QUEUING MODEL AS A TECHNIQUE OF QUEUE SOLUTION IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (A CASE STUDY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BENIN, MAIN GATE UGBOWO CAMPUS).

ABSTRACT

The obvious implications of motorists waiting range from idle time spent when queue builds up, which results in man-hour loss, to loss of goodwill, which may occur when motorists are dissatisfied with a system. However, in a bid to increase service rate, extra hands and improved technology are required which implies cost to management. The onus is then on the any management to strike a balance between the provision of a satisfactory and reasonable quick service and minimizing the cost of such service. Thus, the management should evaluate performance of different queuing structures and strike a middle ground between cost on one hand and benefits of improved service on the other hand, which is the main thrust of this study. Therefore, this study attempts to look at the problem of long queues at entry and exit gates, why some management find it difficult to eliminate queues and the effect of queuing model as a technique of queue solution in security checkpoints and toll gates. Descriptive research method was employed in carrying out the study at the University of Benin, Ugbowo Campus, Benin City, through observation and interview. The variables measured include arrival rate (λ) and service rate (µ). They were analyzed for simultaneous efficiency in customer satisfaction and cost minimization using a single – channel and a multi- channel queuing model, which were compared for several queue performances such as; the average number of motorists in the queue and in the system, average time each motorist spends in the queue and in the system and the probability of the system being idle. It was discovered that, using a 2-server system was better than a 1-server system in terms of the performance criteria used and it was recommended that, the university’s management should adopt a 2-server model to reduce time wasted in queues and increase motorists’ satisfaction, while an Automated Traffic Monitoring System should be adopted eventually to mitigate the workload of the security guards.