|
|
Recent
and Current Externally-Sponsored Research Projects
Title: Development
and Evaluation of Methodological Framework for Real-World Vehicle Energy Use
and Emissions Estimation at Multiple Temporal and Vehicular Scales
Investigators: H.C. Frey (PI) and N.M. Rouphail (Co-PI)
Granting Agency: National Science Foundation
Dates:
Brief Description: Vehicle Fuel Use and Emissions (FU&E) have substantial national energy and environmental implications, but are confounded by intra/inter-vehicle variability and, therefore, require scientific inquiry to develop an improved basis for their characterization and management. The main objectives of this research are to: (1) quantify intra-vehicle variability in FU&E due to inter-driver variability, cold start, ambient conditions, and road grades; (2) develop FU&E models based on multiple levels of vehicle aggregation and multiple temporal scales; and (3) evaluate the interface of these models with transportation models and for use with real-time vehicle detection.
Title: A
Spatial-Temporal Modeling Approach for Evaluating the Impact of Environmental
Stressors, in Conjunction with Human Activity, on Human Health
Investigators: M. Fuentes (Statistics), H. Christopher Frey, S. Ghosh (Statistics)
Granting Agency: National Institutes of Health
Funding Amount: $333,280 in Year 1 ($66,923 for Frey portion), renewable for up to three years.
Dates:
Brief
Description: The focus of this
research is on development of new statistical methods for investigating the
spatial and temporal associations between environmental stressors and adverse
human health effects. The environmental
stressor investigated here will be fine particulate matter (PM) less than 2.5
microns in diameter (PM2.5).
Health effects to be assessed including mortality and morbidity. A key feature of this work will be to
quantify human exposure to PM2.5 based on ambient concentrations of
PM2.5, the penetration of ambient PM2.5 into various
microenvironments, and the activity patterns of humans with respect to time
spent in each microenvironment. The use
of an exposure-based metric for environmental stressors on humans, rather than
the more conventional ambient concentration metric, is hypothesized to lead to
a better capability to explain differences in the rate of mortality and
morbidity associated with PM2.5, such as when comparing results for
different geographic regions.
Title: Spatial
Temporal Analysis of Health Effects Associated with Sources and Speciation of
Fine Particulate Matter
Investigators: M.
Fuentes (Statistics), H. Christopher Frey, Y. Zhang (MEAS), M. Bell (Yale U.),
F. Dominici (Johns Hopkins)
Granting
Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STAR Grants Program
Dates: November
15, 2008 to November 14, 2011
Brief Description: The overall objective of this research is to investigate the adverse health outcomes associated with population exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), ans speciation of the fine PM to characterization geographic differences, sources, and population heterogeneity in putatively PM2.5 mediated health effects. We will answer the following questions: What is the recommended framework to integrate atmospheric models with monitoring data and other sources of information (i.e. source apportionment) to obtain a better spatial and temporal characterization of fine PM components and sources? How to use source apportionment and exposure assessment approaches in national epidemiological studies, while characterizing different sources of uncertainty in the models and the data?
Title: Regional
Development, Population Trend and Technology Change Impacts on Future Air
Pollution Emissions
Investigators: Nagui
M. Rouphail and H. Christopher Frey
Granting
Agency: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency STAR grant via
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Center for Transportation and
the Environment
Dates: November
2004 to November 2008
Brief Description: This
research tests the hypothesis that smart-growth development patterns can
significantly influence the quantity and location of direct and indirect
emissions from mobile sources. The patterns of interest include the type of
development and its location. We will
develop a general method for exploring the leverage that smart-growth
development patterns have on the spatial pattern and quantity of emissions from
mobile sources. We will explore scenarios and chart the envelope of the
effectiveness of smart growth as a means for reducing emissions. We will
determine whether substantial emissions reductions are feasible with forecasts
of the market penetration of smart growth.
Title: Measurement
and Evaluation of Alternative Fuels and Technologies for a Passenger Rail
Diesel Locomotive Prime Mover Engine
Investigators: H.C.
Frey (PI)
Granting
Agency: American Motive Power, Inc
Dates: May
16, 2009 to August 15, 2009
Brief
Description: The primary objectives
of the proposed study are to: (1)
Demonstrate a methodology for using a Portable Emissions Measurement System
(PEMS) in combination with an engine dynamometer used for performance testing
in order to obtain useful data regarding engine emissions; (2) Measure exhaust
gas concentrations of CO2, CO, HC, NO, and PM during a sequence of parametric
tests in order to provide a comparative
basis for assessing the effect of fuels, injectors, and engine parameter
settings with respect to emissions; and (3) Develop baseline emission factors
for the tested EMD 645 engine in units of g/sec, g/gallon, and g/bhp-hr that
may be used as a basis for comparisons in future work or with other engine
emissions data.
Title: Measurement
and Evaluation of Fuels and Technologies for Passenger Rail Service in North
Carolina
Investigators: H.C.
Frey (PI)
Granting
Agency: North Carolina Department of Transportation
Dates: August
16, 2009 to August 15, 2011
Brief
Description: This project will
include the following tasks: (1)
railyard measurement of fuel use and emission rates on the rebuilt or replaced
engines on each locomotive, using ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel and B20;
(2) measurement real-world in-use “over-the-rails” activity, fuel use, and
emissions for service between Raleigh and Charlotte; (3) assessment of the
avoided fuel use and emissions from substitution of rail service for highway
vehicle trips; (4) evaluation of the energy use and emissions implications of
B20 versus ULSD using a life cycle inventory approach; and (5) evaluation of
emerging alternative technologies for locomotives, such as hydrogen-fueled
internal combustion engines (ICEs) and fuel cells (FCs).
Updated September 29,
2009