Traffic Data
15-Minute vs 60-Minute Traffic Counts
Selecting useful reporting intervals.
By SWAT Alliance Editorial Team · Updated 25 August 2026
Insight at a glance
A short visual checklist for better study decisions.
Use the article as a starting point, then confirm the project-specific scope, method, review and output with the delivery team.
Question
What decision should this evidence help someone make?
Scope
Which locations, movements, classes and periods matter?
Review
How will completeness and definitions be checked?
Output
What format will make the result easiest to use?
Short answer
Fifteen-minute and hourly reporting intervals trade detail for simplicity; the useful choice depends on the variation and decision the study must reveal.
Shorter intervals
Fifteen-minute records can show queue growth, peak transitions and direction changes that an hourly total hides.
Hourly summaries
Hourly aggregation is easier to compare and report but can conceal short peaks or uneven demand within the hour.
Keep the source detail
Where practical, retain the approved base interval and document any aggregation, rounding or partial-period treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Can intervals be changed after collection?
Only when the source supports it and the transformation is documented and checked.
Which interval should a quote request specify?
State the interval needed by the intended analysis, or ask the project team to recommend one from the decision context.
Go deeper
Traffic Data Validation & Quality Control Methodology
A documented review framework for traffic data before it is delivered or relied upon.
View Methodology →Related services