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Pilot Study: Use of High-Resolution Satellite Data to Identify Truck Traffic On the Roads and Near Warehouses Across Multiple Regions in Southern California

Status

Complete

Project Timeline

July 22, 2022 - June 30, 2024

Principal Investigator

Jun Wu

Project Team

Xingwei Liu

Sponsor & Award Number

RIMI:Phase 1: RIMI-5I
(Also see the UC ITS page)

Areas of Expertise

Freight, Logistics, & Supply Chain Intelligent Transportation Systems, Emerging Technologies, & Big Data

Team Departmental Affiliations

Computer Science, School of Public Health

Project Summary

Heavy-duty trucks produce more non-tailpipe emissions, diesel exhaust, and noise than smaller vehicles, so when they travel on surface streets near residents, they can contribute to air quality- and noise-related impacts in these communities. However, heavy-duty truck counts are only available on freeways and highways, making it difficult for communities to understand their risks and provide evidence for truck rerouting as cumulative impacts mount.

This pilot project will use high resolution satellite imagery and machine learning methods to detect heavy-duty trucks on all streets in areas with a high density of warehouses in Southern California. The researchers will also examine population characteristics in relation to density of heavy-duty trucks and identify the subpopulations that are mostly affected.

Related Publications

policy brief | Mar 2025

New Insights from Satellite Data Show the Impact Trucks are Having on Communities in Southern California

Read more
published journal article | Jan 2024

A Deep-Learning Approach to Detect and Classify Heavy-Duty Trucks in Satellite Images
IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems

Read more

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Irvine, CA 92697
Phone: 949-824-5989 | Fax: 949-824-8385

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