Factors affecting vehicles' carbon emission in road networks

• Published in: Transportmetrica (Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK) Vol. 12; no. 8; pp. 736 - 750
• Main Authors: Kang, Jin-gu, Oh, Heung-un
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 13.09.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: air pollution; Carbon; district; Emission; fuel comsumption; Highways; intersection; Intersections; Population density; road network; Roads; Roads & highways; Transportation networks; Vehicle carbon emission; Vehicles
• DOI: 10.1080/23249935.2016.1166172
• ISSN: 2324-9935

In urban highway networks, some factors may influence the amount of average kilometric vehicle carbon emission (AKVC). Especially in highway networks of a large metropolitan area, the factors could be more diversified. In the present paper, the particular factors in the statistics of the districts in Seoul City that affect the AKVCs were investigated. Individual and combined factors were considered. The individual factors in the present study included the number of intersections, the number of intersections per kilometre, the road portion to the total area, the number of registered vehicles, the number of commuters, the population, the population density, the total land area and the road length. The combined factors considered included the number of intersections per kilometre over the number of registered vehicles, the number of intersections per kilometre over the road portion to the total area, and the road portion to the total area over the number of registered vehicles. Using the stepwise regression, it was demonstrated that the number of intersections per kilometre is the only significant factor affecting the AKVC in the road network of the district. All other factors are regarded as insignificant in affecting the AKVC. Additionally, correlation analysis confirms the result. From the study, as 'the number of intersections per kilometre' is the most influencing factor on reduction of vehicle carbon emissions in the road network, it may be implied that the number of intersections should be controlled or reduced in the road network of a city.