2013 Session: 714

• Ecodrive Application: Algorithmic Development and Preliminary Testing
  Abstract: The research presented in this paper develops and quantifies the fuel savings associated with an eco-drive system that combines an eco-cruise control (ECC) algorithm and state-of-the-art car-following models. The system makes use of topographic information provided from a high resolution map, the spacing between the subject and lead vehicle that can be obtained from a radar system or some form of vehicle-to-vehicle communication, a desired (or target) vehicle speed, a minimum and maximum desired speed, and a cruise control spacing threshold. The study demonstrates that the proposed system can significantly improve vehicle fuel efficiency without significantly increasing the inter vehicle spacing. Specifically, fuel savings in the range of 27 percent are achieved with an average vehicle spacing of 48 m along a study section of Interstate 81. The study also demonstrates that regular vehicles can benefit significantly by following a lead eco-drive vehicle.
  Authors: Ahn, Kyoungho; Rakha, Hesham; Park, Sangjun
  Authors: Ahn, Kyoungho; Rakha, Hesham; Park, Sangjun
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-0401
• Are Ecolanes a Sustainable Option to Reduce Emissions in a Medium-Sized European City?
  Abstract: Innovative traffic management measures are needed to reduce transportation-related emissions on arterials and freeways. While in Europe, road lane management has focused mainly on introduction of bus lanes, the conversion to High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) and eco-lanes (lanes dedicated to vehicles running on alternative fuels) has not been studied comprehensively. The objectives of this research are to: 1) Develop an integrated microscale modeling platform calibrated with real world data to assess both traffic and emissions impacts of future Traffic Management Strategies (TMS) in an urban area; 2) Evaluate the introduction of eco-lanes in three different types of roads in European medium-sized cities and its effects in terms of emissions and traffic performance. The methodology consists of three distinct phases: a) Traffic and road inventory data collection, b) Traffic and emissions modeling using an integrated platform of microsimulation, and c) Evaluation of scenarios. For the baseline scenario, the statistical analysis of the integrated platform show valid results, i.e., no significant differences between simulated and Vehicle Specific Power (VSP) modal distributions. Moreover, the methodology applied shows that HOV and eco-lanes in a medium European city are feasible. The results show that on freeways a majority of passengers can reduce their travel time about 5% with a positive impact in terms of total emissions (-3% CO2,-14% CO, -8% NOX). On urban arterials, emissions reduction can be achieved only if the average occupancy of vehicles increases from 1.37 (current) to 1.50. The broader implications for eco-lanes are discussed. KEYWORDS – integrated microscale modeling, eco-lanes, HOV, VSP, emissions
  Authors: Fontes, Tânia; Fernandes, Paulo Jorge; Rodrigues, Hugo; Bandeira, Jorge; Pereira, Sérgio; Khattak, Asad J.; Coelho, Margarida Cabrita
  Authors: Fontes, Tânia; Fernandes, Paulo Jorge; Rodrigues, Hugo; Bandeira, Jorge; Pereira, Sérgio; Khattak, Asad J.; Coelho, Margarida Cabrita
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-0550
• Ecorouting Model Considering Microscopic Vehicle Operating Conditions
  Abstract: The eco-routing problem concerned in this paper addresses the optimal route choice of eco-drivers who aim to meet an emission standard imposed by regulators, while trying to find the path with minimum total operating cost, which consists of both travel time and fuel costs. The paper first develops fuel consumption and greenhouse emission estimation models that link emission rates to vehicle's physical and operational properties. Unlike most studies in the literature, the emission model developed in this paper retains as many microscopic characteristics as feasible in the context of route planning. Specifically, it is able to approximate the impacts of major acceleration events associated with link changes and intersection idling, and yet does not require detailed acceleration data as inputs. The proposed eco-routing model explicitly captures delays at intersections and the emissions associated with them. Using a simple probabilistic model, the impacts of different turning movements on eco-routing are also incorporated. The proposed model is formulated as an constrained shortest path problem and solved by off-the-shelf solvers. Numerical experiments confirm that ignoring the effects of turning movements and acceleration may lead to sub-optimal routes for eco-drivers. The results also suggest that vehicle characteristics, especially weight and engine displacement, may influence eco-routing.
  Authors: Nie, Yu; Li, Qianfei
  Authors: Nie, Yu; Li, Qianfei
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4237
• Dynamic Ecodriving in Northern California: Study of Survey and Vehicle Operations Data from Ecodriving Feedback Device
  Abstract: Ecodriving describes the behavioral modifications that drivers can make to improve their fuel economy. Dynamic ecodriving comprises the use of real-time feedback information that informs the driver of vehicle performance. This study evaluates the performance of an aftermarket real-time feedback device that reported instantaneous fuel economy to drivers while driving. Study participants (N = 18) drove with the device for two months. During the first month, the device provided no feedback, but collected data on driving activity. During the second month, the device continued to collect data, but also provided the participant with feedback on real-time fuel economy. Participants could then use the information to self-teach how to improve their fuel economy. The participants took two surveys to evaluate their response to the device, and vehicle activity data was analyzed to ascertain the degree to which driving behavior changed. A majority (56%) reported in surveys that the device changed how they drove during the second month. Vehicle activity data showed that different participants modified different behaviors in response to the feedback. Nine participants made some reduction to their acceleration from a stop, and eight made some reduction in the magnitude of their deceleration to a stop. Eleven participants reduced their average highway speeds. Across the broader sample, average highway speeds declined from 65.9 to 65.4 mph. Overall changes observed in fuel efficiency were small across the sample, which when excluding outliers, constituted a 1.4% improvement in fuel economy.
  Authors: Martin, Elliot W.; Boriboonsomsin, Kanok; Chan, Nelson; Williams, Nigel; Shaheen, Susan A.; Barth, Matthew J.
  Authors: Martin, Elliot W.; Boriboonsomsin, Kanok; Chan, Nelson; Williams, Nigel; Shaheen, Susan A.; Barth, Matthew J.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4723
• Ecofriendly Navigation System Development for Heavy-Duty Trucks
  Abstract: Heavy-duty trucks are a critical component of the U.S. goods movement system; however, they consume a large amount of fuel and emit significant pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. The trucking industry is always looking for any measure to improve their operations and reduce fuel consumption, including efficient routing. Many existing fleet management and routing systems are based on minimizing total miles traveled which does not necessarily minimize fuel consumption or emissions, particularly under congestion and in areas having significant changes in road grade. In this paper, we describe new Eco-Friendly Navigation (EFNav) algorithms that were developed specifically to minimize fuel consumption and emissions from heavy-duty trucks. An EFNav mesoscale model was developed from a rich set of truck energy and emissions data collected by UC-Riverside’s heavy-duty Mobile Emissions Laboratory (MEL) and a robust data set simulated for a wide range of operating conditions using CE-CERT’s heavy-duty truck energy and emissions model. The mesoscale model is the basis of the EFNav routing algorithm and provides a more accurate projection of fuel use than the standard average speed based estimation by accounting for vehicle mass and road grade. A prototype implementation of the eco-routing system was performed for a heavily loaded class-8 heavy-duty truck. It was shown that the navigation system, with real-time traffic information, was able to estimate projected fuel use to within 7.5% over the test routes and simulation work showed that the variance in fuel use between an empty and fully loaded vehicle was as much as 240% over the selected route.
  Authors: Scora, George; Boriboonsomsin, Kanok; Barth, Matthew J.
  Authors: Scora, George; Boriboonsomsin, Kanok; Barth, Matthew J.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4548
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Ecodrive Application: Algorithmic Development and Preliminary Testing
  Authors: Rakha, Hesham
  Authors: Rakha, Hesham
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-0401
• Are Ecolanes a Sustainable Option to Reduce Emissions in a Medium-Sized European City?
  Authors: Bandeira, Jorge
  Authors: Bandeira, Jorge
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-0550
• Dynamic Ecodriving in Northern California: Study of Survey and Vehicle Operations Data from Ecodriving Feedback Device
  Authors: Barth, Matthew
  Authors: Barth, Matthew
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4723
• Dynamic Ecodriving in Northern California: Study of Survey and Vehicle Operations Data from Ecodriving Feedback Device
  Authors: Martin, Elliot
  Authors: Martin, Elliot
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4723
• Ecorouting Model Considering Microscopic Vehicle Operating Conditions
  Authors: Nie, Yu
  Authors: Nie, Yu
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Environment
  Session: 714
  Paper Number: 13-4237