COMPUTER SIMULATION: TRAFFIC-RELATED AIR POLLUTION AND THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL CYCLE TIME OPTIMIZATION

Abstract

Emissions from motor vehicles, one of the most important air pollution sources in the city, is emerging as a growing problem in large-scale cities. The amounts of emissions are affected by the number of vehicles in traffic, vehicle technology, geometric and traffic conditions of highways and intersections, and environmental factors. Traffic flow is mostly interrupted at Intersections in local traffic, especially in city centers. Emissions of these points, where traffic behavior is changed and vehicles stop and go, are higher as compared to uninterrupted flows. In this study, current state emissions at 120 Intersection were determined by SIDRA INTERSECTION software. Then, new emissions are determined by the same software after improvement in signalization. As a result of the study, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions were calculated before and after improvement. As a result of observations at the intersection, current state fuel consumption was calculated as 1718.2, l/hour, and CO2, CO, HC, and NOX emissions were 40464.7, 3.821, 0.482, and 5.060 kg/hour respectively for the morning. After that current state fuel consumption was calculated as 1492.1, l/hour, and CO2, CO, HC, and NOX emissions were 3522, 3.116, 0.406, and 3.246 kg/hour respectively for the evening. It has been determined that there were significant differences between the current state and after improvement. Improvements in geometric conditions or signalization at intersections may result in a decrease in vehicle emissions and improve the air quality in cities.