ITS Successes in Addressing Environmental Issues was the theme of the 2015 ITS(UK) Smart Environment Interest Group (SEIG) Conference, jointly sponsored by the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s Automotive and Road Transport Technical Network, and hosted by the engineering company Arup, in London on 19 November 2015.
The SEIG Chair - Professor Margaret Bell CBE, Newcastle University, introduced the Conference and made the point that in the UK there are 50,000 premature deaths annually due to air pollution, much of it from road vehicles, compared to less than 2000 deaths in road traffic accidents.
The first paper, “Using Traffic Management Strategies to Minimise NOx Emissions”, by Andrew Hamilton of Siemens, described a project to demonstrate the feasibility of using traffic management to reduce NOx in areas which contain “high risk receptors” (namely pedestrians). Using an S-Paramics model of the SCOOT traffic light control system in the Clarence Street area of Staines – an Air Quality Management Area, and using Variable Message Signs (VMS) to divert traffic, with modified traffic light and pedestrian crossing timings, up to a 16% reduction in NOx pedestrian exposure could be achieved.
The second paper, “The Role of Electric Buses in Addressing the Issues of Emissions and Cost Reduction”, by Mehmet Emre of the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), predicted an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. The Department for Transport’s “Green Bus Fund” provides 80% of the extra cost of electric buses. Annual CO2 savings are 24 tonnes per electric bus compared to its diesel equivalent.
The third paper, “Further Development of an Integrated Database Platform for Monitoring and Predicting Air Quality” by Stephen Hanley of Amey, pointed out that isolated precision Air Quality data is insufficient to understand the impact of traffic. Using this Database and Assessment Platform, combining SCOOT, number-plate recognition, meteorological and sensor data, a wider-area system was demonstrated in Medway and in Tyne & Wear. Modelling the distribution of pollutants across a cross-section of an urban canyon is also possible. The project has been transferred to Amey, where collaboration with Newcastle will continue. This paper was awarded the IET ARTS (Automotive and Road Transport TPN) prize for best paper.
Dr Stephen Thomson of Transport Scotland discussed the “Ten Year ITS Strategy in Scotland - the Environmental Aspects”. Pollution is very much on the political agenda, and the national transport strategy is being refreshed. One-third of Scotland’s local roads are in an unacceptable condition with a maintenance backlog of over £2bn; but public resources are limited. ITS can optimise existing capacity using variable speed limits, variable message signs, ramp metering at key junction, average speed enforcement measures, and hard shoulder running, whilst at the same time minimising emissions.
Iarla Kilbane-Dawes of DfT addressed the subject of “Challenges and Opportunities in Reducing the Health Impacts of Air Pollution from Transport”, including a detailed treatment of the main air pollutants of concern, Particulate Matter and NO2, and their effect on health. The real world emissions of NO2 from diesel vehicles are greater than suggested by the regulatory tests, though performance for other pollutants has proven to be very good. The 2017 phase of the Euro 6 emissions standards will replace the existing drive cycle with one that is more representative of real-world driving, complemented by on-road tests.
Graeme Hill of Newcastle University presented a paper on “Enhancing the Energy Efficiency of Road Transport: the COMPASS4D Project”, a European funded project with test sites in Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Newcastle, Thessaloniki and Vigo. The project is addressing green light priority and speed advice. The latter in particular is found to work, especially in less congested environments.
Finally Jennie Martin of ITS (UK) and Keith McCabe of KAM Futures talked about the SEIG and the new ITS for Climate Platform. The latter - www.itsforclimate.org – is a French initiative supported by ITS(UK) which promotes ITS for a low carbon world, limiting climate change. ITS(UK) also plans to update the strategy its Carbon Working Group produced 5 years ago, taking note of the increased use of electric vehicles and smart motorways amongst other things.
An online resource document will follow on from the seminar, developed by ITS(UK) with support from the IET. The presentations were filmed for IET.tv and can be viewed here.
Dr John Walker
Transportation Research Group, University of Southampton and member of the
ARTS Network Executive Team