Coupling Virtual Reality Simulator with Instantaneous Emission Model: A New Method for Estimating Road Traffic Emissions

Maria Rosaria De Blasiis, Chiara Ferrante, Fulvio Palmieri and Valerio Veraldi
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Maria Rosaria De Blasiis: Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, Via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Chiara Ferrante: Department of Engineering, Roma Tre University, Via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
Fulvio Palmieri: Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering Department (DIIEM), Roma TRE University, 00146 Roma, Italy
Valerio Veraldi: Research and Innovation for Sustainable Environment—R.I.S.E. Ltd., 00147 Roma, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-13

Abstract: The article presents a new methodology for traffic emissions modeling by coupled the use of dynamic emissions models with a virtual reality driving simulator. The former allows the drivers’ behavior to be studied through a virtual reality driving test, focusing the attention on how traffic flow conditions combined with road geometrical characteristics influence the driving behavior. The latter is used to model the instantaneous vehicle emissions, starting from the driving data provided by the driving simulator. The article analyzes the relationship among three factors: the driving behavior, the pollutant emissions, and the traffic flow condition. The results highlight the influence of the drivers’ behavior on fuel consumption and emissions factors. Under high traffic flow, despite the reduction of the average vehicle speed, the average emissions level increases due to the increased vehicle accelerations and decelerations, which influence the behavior of the engine and the aftertreatment system. The proposed approach points out the relationship between vehicle emissions and drivers’ behavior. Since the coupling among instantaneous emissions modeling and geometry-functionality conditions of the road reveals important elements that traditional approaches miss, the proposed method provides a new way to increase the efficiency of road design and management, from the environmental point of view.

Keywords: emissions factors; emissions models; driving simulator; driver behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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