Cruising to lower emissions

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) have been shown to reduce environmental impacts by reducing emissions and improving air quality. In England, local authorities are responsible for assessing and managing air quality and are required to declare air quality management areas (AQMAs) where levels are not expected to meet the Government's air quality objectives. The impact of vehicle speed variation on hydrocarbon emissions is described. A probe vehicle was used by TRL to measure exhaust emissions directly when a car was driven on the M42 motorway between junctions 3a and 7 in Birmingham as part of a survey to study changes in traffic behaviour. Four areas of the speed flow curve were identified relating to different levels of emissions for quiet, free flow, busy and congested conditions. MIDAS data collected simultaneously as the NOx emission data was used to assign a traffic state. Emissions were lowest in the free-flow traffic. A test scenario was created to evaluate various ITS measures for their impact. These included variable speed limits, ramp metering and access management. It was concluded that emissions would be reduced by a combination of ITS technologies that smooth flows and speeds in order to reduce flow breakdown.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00396303
• Authors:
  • Bell, M
  • Chen, Huanlei
  • HACKMAN, M
  • McCabe, K
  • PRICE, S
• Publication Date: 2007-5-17

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 12-4
• Serial:
  • SURVEYOR
  • Volume: 195
  • Issue Number: 5927
  • Publisher: Hemming Group, Limited
  • ISSN: 0039-6303

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Air quality management; Environmental protection; Freeways; Intelligent transportation systems
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2452: Air pollution; 2433: Emission control; 2444: Environment protection; 8735: Intelligent transport system; 2752: Motorway; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; I10: Economics and Administration; I15: Environment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01076150
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 18 2007 10:01AM