A Numerical Tool for Estimating Pollutant Emissions and Vehicles Performance in Traffic Interruptions on Urban Corridors

The principal objective of this research was to develop and apply a traffic and emission decision support (TEDS) tool to urban highway corridors. This model simulates traffic while predicting time elapsed, energy consumed, and pollutants emitted to the atmosphere by vehicles on the corridor. Because emissions from internal combustion engines are very high during speed-change cycles, congested stop-and-go traffic can be very detrimental to local levels of pollution. Thus, the research was mainly focused on the existence and quantification of effects for local singularities (or traffic interruptions), such as pay tolls, roundabouts, and traffic signals within the corridor. This approach yielded a numerical predictive model, based on experimental measurements and concepts of traffic flow theory, which explains the interaction between the system operational variables of each traffic interruption and the environmental and traffic performance variables. In particular, the focus was on carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and hydrocarbons emissions and their relation to queue length and stops. The proposed traffic and emission estimation models provide an overall pollution estimate for a traffic interruption under any control configuration and traffic demand pattern.

• Record URL:
  http://www.informaworld.com/10.1080/15568310802175641
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/15568318
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Taylor & Francis
• Authors:
  • Coelho, Margarida C
  • Farias, Tiago L
  • Rouphail, Nagui M
• Publication Date: 2009

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 246-262
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Sustainable Transportation
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Taylor & Francis
  • ISSN: 1556-8318
  • EISSN: 1556-8334
  • Serial URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ujst20

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Environmental impacts; Estimation theory; Highway corridors; Interrupted flow; Mathematical models; Numerical analysis; Pollutants; Urban areas; Vehicle performance
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01137340
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2009 1:48PM