Abstract for presentation at 14th IUAPPA World Congress

The Use of On-road Measurements to Improve Understanding and Management of Vehicle Fleet Emissions in Australia

  • Jeff Bluett, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand
  • Brendan Hoyle, Queensland Transport, Australia
  • Karen Macintosh, Queensland Transport, Australia
  • Robin Seeley, Department of Environment and Heritage, Australia
  • Roger Bluett, Department of Environment and Conservation, Australia
  • Karl Carrabotta, Department of Environment and Conservation, Australia

    • Motor vehicles are a key source of urban air pollution and improving our knowledge about the actual pollutants emitted by a range of vehicles is a high priority issue for those agencies charged with managing air quality in metropolitan cities.
    A monitoring programme being undertaken in Brisbane, Sydney and Perth during 2006-07 will produce a large and detailed database containing up to 30,000 on-road vehicle emission measurements. Vehicle emissions will be measured using a remote sensing device (RSD). Four pollutants are sampled in the exhaust plumes of vehicles as they drive by. Vehicle speed and acceleration are also measured and number plate photographed. The number plate allows vehicle information to be matched with emission measurements. The RSD is linked to a driver feedback sign that instantaneously informs the driver about the state of their vehicle’s emissions.
    This paper presents a summary of measurements made in Brisbane, the first of the three cities being monitored. The emissions of 10,000 vehicles are profiled by vehicle age, fuel type and vehicle speed. The use of on-road vehicle emission measurements to validate emission factors, assess the effect of congestion and improve health impact assessments is examined. The utilisation of the data in the development and assessment of effective air pollution management strategies is discussed. The application of the RSD technology to a driver education programme is also explored.
    The paper concludes by presenting a summary of the planned outputs of this three city study which includes a state comparison of vehicle emissions profile.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd