Simulation of particulate matter concentration at the expressway tollbooth and the emission reduction from switching to the free flow system | |
| Author | Janenarong Lerdtasemar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-21-05 |
| Subject(s) | Traffic congestion--Environmental aspects Air quality--Environmental aspects--Thailand--Bangkok Express highways--Environmental aspects--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Traffic congestion problem in Bangkok happens at the tollbooths of the expressway because of high traffic volumes, inappropriate traffic management, toll collecting system management and complicated roads route. When vehicles stop at the tollbooth, the drivers always keep their vehicle’s engines running (idling) which also emit a high level of exhaust pollutants. Thus, this study aimed to apply the USEPA’s CAL3QHC model which had an algorithm to estimate a queue length for different signal timings at the signalized intersections to predict PM2.5 concentrations at Prachachuen Tollbooth on Sirat Expressway in Bangkok. The required inputs for the model were traffic volume, vehicle types, vehicle composition, meteorological data and emission factors to estimate PM2.5 concentrations from the traffic at the tollbooth. Running and idling emission factors of different vehicle emission standards were estimated using pre-developed emission factors from the EMission FACtor and USEPA’s Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator. Other data were collected from the site survey and video camera at the tollbooth. Outputs of the model were both 1-hour and 24-hours average concentration of PM2.5 during weekdays and weekends between 1st January 2021 and 31st March 2021. These output concentrations were calibrated by comparing with the concentration from the monitoring data at Prachachuen toll administration and evaluated using the statistic indexes. The CAL3QHC model was then used to estimate pollutant concentration reduction based on three toll collection systems (current, Easy-Pass and Free-flow toll collection systems) in Thailand’s Transportation System Development Strategies by reducing payment cycle length at the toll gate and converting all Manual toll collection system to all Easy-Pass and all Free-flow toll collection systems. The model results showed that changing to the all Easy Pass toll collection system could reduce PM2.5 concentration by 52.4% compared to the current system. Also, changing to all Free-flow toll collection system could reduce PM2.5 concentration by 59.5% from the current system. Considering only PM2.5 concentration reduction and the cost of construction for the three toll collection systems, this study showed highest benefit (in term of concentration reduction per cost) in all Easy-Pass toll collection system. |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, Chettiyappan;Santoso, Djoen San; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Loom Nam Khong Pijai (Greater Mekong Subregion) Scholarships; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2021 |