A Systematic Evaluation of the Impacts of Traffic Condition Information on the Reduction of On-road Mobile Emissions

Current Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) allow travelers to change their route, mode, departure time, route choice or destination to avoid delays and congestions, which results in improved traffic flow. This means higher vehicle speed, lower travel time and delay, and less extreme vehicle acceleration and deceleration events for the facility, and reduced total on-road vehicle emissions. The goal of this research is to evaluate the impacts of ATIS on the reduction of on-road mobile emissions. To achieve the research objectives, emission levels at different congestion levels on freeway and arterial road stretches were estimated using extensive data collection and processing. The emission estimation was done with MOVES software from the EPA. This study prepared the primary input, i.e., operating mode ID distribution, required for running MOVES and developed models to estimate emissions for different types of roadways under different congestion levels. The study results were then used to develop a framework to estimate the effects of ATIS on air quality. To demonstrate application of the developed framework, a case study was done to evaluate the impacts of ATIS on vehicle emissions under an incident condition. Results from this study will provide transportation planners and environmental analysts with a qualitative assessment method for evaluating the impacts of ATIS on air quality.

• Record URL:
  http://tranliveutc.org/~/media/UIdaho-Responsive/Files/engr/research/tranlive/reports/TranLIVE_TSU_Traffic%20Information%20on%20Emission.ashx
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/32551
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Southern University

  Innovative Transportation Research Institute
  3100 Cleburne Avenue
  Houston, TX  United States 

  TranLIVE

  University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS0901
  Moscow, ID  United States  83844-0901

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Qi, Yi
  • Yu, Lei
  • Padiath, Ameena
  • Zhao, Qun
  • Wang, Yubian
• Publication Date: 2016-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 100p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Advanced traveler information systems; Case studies; Environmental impacts; Pollutants; Traffic congestion; Traffic flow
• Identifier Terms: Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES)
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Environment; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01644779
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. N
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC17
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 31 2017 1:12PM