Evaluation of Optimum Space through Level of Service (LOS) in Bus Terminals

Abstract

In India, currently, there are no guidelines available for terminal design based on passenger characteristics. Since human comfort is a primary design consideration in architectural design planning, design standards for passengers must be based on a relative scale to provide the desired design environment anthropometrically. The need for this research is to help resolve the crowding problems faced by passengers due to lack of design guidelines and passenger movement & parameters, which ultimately impact the layout of the terminal. As an architect, this research will guide to solve the problem of terminal design and space management. The design of passenger facilities involves the application of several qualitative and quantitative design considerations according to passenger comfort. Crowding significantly lowers passenger comfort level as it slows the average walking speed, and the freedom of maneuver in the flow is restricted. The paper presents the formation of "LOS" (Level of Service), and Homogeneous Passenger Module which depends on various passenger characteristics in the Indian context. The results indicate the major difference between the level of service of Fruin’s Pedestrian and the derived passenger level of service. These derived levels of service can be used all over the Indian subcontinent in bus terminal/depot planning.