Generating Carbon Offset Credits in Canada Using Weigh-In-Motion

Canada has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by six percent from 1990 levels by 2012 through the Kyoto Protocol. Currently Canada is struggling to meet this target and it is unlikely that it will be met for 2012. Weigh-in-motion (WIM) and other intelligent transportation systems (ITS) have been shown to improve efficiencies in trucking while still being able to enforce weights and dimension legislation to protect roadway infrastructure. With these improvements the amount of GHG emissions generated may be reduced, particularly on a per tonne basis to improve transport efficiency. This paper reviews the applicability of Canada's Offset System for Greenhouse Gases to the implementation of WIM and other ITS as a method to reduce GHG generation. The findings of this paper indicate that offset credits may be generated through the implementation of systems to improve transport efficiency. The technology now available reduces the GHGs but also specifically accounts for each individual truck. The case study used the emissions model for truck transport emissions developed at the University of Saskatchewan using 150,000 trucks over a one year period and shows that 228,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, 0.32% of the Canada's Kyoto target, can be reduced with the implementation of weigh-in-motion and other ITS technologies at weigh stations . This reduction results in 228,000 offset credits that may be sold for revenue by an agency. For the covering abstract of this conference see record control number 201111RT334E.

• Record URL:
  • https://www.tac-atc.ca/en/knowledge-centre/technical-resources-search/conference-papers/generating-carbon-offset-credits-in-canada-using-weigh-in-motion/
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)

  401-1111 Prince of Wales Drive
  Ottawa, Ontario  Canada 
• Authors:
  • FOTH, M
  • BERTHELOT, C
  • HANSON, R
• Conference:
  • 2011 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION OF THE TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION OF CANADA. TRANSPORTATION SUCCESSES: LET'S BUILD ON THEM. 2011 Congress et Exhibition de l'Association des Transports du Canada. Les Succes en Transports: Une Tremplin vers l'Avenir
  • Location: Edmonton , Canada
  • Date: 2011-9-11 to 2011-9-14
• Publication Date: 2011

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Pagination: 13 p.
• Monograph Title: 2011 Conference and Exhibition of the Transportation Association of Canada - Transportation Successes: Let's Build on Them

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Gases; Greenhouse effect; Intelligent transportation systems; Markets; Mathematical models; Measurement; Motion; Pollutants; Trucks; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Geographic Terms: Canada
• ITRD Terms: 8018: Canada; 8525: Conference; 5911: Efficiency; 2442: Emission; 6734: Gas; 2451: Greenhouse effect; 8735: Intelligent transport system; 1236: Lorry; 236: Market; 6473: Mathematical model; 6136: Measurement; 9050: Moving; 5485: Weight
• Subject Areas: Motor Carriers; Operations and Traffic Management; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01360470
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC)
• Files: ITRD, TAC
• Created Date: Jan 9 2012 12:42PM