Optimal Total Vehicle Pollutants Emission Quantity Based on Link Traffic Capacity Constraints

With the growing of vehicles ownership, the vehicular exhaust emissions have become major sources of air pollution in cities. In this paper, the pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NO_x), and hydrocarbon (HC) are considered as evaluation factors. On the basis of the relation between the emission factors and vehicle's velocity and the relation amongst three parameters (Volume, Speed, and Density) of traffic flow, we have designed a model. This calculates the total quantity of pollutants emission from vehicles based on speed, proportion of vehicle types, and traffic volume. Using the theory of nonlinear programming, we have formed an optimal model in which the link capacity is one main constraint and the minimum of the total quantity of pollutants emission is the goal and designed its algorithm solution. The aim of our research is to find a method to control the quantity of traffic pollutants emission through adjusting and controlling the composition of vehicle types, and then the traffic volume and vehicle's running speed indirectly. Finally, the feasibility of the model is justified through a practical example.