Abstract

Particulate Matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and meteorological parameters were monitored at 10 second averaging intervals adjacent the Borman Expressway in Northwestern Indiana before and during the implementation of an Intelligent Transportation System. Traffic data was collected from sensors on the expressway. The high-resolution data permitted the expressway contribution to local air quality to be separated from background components of local air quality and significant correlations were made between pollutant flux and traffic flow and pollutant flux and highway occupancy. Traffic incidents (accidents / congestion) were shown to have a rapid impact on local air quality. In many examples, during-incident pollution flux increased 2 to 3 times pre-incident levels. Oversaturated traffic operating conditions deleteriously affected local air quality and if avoided by ITS or other methods would significantly improve local air quality.

Keywords

ITS, Intelligent, Transportation, Systems, Environmental, Air, Pollution, Database, PM2.5, CO, Fine, Particulate, Matter, Carbon, Monoxide, Borman, Expressway, Ambient Monitoring, SPR-2338

Report Number

FHWA/IN/JTRP-2002/05

SPR Number

2338

Performing Organization

Joint Transportation Research Program

Publisher Place

West Lafayette, IN

Date of Version

2002

DOI

10.5703/1288284313198

Project Number

C-36-67ZZ

File Number

9-10-51

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