System And Methods for Quantifying Greenhouse Gas Emissions Via Measurement and Modelling of Traffic Data and For Influencing Traffic Signaling to Reduce Such Emissions
A system and method are provided for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with vehicle traffic. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of devices located at a plurality of traffic intersections in a traffic network, each device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain data from the corresponding traffic intersection; using the received data and a traffic model to determine vehicle trajectory data; using the vehicle trajectory data and an emissions model to obtain corresponding GHG emissions data; and evaluating the corresponding GHG emissions data to a baseline of GHG emissions using a GHG quantification methodology to determine a GHG reduction that can achieve a carbon offset credit.
1 . A method of quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with vehicle traffic, the method comprising:
receiving data from a plurality of devices in a traffic network, each device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain data from the traffic network;
using the received data and a traffic model to determine data associated with vehicles in the traffic network;
using the data associated with the vehicles and an emissions model to obtain corresponding GHG emissions data; and
evaluating the corresponding GHG emissions data to a baseline of GHG emissions using a GHG quantification methodology to determine a GHG reduction.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received data comprises camera data obtained at a traffic intersection using a video capture device configured to obtain images and/or video data.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received data comprises data from a plurality of intelligent signaling devices located at a plurality of traffic intersections.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the traffic model is used to identify a type of vehicle, a direction of travel of the vehicle, and a speed of the vehicle.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising receiving vehicle data from at least one vehicle traveling through one of the plurality of intersections.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the received data is used to determine a vehicle type, and the vehicle type is used in obtaining the corresponding GHG emissions data.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline of GHG emissions is determined dynamically over a timespan associated with a project, by periodically re-quantifying the baseline of GHG emissions based on current measured network conditions.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the received data is used periodically to determine inputs that vary over time to update baseline estimates of the network conditions, used to determine the baseline of GHG emissions.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the baseline of GHG emissions is determined using a statistical model of pre-project emissions or other data collected periodically over a life of the project.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data associated with the vehicles comprises vehicle trajectory data.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
using data from multiple signaling devices to calculate a route traveled by a vehicle associated with the vehicle trajectory data; and
using the route to determine a distance traveled by the vehicle in applying the GHG quantification methodology.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the GHG quantification methodology follows an industry standard.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the industry standard corresponds to ISO 14064-2:2019.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising submitting the GHG reduction determination to obtain a carbon offset credit.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the corresponding GHG emissions data and the baseline of GHG emissions are estimated using a set of inputs, the set of inputs comprising any one or more of vehicle type, speed, acceleration, distance travelled, or emissions factors.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the GHG reduction is determined according to whether it can achieve a carbon offset credit.
17 . A system for quantifying greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with vehicle traffic, the system comprising a processor and memory, the memory comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
receive data from a plurality of devices in a traffic network, each device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain data from the traffic network;
use the received data and a traffic model to determine data associated with vehicles in the traffic network;
use the data associated with the vehicles and an emissions model to obtain corresponding GHG emissions data; and
evaluate the corresponding GHG emissions data to a baseline of GHG emissions using a GHG quantification methodology to determine a GHG reduction.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the received data comprises camera data obtained at a traffic intersection using a video capture device configured to obtain images and/or video data.
19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the received data comprises data from a plurality of intelligent signaling devices located at a plurality of traffic intersections.
20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computing system, cause the computing system to:
receive data from a plurality of devices in a traffic network, each device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain data from the traffic network;
use the received data and a traffic model to determine data associated with vehicles in the traffic network;
use the data associated with the vehicles and an emissions model to obtain corresponding GHG emissions data; and
evaluate the corresponding GHG emissions data to a baseline of GHG emissions using a GHG quantification methodology to determine a GHG reduction.