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ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS FROM THE OPTIMIZATION OF URBAN TRAFFIC FLOW

Alberts Auziņš

Abstract

The article presents the analysis of the environmental benefits from the optimization of urban traffic flow or from the measures to alleviate slow traffic flow (congestions). The environmental benefits are evaluated by assessing the decrease in the external costs due to the reduced emissions of such pollutants as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The emissions of pollutants are estimated according to the calculations of fuel consumption. To asses the potential environmental benefits, the analysis is carried out by using a set of assumptions about traffic intensity, increase in driving speed, etc. The emissions from petrol cars and from diesel cars are analysed separately. The results of the study imply that the environmental benefits per se are quite low if compared with the indicative costs of the optimization of urban traffic flow. Nonetheless, the environmental benefits complement the other benefits from the optimization of urban traffic flow. Thus, these benefits can play a crucial role in reaching the break-even. The results of the study also outline the potential environmental benefits from the transition to zero-emission transport, e.g. electric cars.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgem2019/5.3/s21.005

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