chapter-1

## Question

What are the uses of origin and destination study? Briefly explain the methods of conducting this study.

## Short answer

O-D studies are used for planning new highways, by-passes, terminals, and forecasting trip patterns. Methods include roadside interviews, license plate matching, return post-cards, tag-on-car, and home interviews, each varying in cost and traffic disturbance; results are presented as O-D matrices and desire-line diagrams.

## Answer

#### Uses of an origin and destination study
- Planning new highways, by-passes, bridges and flyovers, and deciding their location from desire lines.
- Finding the share of through traffic that can be diverted to a by-pass.
- Planning traffic management measures (one-way streets, junction improvements).
- Planning terminals, parking facilities and public transport routes and schedules.
- Forecasting trip generation and distribution for traffic and land-use planning.
- Giving the pattern of freight and passenger movement.
- Determining road priorities and staged construction.
- Evaluating the economic viability of improvements.

#### Methods of conducting the study
1. **Roadside interview method:** vehicles are stopped at the survey station (on a cordon or screen line) and the driver is asked the origin, destination, purpose, vehicle type and load, with help from the Traffic Police. It gives direct and accurate data but disturbs traffic; a sample (a fraction of the vehicles) is interviewed when the volume is high.
2. **License plate method:** registration numbers of vehicles are noted at entry and exit points, with the time; matching them gives the route and trip time. Good for short-range and by-pass studies, but gives no trip purpose.
3. **Return post-card method:** prepaid cards with questions are handed to drivers or posted to owners; it is cheap, but the response is poor (15-30 percent).
4. **Tag-on-car method:** coloured tags are attached to vehicles at the entry station and read at the exit, to find the entry-exit pairs. Good for the cordon of a small area.
5. **Home interview method:** households in the study area are surveyed about all trips made by their members, giving details of trip purpose, mode and time (best for urban planning).
6. **Work-place and public-transport (on-board) interviews:** at offices, factories, schools and in buses/trains.
7. **Automatic and video methods:** number-plate recognition, GPS and mobile-phone data are modern options.

Results are presented as an **O-D matrix**, a **desire-line diagram** and a **contour or zone map**.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Which is a use of an O-D study?
   A. Finding the share of through traffic that a by-pass can attract
   B. Measuring pavement roughness
   C. Fixing the thickness of the pavement
   D. Setting the amber time of signals
   Answer: A. O-D data show through traffic and desire lines, supporting by-pass and road planning. (Key point: Uses of O-D study)

2. What is a feature of the roadside interview method?
   A. Gives no direct data
   B. Uses prepaid postcards
   C. Drivers are stopped and asked origin, destination and purpose; accurate but disturbs traffic
   D. Only notes registration numbers
   Answer: C. It gives direct, accurate data including trip purpose, but stops traffic so sampling is used for high volumes. (Key point: Roadside interview method)

3. What is a limitation of the license plate method?
   A. It cannot give route or trip time
   B. It gives no trip purpose
   C. It needs household interviews
   D. Its response is only 15-30 percent
   Answer: B. Plates matched at entry and exit give route and time but not purpose of trip. (Key point: License plate method)

4. What is typical of the return post-card method?
   A. High and accurate response
   B. It disturbs traffic
   C. Cheap but poor response of about 15-30 percent
   D. Done only at exit stations
   Answer: C. Prepaid cards are cheap, but few are returned. (Key point: Return post-card method)

## Related in Transportation Engineering II

- [Origin-destination study and its applications](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftransportation_engineering_ii%3Aorigin-destination-study-applications) — Transportation Engineering II, chapter 1