Remote Sensing of Mobile Source Air Pollutant Emissions

H. Christopher Frey, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
North Carolina State University

Research Assistants:
David Eichenberger
Melissa Benson (Texas A&M University)
David S. Rhodes
Mitesh D. Kini

ABSTRACT

There is a growing recognition of the need to obtain on-road emissions data that are representative of actual driving conditions. Furthermore, relatively little attention has been given to emissions from specialized categories of vehicles, such as school buses. This project will use state-of-the-art remote sensing technology to obtain on-road emissions data for these vehicles. This project will result in estimates of on-road carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions for school buses in the form of emission factors. The emission factors will be on a grams of pollutant per gallon of fuel consumed, and a grams of pollutant per mile of vehicle travel, basis. Statistical techniques, including classical analytical approaches and numerical modeling techniques (e.g., bootstrap, Monte Carlo simulation), will be used to characterize the precision and accuracy of the estimated emission factors, and to distinguish variability in emissions from uncertainty in the measurement techniques.

Photograph of Remote Sensor Device in Action

To see a photograph of the NC Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR) "Smog Dog" in action, click here!