Two engineering faculty research collaborators, Dr. Joseph Shrestha and Dr. Moin Uddin, have published an article titled "Framework to Compute Emission Costs Associated with Work Zones" at the 9th International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management. Both faculty are part of the Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying.
The article presents a framework for calculating the emission costs associated with work zones, which can have a significant impact on the environment and human health. Anytime roads are completely closed for construction, travelers have to take longer detours to reach their destination. If the road is partially closed, travelers may have to drive slower or wait in the traffic because of the reduced capacity of the road. In either case, travelers will need to be on the road for longer period, and the vehicles will be operating for longer period. Subsequently, more harmful emission will be generated by the vehicles, which pollutes the air that we breath and can result in increased human health issues. This paper develops a methodology for Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) to quantity the monetary impact of the emissions generated as a result of road construction projects. It will enable TDOT to make better decisions for planning future construction projects and selecting contractors for large projects. Currently, very few states are considering such impact of emissions for project planning and contractor selection.
Shrestha, K., Adebiyi, J., Uddin, M., Sturgill, R. (2022). Framework to Compute Emission Costs Associated with Work Zones. The 9th International Conference on Construction Engineering and Project Management (ICCEPM) 2022.