http://www.press.ierek.com
ISSN (Print: 2357-0849, online: 2357-0857)
International Journal on:
Environmental Science and Sustainable Development
DOI: 10.21625/essd.v3iss2.373
Evaluating the Emission of CO
2
at Traffic Intersections with the
Purpose of Reducing Emission Rate, Case Study: The University
of Nigeria, Nsukka
Nathan David
1
, Chinedu Duru
1
1
Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Nigeria
Abstract
Traffic congestion is a major problem around the world that results in slower speeds, increased trip time and a
longer queuing of vehicles. The production and use of fuels for vehicles results in emissions of greenhouse gases
(GHSs), besides carbon dioxide, which include methane and nitrous oxide. Traffic lights that wirelessly keep
track of vehicles could reduce journey time and fuel consumption thereby reducing carbon emissions. In view of
the importance of vehicles as an emitter of GHGs, namely CO
2
, with the growing concern about climate change,
this paper aims to explore the emission of CO
2
from vehicles at a traffic intersection for the purpose of reducing
emission rate. Realising this reduction, points to the implementation of an Advanced Traffic Management System
(ATMS) with Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) on the road network of a region will be discussed. With such a
technology, a region can experience lower queue lengths at an intersection and therefore lower CO
2
emission sur-
rounding the area. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is used as a case study in exploring this phenomenon
which over the years has seen a drastic increase on the amount of cars on the campus area. With the assumption
that an ATM system with WSNs is deployed on the UNN campus area, the paper looks into the traffic dynam-
ics that makes it possible to evaluate CO
2
emission at traffic light intersections to ensure a cleaner environment.
Throughout the paper, it will be made clear that with the relevant equation of CO
2
emission and the arrival time
per vehicle, CO
2
emission rate can be evaluated at a traffic intersection depending on the volume of cars at the
intersection. With such evaluation, further analysis can be made on ways to actually reduce CO
2
emission and
techniques for implementation with an ATM system.
© 2019 The Authors. Published by IEREK press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of ESSD’s International Scien-
tific Committee of Reviewers.
Keywords
CO2 emission; Traffic Dynamics; Intersection; Arrival Times; Wait Times
1. Introduction
Over the years, The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has seen an ever-increasing traffic demand which,
as a result, has brought in problems of congestion and air pollution. The pollution issue results from exhaust
gases emitted from the combustion of fuel released into the atmosphere through the pipes of motor vehicles.
Consequently, the emissions from these cars are the primary causes to the greenhouse effect and a main contribution
to air pollution (UCS, n.d.). Additionally, due to the increase in the number of vehicles, the university has seen
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