A dynamic link-based eco-indicator for supporting equitable traffic management strategies

Abstract

This paper presents a methodology for building a link-based eco-indicator which includes different impacts of road traffic. The proposed traffic management tool can be updated in real-time through multiple information sources and translated into a cost factor to be straightforwardly applied into eco-routing algorithms and/or intelligent road pricing systems. The link-based eco-indicator has been tested in several urban and rural links of heterogeneous characteristics during peak and off-peak hours. It has been shown that both dynamic adjustment factors related to online background concentrations and/or citizen's activity may lead to different sustainable traffic management strategies. When evaluating and comparing costs of a single link-based eco-based indicator with National Average (without taking in account people exposure) and a Vulnerability Factor (VF), the total costs using VF increase 158%. In the origin-destination routing problem performed using the distance and travel time as criteria, the costs (for off-peak hours) using VF factor are 80% and 15% higher, respectively. The results achieved in this paper highlight the importance of taking into account vulnerability of people exposure when implementing eco traffic management measures.