policy brief

Advanced Low-NOx Compressed Natural Gas Engines in Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Are Poised to Deliver Air Quality Benefits and Advance California’s Climate Goals

Publication Date

May 1, 2017

Author(s)

Alejandra Cervantes, Brendan Shaffer, Michael Mackinnon, Scott Samuelsen

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Abstract

Recent commercialization of advanced low-nitrogen oxides (NOx) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) engines for medium- (MDV) and heavy-duty (HDV) vehicles has garnered significant interest due to the potential air quality benefits. Further, utilizing renewable natural gas (RNG) in advanced CNG engines from sources such as biomass and/ or biogas can achieve reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) relative to using petroleum fuels and fossil CNG. However, the regional air quality and GHG reduction benefits of large‐scale deployment of advanced CNG trucks are currently unclear. Further, more information is required regarding RNG production potential from California instate biofuel resources, including potential supply volumes and production pathways that provide maximum GHG reductions. The UC Irvine Advanced Power and Energy Program assessed the air quality and GHG implications of transitioning to advanced CNG engines in MDVs and HDVs in California by developing and comparing different future adoption scenarios. The research team also leveraged prior research of biogas and biomass resources in California to consider different options for producing RNG in-state. Key findings from this research are highlighted in the following section.

Suggested Citation

Alejandra Cervantes, Brendan Shaffer, Michael MacKinnon and Scott Samuelsen (2017) Advanced Low-NOx Compressed Natural Gas Engines in Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Are Poised to Deliver Air Quality Benefits and Advance California’s Climate Goals. Policy Brief. UC ITS. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7922/g2gm85ng.

published journal article

Measuring the inconvenience of operating an alternative fuel vehicle

Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment

Publication Date

March 1, 2014

Author(s)

Jee Eun (Jamie) Kang, Will Recker

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Suggested Citation

Jee Eun Kang and Will W. Recker (2014) “Measuring the inconvenience of operating an alternative fuel vehicle”, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 27, pp. 30–40. Available at: 10.1016/j.trd.2013.12.003.

published journal article

Particulate matter, traffic-related air pollutants, and circulating C-reactive protein levels: The Multiethnic Cohort Study

Environmental Pollution

Publication Date

September 1, 2023

Author(s)

Meera Sangaramoorthy, Juan Yang, Chiuchen Tseng, Jun Wu, Beate Ritz, Timothy V. Larson, Scott Fruin, Daniel O. Stram, Seri Park, Adrian A. Franke, Lynne R. Wilkens, Jonathan M. Samet, Loïc Le Marchand, Salma Shariff-Marco, Christopher A. Haiman, Anna H. Wu, Iona Cheng

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Abstract

Inhaled particles and gases can harm health by promoting chronic inflammation in the body. Few studies have investigated the relationship between outdoor air pollution and inflammation by race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle risk factors. We examined associations of particulate matter (PM) and other markers of traffic-related air pollution with circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation. CRP was measured from blood samples obtained in 1994–2016 from 7,860 California residents participating in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC) Study. Exposure to PM (aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 μm [PM2.5], ≤10 μm [PM10], and between 2.5 and 10 μm [PM10-2.5]), nitrogen oxides (NOx, including nitrogen dioxide [NO2]), carbon monoxide (CO), ground-level ozone (O3), and benzene averaged over one or twelve months before blood draw were estimated based on participants’ addresses. Percent change in geometric mean CRP levels and 95% confidence intervals (CI) per standard concentration increase of each pollutant were estimated using multivariable generalized linear regression. Among 4,305 females (55%) and 3,555 males (45%) (mean age 68.1 [SD 7.5] years at blood draw), CRP levels increased with 12-month exposure to PM10 (11.0%, 95% CI: 4.2%, 18.2% per 10 μg/m3), PM10-2.5 (12.4%, 95% CI: 1.4%, 24.5% per 10 μg/m3), NOx (10.4%, 95% CI: 2.2%, 19.2% per 50 ppb), and benzene (2.9%, 95% CI: 1.1%, 4.6% per 1 ppb). In subgroup analyses, these associations were observed in Latino participants, those who lived in low socioeconomic neighborhoods, overweight or obese participants, and never or former smokers. No consistent patterns were found for 1-month pollutant exposures. This investigation identified associations of primarily traffic-related air pollutants, including PM, NOx, and benzene, with CRP in a multiethnic population. The diversity of the MEC across demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors allowed us to explore the generalizability of the effects of air pollution on inflammation across subgroups.

Suggested Citation

Meera Sangaramoorthy, Juan Yang, Chiuchen Tseng, Jun Wu, Beate Ritz, Timothy V. Larson, Scott Fruin, Daniel O. Stram, Sung-shim Lani Park, Adrian A. Franke, Lynne R. Wilkens, Jonathan M. Samet, Loïc Le Marchand, Salma Shariff-Marco, Christopher A. Haiman, Anna H. Wu and Iona Cheng (2023) “Particulate matter, traffic-related air pollutants, and circulating C-reactive protein levels: The Multiethnic Cohort Study”, Environmental Pollution, 332, p. 121962. Available at: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121962.

published journal article

Traffic-related air pollution and Parkinson's disease in central California

Environmental Research

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Author(s)

Dayoon Kwon, Kimberly C. Paul, Yue Yu, Kenan Zhang, Aline D. Folle, Jun Wu, Jeff M. Bronstein, Beate Ritz

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Abstract

Background Prior studies suggested that air pollution exposure may increase the risk of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). We investigated the long-term impacts of traffic-related and multiple sources of particulate air pollution on PD in central California. Methods Our case-control analysis included 761 PD patients and 910 population controls. We assessed exposure at residential and occupational locations from 1981 to 2016, estimating annual average carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations – a traffic pollution marker – based on the California Line Source Dispersion Model, version 4. Additionally, particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations were based on a nationwide geospatial chemical transport model. Exposures were assessed as 10-year averages with a 5-year lag time prior to a PD diagnosis for cases and an interview date for controls, subsequently categorized into tertiles. Logistic regression models were used, adjusting for various factors. Results Traffic-related CO was associated with an increased odds ratio for PD at residences (OR for T3 vs. T1: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.20, 2.10; p-trend = 0.02) and workplaces (OR for T3 vs. T1: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.22, 3.00; p-trend <0.01). PM2.5 was also positively associated with PD at residences (OR for T3 vs. T1: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.15; p-trend <0.01) and workplaces (OR for T3 vs. T1: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.21, 2.85; p-trend <0.01). Associations remained robust after additional adjustments for smoking status and pesticide exposure and were consistent across different exposure periods. Conclusion We found that long-term modeled exposure to local traffic-related air pollution (CO) and fine particulates from multiple sources (PM2.5) at homes and workplaces in central California was associated with an increased risk of PD.

Suggested Citation

Dayoon Kwon, Kimberly C. Paul, Yu Yu, Keren Zhang, Aline D. Folle, Jun Wu, Jeff M. Bronstein and Beate Ritz (2024) “Traffic-related air pollution and Parkinson's disease in central California”, Environmental Research, 240, p. 117434. Available at: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117434.

working paper

Schedule Jockeying and Route Swamping: A Property Right Interpretation of British Bus Deregulation

Publication Date

December 1, 1995

Author(s)

Daniel B. Klein, Adrian Moore

Working Paper

UCI-ITS-WP-95-20, UCTC 302

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Abstract

The experience of British bus deregulation has resulted in less on-the-road competition than anticipated, and a high degree of industry concentration. We argue that the specific form of deregulation in Britain has created a property rights problem in the cultivation of passenger congregations at the curb. The result has been schedule jockeying and route swamping. From a property rights perspective, the disappointing results can be seen as a commons problem. A nuanced approach to property right at bus stops, permitting scheduled service to appropriate its investment in cultivating passenger congregations, and allowing freewheeling jitneys to compete on the route, could bring the benefits that many had expected from deregulation.

Suggested Citation

Daniel B. Klein and Adrian T. Moore (1995) Schedule Jockeying and Route Swamping: A Property Right Interpretation of British Bus Deregulation. Working Paper UCI-ITS-WP-95-20, UCTC 302. Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine. Available at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/53z7d31c.

conference paper

The impact of a new mass rapid transit system on residential property values - the case of kaohsiung, taiwan

Transportation & logistics management

Publication Date

January 1, 2012

Author(s)

Jean-Daniel Saphores, Chung Yeh

Abstract

The construction of a public transit system in a large metropolitan area can relieve congestion, enhance mobility, and improve air quality. In a well-functioning housing market, these benefits are reflected in housing prices. In this paper, we analyze transactions for 2007 and 2009 of apartments with elevators from Kaohsiung (Taiwan’s second largest city) using a geographically weighted regression hedonic model to capture the impact of the opening in 2008 of a new mass rapid transit (MRT) system. We find that the opening of the MRT had a statistically significant and positive impact on the value of apartments with elevators that was not yet fully capitalized in 2007 prices.

Suggested Citation

Jean-Daniel Saphores and Chung-Cheng Yeh (2012) “The impact of a new mass rapid transit system on residential property values - the case of kaohsiung, taiwan”, in . Mak, HY and Lo, HK (ed.) Transportation & logistics management. HONG KONG SOC TRANSPORTATION STUDIES LTD, pp. 89–96.

published journal article

A new approach to estimate vehicle emissions using inductive loop detector data

Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems

Publication Date

July 1, 2012

Author(s)

Shin-Ting (Cindy) Jeng, Nesamani Kalandiyur, Stephen Ritchie

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Suggested Citation

Shin-Ting (Cindy) Jeng, K.S. Nesamani and Stephen G. Ritchie (2012) “A new approach to estimate vehicle emissions using inductive loop detector data”, Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems, 17(3), pp. 179–190. Available at: 10.1080/15472450.2012.712495.

conference paper

Pavement rehabilitation analysis and design mentor

Proceedings of the VTT symposium (valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus)

Publication Date

January 1, 1990

Author(s)

Stephen Ritchie, Manuan Kim, Neil Prosser

Suggested Citation

Stephen G. Ritchie, Manuan Kim and Neil A. Prosser (1990) “Pavement rehabilitation analysis and design mentor”, in Proceedings of the VTT symposium (valtion teknillinen tutkimuskeskus), pp. 353–381.

published journal article

Cities and economic development: Does the city limits story still apply?

Economic Development Quarterly

Publication Date

November 1, 2001

Author(s)

Victoria Basolo, Chihyen Huang

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Suggested Citation

Victoria Basolo and Chihyen Huang (2001) “Cities and economic development: Does the city limits story still apply?”, Economic Development Quarterly, 15(4), pp. 327–339. Available at: 10.1177/089124240101500407.

conference paper

Demo: Attacking Multi-Sensor Fusion based Localization in High-Level Autonomous Driving

2021 IEEE Security and Privacy Workshops (SPW)

Publication Date

May 1, 2021

Author(s)

Junjie Shen, Jun Yeon Won, Zeyuan Chen, Qi Alfred Chen

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Abstract

To enable high-level driving automation [1], the Autonomous Driving (AD) system in an Autonomous Vehicle (AV) needs to perform centimeter-level localization of its own global positions on the map [2]. Such localization function is highly security and safety critical in the AV context, since positioning errors can directly cause an AV to drive off road or onto a wrong way. For outdoor localization, GPS is the de facto location source, and thus a direct threat is GPS spoofing, a long-existing but still unsolved security problem with practicality proven on many end systems. Fortunately, AV systems today predominantly use Multi-Sensor Fusion (MSF) algorithms [3] that are generally believed to have potential to practically defeat GPS spoofing [4]. However, no prior work has studied whether today’s MSF algorithms are indeed sufficiently secure under GPS spoofing, especially in AV settings. In this work, we perform the first study to fill this critical gap. We consider the attack goal as using GPS spoofing to cause large lateral deviations in the MSF output, i.e., deviating to left or right. This can cause the AV to drive off road or onto a wrong way.

Suggested Citation

Junjie Shen, Jun Yeon Won, Zeyuan Chen and Qi Alfred Chen (2021) “Demo: Attacking Multi-Sensor Fusion based Localization in High-Level Autonomous Driving”, in 2021 IEEE Security and Privacy Workshops (SPW), pp. 242–242. Available at: 10.1109/SPW53761.2021.00039.