Investigations of impacts of junction design on emissions: are our junctions sustainable?
| Date | 01 February 2013 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/20425941311323145 |
| Pages | 143-151 |
| Published date | 01 February 2013 |
| Author | Wafaa Saleh,Alistair Lawson |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management |
Investigations of impacts of
junction design on emissions: are
our junctions sustainable?
Wafaa Saleh
Transport Research Institute,
Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK, and
Alistair Lawson
School of Computing, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is an investigation of driving behaviour and impacts on
emissions at two traffic junctions.
Design/methodology/approach – A signalised junction and a roundabout in Edinburgh havebeen
selected. An instrumented car has been used and a GPS to monitor driving activities as well as a gas
analyser to monitor the vehicle’s emissions during the evening peak hour.
Findings – Vehicles’ emissions are affected by a large numberof factors including characteristics of
the engine and the vehicle, characteristics of the road, the fuel used and driving behaviour.
Originality/value – Different methods and approaches have been used to investigate thebehaviour
of vehicles at various traffic junctions. The main aim, however, has mostly been to reduce travel times
as well as traffic delays and queues at the junction. Consideration of environmental impacts has also
been made, but often as a by-product of congestion reduction and not as a main aim.
Keywords Modelling of emissions at junctions, Traffic modelling and sustainability,
GPS and emissions modelling, Driving cycles at traffic junctions, Emission, Traffic, Traffic control
Paper type Research p aper
Introduction
In order to tackle air pollution and air quality issues, it is important to attem pt to
reduce the amount of travel (i.e. number of trips, their duration, and distance travelled),
and also to attempt to reduce emissions from individual vehicles. This paper focuses
on how emissions can be reduced by investigating different driving conditions at
different parts of the transport system, such as signalised junctions and roundabouts.
Since the 1950s, a large number of research projects, frameworks and studies have
been devoted to develop policies and standards to influence travel behaviour, reduce
congestion and improve public transport in the first instance, whilst also improving
air quality (see e.g. Saleh and Sammer, 2009; Mun
˜oz and Ortu
´zar, 2008; Jara-Dı
´az and
Gschwender, 2005; Bonsall et al., 2007; Stewart, 2009; de Palma et al., 2007).
Junctions are a crucial element in the road network as they are the “hot spots” where
emissions, delays and accidents seemingly occur most often. “Problems posed by the
environmental impact of traffic are growing and are a challenge for traffic engineers.
Vehicular emissions are dependent on the total amount of traffic, intersection control
type, driving patterns and vehicular characteristics”, the amount of acceleration and
deceleration and idling times (Mandavilli et al., 2008).
The aim of this paper is to investigate impacts of traffic junction controls on
emissions. This will be achieved through a survey of two junction control methods.
Twojunct ions havebeen selecte dfo r the study, a signalised junction and a roundabout,
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
WorldJour nal of Science, Technology
and Sustainable Development
Vol.10 No.2, 2013
pp. 143-151
rEmeraldGroup PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/20425941311323145
143
Impacts of
junction design
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