Effects of vehicle technologies, traffic volume changes, incidents and work zones on greenhouse gas emissions production

• Emissions impact of traffic incident and construction workzones quantified.
• On-Road Simulation Emission Estimation Model (ORSEEM) is presented.
• Nonlinear multiple-variate models for highways and arterials are developed.
• Effects of vehicle technologies in traffic composition on GHG emissions quantified.

This paper quantifies the effects of newer, more efficient vehicle technologies, traffic volume changes, incidents and work zones on emissions production from on-road traffic. The effects are studied using microscopic traffic simulation and developed emissions estimation tools that together can capture emissions effects from the operating parameters of vehicles. An emissions estimation tool is used to estimate CO2, CO, CH4, THC, NOx, SOx, PM10 and PM2.5 emissions from on-road traffic. A case study of Montgomery County, Maryland’s I-270-MD-355 corridor, including connecting arterials, was conducted. This indicates that vehicle composition greatly affects the amount of emissions, and significant potential for reaching emissions reduction goals exists through improvements in vehicle mix efficiencies within the traffic composition. Further work zones and traffic incidents reduce the amount of emissions produced due to reduced average speeds, while per vehicle emissions rise over the span of the simulation network and simulation period. Models are also developed to support GHG emissions analyses for other comparable roadways.