MS Thesis

Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Impacts Associated with Zero and Near-Zero Heavy-Duty Vehicles in California / by Alejandra Cervantes.

Publication Date

January 1, 2017

Author(s)

Alejandra Cervantes

View MS Thesis

Abstract

California’s transportation and power generation sectors emit more than 50 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The state GHG emission mitigation goals include reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Additionally, to improve air quality throughout the state, aggressive criteria pollutant emission standards have been established for both sectors. Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable fuels is one strategy to meet these environmental goals. Landfills and wastewater treatment plants are a source for the production of alternative fuels like renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen (H2) which could then be used in either sector. To evaluate this strategy, the impact on GHG and criteria pollutant emissions, and on air quality resulting from the production and use of RNG in zero or near-zero emission medium-duty vehicles (MDV) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) are analyzed. The research reveals that (1) RNG produced from biogas is the most cost effective strategy to utilize the limited resource of biogas available in California even though H2 is the most attractive fuel, (2) the transportation sector is the more effective sector for the use of RNG fuel, (3) MDV and HDV outfitted with commercially available near-zero emission CNG engines with RNG results in substantial reductions in both GHG and criteria pollutant emissions, and significantly improves air quality than the use of H2 in LDV, and (4) the reductions in GHG and criteria pollutant emissions and improvements in air quality exceed those achieved with the MDV and HDV populations envisioned by the State Implementation Plan (SIP)

Suggested Citation

Alejandra Cervantes (2017) Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases Impacts Associated with Zero and Near-Zero Heavy-Duty Vehicles in California / by Alejandra Cervantes.. MS Thesis. University of California, Irvine. Available at: https://uci.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CDL_IRV_INST/17uq3m8/alma991011995559704701.

conference paper

Two Rode, But Not Together: Gender Commuting Trade-Offs in Two-Worker Households

Transportation Research Board 103rd Annual Meeting

Publication Date

January 1, 2024

Author(s)

Md Islam, Jean-Daniel Saphores

Suggested Citation

Md Islam and Jean-Daniel Saphores (2024) “Two Rode, But Not Together: Gender Commuting Trade-Offs in Two-Worker Households”. Transportation Research Board 103rd Annual Meeting.

conference paper

UAV integrity monitoring measure improvement using terrestrial signals of opportunity

Proceedings of the 32nd international technical meeting of the satellite division of the institute of navigation (ION GNSS+ 2019)

Publication Date

October 1, 2019

Author(s)

Mahdi Maaref, Zaher Kassas

View conference paper

Suggested Citation

Mahdi Maaref and Zaher M. Kassas (2019) “UAV integrity monitoring measure improvement using terrestrial signals of opportunity”, in Proceedings of the 32nd international technical meeting of the satellite division of the institute of navigation (ION GNSS+ 2019). Institute of Navigation, pp. 3045–3056. Available at: 10.33012/2019.17009.

published journal article

Valuing Sequences of Lives Lost or Saved Over Time: Preference for Uniform Sequences

Decision Analysis

Publication Date

March 1, 2020

Author(s)

Jeffery L. Guyse, Robin Keller, Candice H. Huynh

View published journal article

Abstract

Policymakers often make decisions involving human-mortality risks and monetary outcomes that span across different time periods and horizons. Many projects or environmental-regulation policies involving risks to life, such as toxic exposures, are experienced over time. The preferences of individuals on lives lost or saved over time should be understood to implement effective policies. Using a within-subject survey design, we investigated our participants’ elicited preferences (in the form of ratings) for sequences of lives saved or lost over time at the participant level. The design of our study allowed us to directly observe the possible preference patterns of negative time discounting or a preference for spreading from the responses. Additionally, we embedded factors associated with three other prevalent anomalies of intertemporal choice (gain/loss asymmetry, short/long asymmetry, and the absolute magnitude effect) into our study for control. We find that our participants exhibit three of the anomalies: preference for spreading, absolute magnitude effect, and short/long-term asymmetry. Furthermore, fitting the data collected, Loewenstein and Prelec’s model for the valuation of sequences of outcomes allowed for a more thorough understanding of the factors influencing the individual participants’ preferences. Based on the results, the standard discounting model does not accurately reflect the value that some people place on sequences of mortality outcomes. Preferences for uniform sequences should be considered in policymaking rather than applying the standard discounting model.

Suggested Citation

Jeffery L. Guyse, L. Robin Keller and Candice H. Huynh (2020) “Valuing Sequences of Lives Lost or Saved Over Time: Preference for Uniform Sequences”, Decision Analysis, 17(1), pp. 24–38. Available at: 10.1287/deca.2019.0397.

book/book chapter

Conclusion: Reflections and Lessons from the Pandemic

Publication Date

January 1, 2023

Author(s)

Alexandre M. Bayen, R. (Jay) Jayakrishnan, Giovanni Circella, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris

View book/book chapter

Abstract

This concluding chapter presents a summary of the research findings in the previous chapters, along with some reflections for each of the five themes of the book and a discussion of necessary future responses (post-pandemic or in the event of a new pandemic) and topics that require further exploration. The pandemic brought into sharp relief pre-existing social disparities and affected vulnerable populations the most. The economic impacts of the pandemic were diverse and varied by geography, but again certain geographies and economic sectors were more buffered from negative outcomes than others. A lesson and a challenge for policymakers is to find ways to understand and reduce these disparities, instead of pushing them under the rug. The impacts on mobility and travel were dramatic as total trips decreased, transit usage fell dramatically, and telecommuting and active modes of transportation increased. Some positive impacts included an improved air quality, a reduced number of traffic crashes, and a proliferation of walking and biking in some neighbourhoods. As cities are slowly recovering from the pandemic, the challenge is to keep the positive impacts but also find ways to help the transit industry rebound from its plunge. Long-term impacts of the pandemic in terms of changing patterns of work and work arrangements, shopping, recreation, and other human activities that will affect travel need additional time and more research to discern.

Suggested Citation

Alexandre M. Bayen, R. Jayakrishnan, Giovanni Circella and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris (2023) “Conclusion: Reflections and Lessons from the Pandemic”, in A. Loukaitou-Sideris, A.M. Bayen, G. Circellaand R. Jayakrishnan (eds.) Pandemic in the Metropolis: Transportation Impacts and Recovery. Cham: Springer International Publishing (Springer Tracts on Transportation and Traffic), pp. 333–345. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-00148-2_21 (Accessed: October 5, 2023).

conference paper

Modeling ridesourcing trip generation: Chicago case study

Proceedings of the 99th annual meeting of the transportation research board

Publication Date

January 1, 2020

Author(s)

Arash Ghaffar, Suman Mitra, Michael Hyland

Suggested Citation

Arash Ghaffar, Suman Mitra and Michael Hyland (2020) “Modeling ridesourcing trip generation: Chicago case study”, in Proceedings of the 99th annual meeting of the transportation research board.

research report

CCIT working paper

Publication Date

September 1, 2005

Author(s)

Lianyu Chu, Hamed Benouar, Will Recker

Abstract

This report describes a comprehensive evaluation study of an Automated Workzone Information System (AWIS) known as the Computerized Highway Information Processing System (CHIPS). The system is designed to use traffic sensors to detect traffic congestion in the work zone area. The system then delivers appropriate messages, using portable message signs, to motorists as they approach or pass through a work zone. CHIPS was deployed at a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) work zone site near Los Angeles. The effectiveness of the system was evaluated based on three criteria: safety, diversion, and response from travelers.

Suggested Citation

Lianyu Chu, Hamed Benouar and Wilfred W. Recker (2005) CCIT working paper. University of California, Berkeley, p. 67p.

Phd Dissertation

Institutional and economic aspects of water services management at the United States-Mexico border: Accountability, non-payment and water demand in Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

Publication Date

January 1, 2007

Author(s)

Ismael Aguilar-Benitez

View Phd Dissertation

Suggested Citation

Ismael Aguilar-Benitez (2007) Institutional and economic aspects of water services management at the United States-Mexico border: Accountability, non-payment and water demand in Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas. PhD Dissertation. UC Irvine. Available at: https://uci.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CDL_IRV_INST/u4evf/cdi_proquest_journals_304877848.

published journal article

Do employment centers matter? Consequences for commuting distance in the Los Angeles region, 2002–2019

Cities

Publication Date

February 1, 2024

Author(s)

Jaehyun Ha, Sugie Lee, Jae Hong Kim, John R. Hipp

View published journal article

Abstract

The presence of employment centers provides the potential for reducing commuting distance. However, employment centers have distinct attributes, which may lead to varied impacts on commuting outcomes. We examine how proximity to employment centers can influence commuting distance with consideration of the heterogeneity of employment centers and workers. Specifically, we consider various attributes of employment centers related to location, persistency, job density, industry diversity, and size and analyze their impacts on the commuting patterns of low- and high-income workers using panel (2002-2019) data. Our analysis of the Los Angeles region shows that increasing proximity to the nearest employment center decreases commuting distance even after controlling for the job attributes located in the neighborhood of workers. The results further suggest that employment centers are not equal in terms of their impact on commute distance and that their impact is different for commuters from different income groups. Our findings contribute to the literature by deciphering the location and attributes of employment centers that may exert a greater impact on commuting patterns.

Suggested Citation

Jaehyun Ha, Sugie Lee, Jae Hong Kim and John R. Hipp (2024) “Do employment centers matter? Consequences for commuting distance in the Los Angeles region, 2002–2019”, Cities, 145, p. 104669. Available at: 10.1016/j.cities.2023.104669.

working paper

The Determinants of Growth of Employment Subcenters

Publication Date

January 1, 1999

Associated Project

UCTC: (1991) ISTEA version

Author(s)

Genevieve (Gen) Giuliano, Kenneth Small

Areas of Expertise

Travel Behavior, Land Use, & the Built Environment

View working paper

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical analysis of subcenter growth. We develop a series of hypotheses based on the theoretical concepts that have been proposed as explanations for the emergence and growth of subcenters. We then conduct tests of these hypotheses using 1970-80 data from the Los Angeles region. We find that subcenters containing fast-growing industries tended to grow rapidly, and so did those close to airports. There is weak evidence that large subcenters and those located near downtown Los Angeles grew more slowly in proportional terms, possibly indicating diseconomies of scale due to congestion.

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