The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Broad Agency Announcement last June calling for the study of intelligent transportation systems. The University of Buffalo was among seven universities selected to study the impact of smarter traffic patterns on regional emissions. Researchers Adel Sadek and Liya Guo recently announced initial findings from computer simulations of traffic patterns in the Buffalo-Niagara region. Sadek and Guo found that “green routing” would reduce carbon emissions by up to 27% in the area surrounding Buffalo, New York. These findings build on a report given by Sadek and Guo at the 18th World Congress on Transportation Systems this October.
Sadek and Guo used software from the Environmental Protection Agency to simulate emissions levels when drivers were rerouted based on traffic patterns. The Transportation Analysis and Simulation System (TRANSMIS) used information on traffic signals, daily patterns and construction to shift simulated drivers in different directions. The Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) was used to recreate carbon emissions based on fuel economy ratings, emissions volume and existing emissions levels. The research team ran MOVES and TRANSMIS hundreds of times to account for weather variations, construction and different approaches to traffic routing.
These simulations revealed a traffic pattern in the Buffalo-Niagara region referred to as the green-user equilibrium. This pattern would send drivers along predestined routes based on foreseeable traffic patterns in order to cut emissions. Sadek and Guo found that rerouting only about a fifth of drivers in morning and evening drive times could cut vehicle emissions in the region by 20%. “Green routing” would require shifting traffic from freeways to surface streets to eliminate bottlenecks and reduce accidents. The incorporation of “green routing” would increase commuting lengths by 11% in order to decrease regional vehicle emissions by 27%.
Drivers in the Buffalo-Niagara region should act as the vanguard for the “green routing” trend in the next decade. Sadek and Guo point out that “green routing” can cut emissions immediately as hybrids and EVs slowly infiltrate the American auto industry. State and federal funding could offset costs for GPS systems, online map networks and wireless communication necessary for intelligent routing. This recent research highlights the need for a holistic approach to green transportation. We are often dazzled by new hybrids, alt-fuel vehicles and EVs but forget that elements like “green routing” are necessary for a sustainable transportation system.
