Impact of Traffic Management on Black Carbon Emissions: a Microsimulation Study

Abstract

This paper investigates the effectiveness of traffic management tools, including traffic signal control and en-route navigation provided by variable message signs (VMS), in reducing traffic congestion and associated emissions of CO 2 , NO x , and black Netw Spat Econ (2017) Simulation results for a real road network located in West Glasgow suggest that these traffic management tools can bring a reduction in travel delay and BC emission respectively by up to 6 % and 3 % network wide. The improvement at local levels such as junctions or corridors can be more significant. However, our results also show that the potential benefits of such interventions are strongly dependent on a number of factors, including dynamic demand profile, VMS compliance rate, and fleet composition. Extensive discussion based on the simulation results as well as managerial insights are provided to support traffic network operation and control with environmental goals. The study described by this paper was conducted under the support of the FP7-funded CARBOTRAF project.

Framework for Real-Time Traffic Management with Case Studies

“…Input data from the test sites include network characteristics, demand profile, meteorological conditions, etc., see [4]. Suitable ITS actions with the potential to reduce CO 2 , NO x and BC emissions while maintaining the efficient flow of traffic have been identified and incorporated in the traffic simulation.…”

“…Several valuable managerial insights are drawn from the offline simulation, with more details documented in [4]. Firstly, the benefits of the ITS actions are more pronounced at the local level than globally.…”

Sustainable Traffic Management in an Urban Area: An Integrated Framework for Real-Time Traffic Control and Route Guidance Design

“…In this vein, new technologies deployed in the Intelligent Transportation Systems framework may easily support drivers to adopt a more sustainable behavior and/or may allow a more sustainable Sustainability 2020, 12, 726 2 of 20 management of traffic flows. In particular, real-time traffic control (TC) [5] and Route Guidance (RG) [6] represents one of the most effective strategies, as also highlighted by the EU project CARBOTRAF [7], in which TC and variable message signs (VMSs) have been jointly used to reduce CO 2 and black carbon emissions.…”

“…sustainable management of traffic flows. In particular, real-time traffic control (TC) [5] and Route Guidance (RG) [6] represents one of the most effective strategies, as also highlighted by the EU project CARBOTRAF [7], in which TC and variable message signs (VMSs) have been jointly used to reduce CO 2 and black carbon emissions. The present paper aims to investigate the effectiveness of the joint implementation of a RG strategy and two simultaneous TC strategies.…”

Traffic solutions for greener and cleaner cities

“…Alam et al (2014) investigate the effectiveness to reduce emissions of traffic signal control and variable message sign using a microscopic transport model and an emissions model. Mascia et al (2016) uses both a macroscopic transport model and a macroscopic emission model to assess the environmental impact of speed limits changes in urban motorways. The same approach was used by Pu et al (2015) to evaluate the impact of a plate restriction policy on emission reduction.…”