Lift or elevator passenger traffic analysis is generally based on an up peak calculation. Various authors have considered other specific passenger flows for down peak, two-way and interfloor traffic. This paper gives formulae for the general case. The formulae are based on a Poisson approximation of passenger arrivals at a lift landing station. The probable number of stops and probable reversal floors are calculated, allowing the round-trip time, waiting interval and capacity factor to be determined. The number of calculations is such that a computer is needed to implement the formulae, though the final result may be checked by hand.

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The number of passengers wanting to use lifts to travel to and from the lobby and between floors in a building has a significant effect on the quality of lift service experienced by each passenger. The traditional assumptions of lift passenger demand in office buildings are compared to measurements taken in modern buildings. The differences between traditional and modern patterns of passenger demand in office buildings are discussed. The significance of these differences on lift system design is explored. In office buildings surveyed, the daily pattern of passenger demand repeats itself with a high degree of consistency; buildings can be described as having their own demand 'signatures'. Practical applications: Designing lift systems based on modern traffic patterns and traffic levels will result in systems with characteristics that are different from those designed using traditional traffic expectations. Applying the traffic data in this paper will result in a more accurate prediction of a lift system's performance. Control system designers can use the traffic data to design dispatcher algorithms that can better respond to modern traffic conditions.

This paper presents mathematical formulae for analysis of passenger traffic using double decker lifts. The formulae are general allowing any possible traffic flow to be considered. A Poisson approximation of passenger arrivals at lift landing stations is assumed allowing probable number of stops and average lowest and highest reversal floors to be calculated. Conventional techniques can then be used to calculate round trip time, interval and capacity factor. The calculations are iterative and require computer implementation.