Optimize Freight Routes and Modes that Minimize Environmental Impacts
Project Title
Optimize Freight Routes and Modes that Minimize Environmental Impacts
University
Old Dominion
Principal Investigator
Mike Robinson, Ph.D.
Transportation Research Lead, Old Dominion University
PI Contact Information
Funding Sources and Amounts Provided
US Department of Transportation — $40,000
Old Dominion University — $40,000
Total Project Cost
$80,000
Agency ID or Contract Number
DTRT12GUTC17
Start Date
5/1/12
End Date
9/30/14
Description of Research Project
This project was initially intended to integrate existing emission models and commercial transportation simulations (microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic) to estimate emissions produced by FHWA vehicle class 9 trucks. Initial forays at the microscopic level with results provided little encouragement for eventual widespread application or benefit. Literature reviews identified several studies using microscopic simulations for single vehicle emissions calculation and reporting that emissions could be reduced by route choice. The project was amended to focus on integration of the EPA MOVES model and a macroscopic transportation demand model (TDM).
Analyses use the Hampton Roads, VA TDM and Citilabs®’ Cube Voyager model because of their ready availability and known level of accuracy and update status. The real-world system networks can be modified to allow consideration of greater elevation changes than actually exist.
The work is intended to assess the viability of using MOVES with a TDM with freight truck route choice based on lowest emissions in contrast to lowest travel time and complete the route choice assessment quickly enough to provide real world value.
The primary objectives include:
- Assess the potential reductions in emissions from commercial trucks (FHWA vehicle class 9 trucks) that may be realized by changes in vehicle routing, and
- Develop a methodology for road segment classification that can be employed in any region to allow rapid comparisons of relative emission rates, reducing emissions to the environment by better informed route assignment.
The project directly contributes to Goal 2 of the TranLIVE prospectus: Develop modeling, simulation, and visualization tools that assess energy, environmental, and emission impacts of transportation systems to support transportation decision making at the local, regional, and national levels.
Previous studies have shown that route choice is a viable means of reducing emissions and that MOVES can calculate emissions per segment and be used to identify routes with lowest emissions. However, MOVES analyses of large areas can require as much as a week or more to complete. The methodology used can speed the process, potentially shortening emissions based route assignments from days to hours (in a few hours instead of a few days). Additionally, iterative runs using a Frank-Wolfe based algorithm are conducted until a user-equilibrium is reached, a tactic not used (to the researchers knowledge) in other studies. The process provides the best route distribution, but does not recalculate the total emissions, however this information can be obtained by running the MOVES model with the revised truck distribution.
Implementation of Research Outcomes
Research has been completed and a final report provided. Research results will be presented at the 2015 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting.
Impacts and Benefits of the Project
The final report was submitted as a paper to the 2015 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting. The paper was accepted for presentation and is under consideration for publication. Should subsequent reviews and comments be positive, follow on work will be proposed to develop a generic system for use in different areas.
- Foytik, P. and Robinson, R.M. “Integrating Truck Emissions Cost in Traffic Assignment,” To be presented at the 94th Annual meeting of the TRB, Washington, D.C., January 11-15, 2015, paper # 15-4936.
Web Links
Final Report: ODU_TranLIVE_FinalReport_FreightEmissions
Keywords
- environment
- planning and design
- transportation
- emissions
- trucks
- freight
- models
- simulations