Reducing Freeway Emission via Ramp Metering Control Melissa Doll, 5th Grade Science, Lakota Endeavor School Gina Rider, 9th Grade Algebra I, Seton High School

Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Project Overview Congestion Control Ramp Meter System Project Overview Background Literature Review Goals and Objectives Research Tasks Evaluating Output Project Conclusion Timeline References Challenge Based Learning Units Acknowledgements

Abstract Evaluating the efficiency of ramp metering with respect to emissions Study conducted using the following: Traffic counts PM 2.5 sensors GPS data Criteria developed for future study sites Speak about the data collected was inconclusive

Introduction More than 50% of congestion is recurring mainly due to heavy volume. 5.5 billion extra hours spent travelling. 2.9 billion extra gallons of fuel used. Total congestion cost of $121 billion spent. Stress total congestion counts includes dollars spent on fuel and vehicle operations

Congestion Control Congestion occurs on freeway ramps and mainline because of platoons of vehicles attempting to merge onto the freeway Ramp meters are traffic signals on freeway entrance ramps Freeway traffic must slow down to create gaps or ramp traffic will need to either speed up or slow down to merge with traffic.; ramp meters placed on the entrance ramps allow traffic to merge onto the freeway without disrupting the free flow on the mainline

Ramp Meter System Fixed-timed systems and sensor monitored systems Allows cars to join freeway mainline without disrupting traffic flow Source: RET 2014 presentation slide

Project Overview Ramp meters are an effective tool for mitigating freeway traffic congestion. This study focuses on the use of ramp meters to mitigate vehicle emissions. Vehicles produce greater emissions when they accelerate. When constant speed is maintained, engines operate more efficiently. Source: www.whio.com/photo/news/local/obama-visit-crumbling-brent-spence-bridge Source: http://ethanolfacts.com/lower-toxic-emissions/

Literature Review Madison Beltline study concluded that ramp meters did improve traffic flow; citing a 3% to 18% increase depending on direction and time of day. Kim, G., Lee, S., and Choi, K. (2004). “Simulation-Based Evaluation for Urban Expressway Ramp Metering: a Madison Beltline Case,” KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, Springer, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 335-342.

Literature Review In a southern California study, freeway emissions (CO2) were reduced by 7% when traffic maintained a steady flow (60 mph). Barth, M. and Bonboonsomsin, K. (2008). “Real-World Carbon Dioxide Impacts of Traffic Congestion,” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Vol. 2058, pg. 163.

Goals and Objectives Goal: Evaluating the effectiveness of a ramp meter at reducing freeway emissions Objectives: Understanding Traffic Flow, Queueing, Shockwave Theories and Ramp Meter Operations Collecting GPS and PM 2.5 data Using MOVES to analyze data and to compile results

Research Tasks Research Training in the following areas: Traffic Flow Theory Queuing Theory Shockwave Theory Ramp Metering Systems

Counting Traffic on Martin Luther King Research Training PM 2.5 Sensor Counting Traffic on Martin Luther King I-74 Study Site

Research At Study Site Melissa: counted cars and trucks on freeway mainline Sri: counted cars and trucks on entrance ramp Gina: drove freeway loop to collect GPS data Dr. Corey: charted and organized data

Evaluating Output Blue lines represents cars, red line is number of trucks, lack of congestion, 2200 vehicles per hour per lane = max volume, our volume was 886 vehicles per hour per lane

Evaluating Output Sensor Data for Sensor #1 Horizontal Axis is measuring time in seconds Vertical Axis is measuring voltage spike Sensor was taking a voltage reading every second.

Evaluating Output Sensor Data for Sensor #2 Horizontal Axis is measuring time in seconds Vertical Axis is measuring voltage spikes Sensor was taking a reading every second.

Project Conclusion MOVES was not utilized since there was no evidence of freeway congestion Criteria generated for future study sites Access Conditions Traffic Conditions Rubric created for evaluating future study sites. Criteria includes ease of study, placement area for sensors, increase quality and number of sensors, evidence of congestion, places that attract heavy traffic,

Possible Sites for Future Studies Colerain Avenue--Eastbound Mitchell Avenue--Northbound Montana Avenue--Eastbound

Ramp Sites’ Evaluations Montana and Colerain had the same overall average scores; though Montana was scored the same by both Melissa and Gina

Project Timeline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Research Training Technical Training Data Collection Research Report EDP training CBL Unit Traffic, Shockwave, Queueing Theories MOVES, GPS Sensors MLK, I-75, Dalton Ave, I-74 Literature Review, Powerpoint, Video Workshops Development of individual units and activities

References

Gina’s Unit Topic 9th Grade Honors Algebra I Wait Time Big Idea: Efficient Traffic Flow Essential Questions: What is acceptable wait time? How can we minimize the number of people waiting in a “service” line? How can intersections be improved to move cars at a more constant rate? Describe what class I will be using this unit for: 9th grade Honors Algebra I (all girls); efficient traffic flow is how to minimize travel time between two points

Lesson 1 Activity 2 Queue Theory Waiting in line at the gates of Kings Island

Lesson 2 Activity 1 Walking Field Trip Walking Field trip to Glenway, Warsaw, and Quebec avenues; students will data collect arrival, departure rates, stop times, take pictures of the intersectin

Challenge Makeover An Intersection Students will be creating a graphical model of an “ideal” intersection Constraints: Lanes required for all turns Bus and bicycle lanes required Pedestrian crosswalks required Must be aesthetically pleasing

Melissa Doll’s Unit 5th Grade Science Force, Motion and Speed Unit Topic: Force, Motion and Speed Big Idea: Cars are moved by a force and the amount of force can be calculated (speed). Essential Question: How can different forces be used to move a car forward? Standard:5 PS 4 The amount of change in movement of an object is based on the mass of the object and the amount of force related.

Lesson 1 Activity 1 Hook- show video of NASCAR crashes Lesson on forces

Lesson 1 Activity 2 Force Lab- Station one-magnetic marble and magnetic wand Station two- toy car that operates by pushing down on a spring Station three- balloon that is blown up Station four- toy car Station five- blow drier and ping pong ball Station six- pinwheel Station seven- marble track toy Station eight-cork in a cup of water

Lesson 2 Activity 3 Lesson on Speed Marble ramp lab-students roll 3 different mass ball bearings down a ramp at different inclines to increase speed. Student will change mass first and measure the movement of a block at end of ramp. Then students will change incline, speed and measure movement of a block.

Lesson 2 Activity 4 Students will work in groups of three Task: Create a vehicle that can travel a distance of at least 5m using one of the forces from the unit. Constraints are as follows: 1. The vehicle cannot be pushed or pulled to begin movement. 2. It must be an original design. No store purchased toys or kits may be used 3. It must travel a distance of at least 5m for three consecutive trials. 4. No vinegar and water, mementos and coke, gas- propane or derby cars. 5. Must use items found in your house.

Acknowledgements The RET Program is funded by the National Science Foundation, Grant ID # EEC-1404766 Special thanks to the following, who without their support, this project would not have been possible: Project Faculty Member, Dr. Jonathan Corey Graduate Research Assistant, Mr. Sri Harsha Mulpuru RET Project Director & Private Investigator, Dr. Anant R. Kukreti RET Resource & Grant Coordinator, Debbie Liberi RET Resource Teacher, David Macmorine