SWUTC Research Project Description

Title of Project: Optimized Deployment of Emissions Reduction Technologies for Large Fleets

Project Number:  476660-00022

Principal Investigator:
Mohamadreza Farzaneh
(512) 467-0946
P.I. Affiliation:  Texas A&M University

Project Monitor:
Duncan F. Stewart, P.E., Ph.D.
Transportation Research Engineer
Research & Technology Implementation Office
TxDOT
P.O. Box 5080
Austin, TX 78763-5080
(512) 465-7648

Project Status:  Active

Date Started:  9/1/09

Estimation Completion Date:  8/31/10

Estimated Cost - Current Fiscal:  $65,475

Estimated Cost - Total Planned:  $65,475

Project Summary:
Project Abstract:
This research study will produce an optimization model capable of determining the most efficient assignment of emission reduction strategies among vehicles and equipment in a large fleet. To achieve the goal, this study will focus on Texas Department of Transportation’s fleet. TxDOT owns and operates more than 6000 vehicles of which approximately 3,200 units are non-road diesel equipment. TxDOT is considering serious actions to reduce emissions from their fleet, especially in designated nonattainment (NA) and near nonattainment (NNA) areas. This proposed study will include a comprehensive literature review, interview with TxDOT staff, obtaining current TxDOT fleet data, identifying the key parameters affecting the deployment of resources to reduce emissions, and finally developing and assessing an optimization model for producing an optimal emissions reduction strategies deployment plan for a typical large fleet.

Project Objectives:
The research project will focus on the following four objectives:

• To assess the current emissions reduction practices of large fleet operators;
• To document and evaluate the potential emissions reduction strategies that are applicable to large fleets;
• To identify key factors that influence the distribution of resources of a large fleet owner/operator among its vehicles and equipment in order to reduce their negative air quality impacts; and
• To develop and assess an optimization model capable of producing an optimal resource deployment plan aimed at reducing emissions from a large fleet.

Task Descriptions:
Task 1: Literature Review.
Existing reports and articles pertaining to optimal strategy deployment, transportation air quality, and fleet management will be reviewed. Researchers will focus on the identification and critical review of the problems with large vehicle fleets with regards to their environmental impacts and current practices relevant to reducing emissions from fleet activities. The research team will also identify the optimization modeling approaches that are suitable for this investigation. The emphasis of this task will be on identifying the elements of large fleet activities that impact the air quality most as well as optimal assignment of emissions reduction strategies to maximize the overall impact of mitigation strategies.

Task 2: Characterize TxDOT’s Fleet Operations and Emissions.
Key personnel at TxDOT will be interviewed. Interviews will include TxDOT fleet management staff as well as local fleet managers at a sample of TxDOT districts located at nonattainment or near nonattainment areas. The focus of the interviews will be to identify TxDOT’s concerns about their air quality impacts, their current and projected resources and limitations, and decision making flow with regards to air quality performance as well as their current emission reduction practices, experience to date, challenges or obstacles encountered, and any benefit realized. Researchers will also try to obtain up-to-date data concerning TxDOT fleet inventory and operational statistics and the costs of implemented emissions reduction strategies. The data will be used in conjunction with suitable emissions factors to quantify the emissions impacts of TxDOT fleet. Additional interviews will include a sample of other public fleet operators on their operation and emissions reduction practices.

Task 3: Identify and Characterize Emissions Reduction Strategies
Potential emissions reduction strategies, both technological options and operational practices, will be identified and reviewed with an emphasis on NOx and PM emissions. The purpose of this task is to construct a matrix of the potential emissions reduction strategies which contains information on characteristics of each option in terms of efficiency and applicability to large fleets’ operations. These identified characteristics will be translated and expressed in suitable mathematical format to be included in the optimization model. Applicability to non-road equipment and on-road vehicles, cost, reported emissions benefit, availability, documented past performance, technical features, and maintenance requirements are among the characteristics that will be covered in this task.

Task 4: Construct and Refine the Optimization Model.
This task consists of three major steps: 1- Identify the key factors that determine the deployment of emissions reduction technologies among the target counties, 2- Construct and formulate the objective function for determining the optimal assignment of emissions reduction strategies, and 3- Identify and formulate the constraints for such deployment analysis. Factors such as costs associated with deploying the strategies, location, operational hours, age of the equipments, and available budget are among the potential factors to be included in the model. TxDOT staff will be consulted on each step to ensure that the model captures the key components. Furthermore, a subset of fleet data obtained from TxDOT will be used in a feedback loop process to refine the model.

Task 5: Model Demonstration using TxDOT Fleet Data.
The model will be demonstrated by applying a selection of emissions control strategies for vehicles and equipment in TxDOT fleet. The most recent TxDOT fleet inventory will be utilized for this purpose. The required information regarding the vehicles, TxDOT operation, emissions reduction strategies’ cost and efficiencies will be plugged into the model and the optimal distribution of strategies will be determined. A sensitivity analysis will be done by changing the budget constraint and efforts will be made to investigate the changes in optimal distribution of technologies with changing the budget.

Task 6: Preparation of Final Report and PowerPoint Presentation.
A final report, including an executive summary, will be prepared documenting the findings, methodology, and the resulted model. The source code of the model will be also submitted in digital format on a CD. The model files and documentation will also be made available on-line.

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