Land Use Change and Traffic Impact Study of Al-Shaab Residential Complex as a Case Study

Abstract

Due to rapid urbanization, building new developments leads to increased attraction activities that negatively affect traffic on the existing road network. The influence of land use has increased impacts from the generation of additional traffic, which causes increased congestion with a negative effect on the environment. In this study, we analyze the effects of the construction of the Al Shaab Complex on the traffic volume of a major arterial road located in the north entrance area of Baghdad, which represents one of the main entrances to Baghdad city. Traffic volume data were collected for each day before the opening of the complex and in the four years following the opening. This study's goal is to determine the impact of the new developments on the surrounding roads and manage future traffic operations to facilitate future trips that would be generated by the development activity. Impact assessment was analyzed using PTV Vissim software and the authors found that the control measures could manage the traffic conditions at the road entrance, but they do not solve the problem for long-term planning. A necessary traffic management plan must be created following the impact assessment to lessen the detrimental effects of land use change on the road network.