Alternate pollution solutions

Jan. 13, 2003
Clean fuel regulations have received a great deal of media and industry attention in recent years.

Clean fuel regulations have received a great deal of media and industry attention in recent years. Indeed, OGJ devotes an entire special report in this issue to covering the current and developing regulations and their impact on supply, demand, and refinery operations.

There are, however, programs either in place or being researched that could also help reduce vehicle emissions (and will cost industry very little in terms of direct costs).

Smoking vehicles

Have you ever been caught behind one of those vehicles that belches smoke from its tailpipe? Sometimes the fumes are enough to make one feel lightheaded. It is frustrating to think about how much pollution they generate, especially with all the effort refiners and automakers are expending to reduce tailpipe emissions.

According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) web site, "Poorly maintained vehicles are the biggest contributors to the (air) pollution problem. In fact, the pollution from one poorly maintained vehicle is equal to that of 28 properly functioning cars."

The California Air Resources Board web site claims that, "The dirtiest vehicles found on our roadways contribute about 40% of total automotive pollution (in California)."

While on my morning commute one day last month, I noticed one of those "dynamic message" traffic signs listing a web site: www.smokingvehicle.org. The Smoking Vehicle Program is organized by TCEQ and allows Texas motorists to anonymously report on overly emissive vehicles via email, phone, fax, or snail mail.

Cellular phone users in greater California even have a speed-dial number they can call. They simply dial "#smog" to report smoking vehicles.

A simple internet search shows that many states, in addition to Texas and California, have implemented similar programs. The search showed programs in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, and Georgia, just to name a few. Some cities even have individual programs that link up with the state agencies.

Other states probably have smoking vehicle programs; it just takes a little more internet research to find them.

Program enforcement is not terribly rigorous. It essentially boils down to a friendly warning—TECQ contacts the vehicle owner, reports the problem, and gives information about how car maintenance will improve performance.

TECQ reports that thousands have replied, saying that they have fixed their cars, since the program started 10 years ago.

Reducing traffic

Meanwhile, scientists at the University of California at San Diego are involved in some innovative research to help improve traffic movement in the state.

Working in the Intelligent Transportation & Telematics Layer in the Computer Vision & Robotics Research Laboratory, the scientists are developing clusters of networked smart cameras that will transmit real-time traffic information to transportation authorities.

Theoretically, this information could be processed and transmitted to motorists. Traffic tie-ups could trigger a notice to motorists miles away, who could then take alternate routes to reduce driving time and vehicle emissions.

Wasted fuel, lost work hours, and other effects of congested roads have a large economic cost. These factors cost the 65 largest US cities $74 billion/ year, $20 billion/year in California alone.1

The new cameras under development are smarter and faster at interpreting information than existing stand-alone cameras.

Other potential uses of this technology are numerous: more efficient emergency response to accidents, quicker rescues for stranded motorists, and smoother and safer driving. The smart cameras can also apparently calculate vehicle speed, a scary proposition given the way Houstonians drive.

But the greatest benefit to the environment would probably result from motorists avoiding traffic (and associated emissions) related to accidents and, to a lesser degree, rush-hour traffic.

Reference

  1. Weintraub, A., "Highway cameras that can direct traffic," Business Week, Nov. 18, 2002, p. 77.