Pavement Conditions on Vehicular Emissions

Presenter: Ouma Bally

Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Boakye

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Civil Engineering

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A10

ABSTRACT

Pavement conditions play a crucial yet overlooked role in transportation energy efficiency and emissions. As pavement roughness increases, vehicles require more energy to operate resulting in higher fuel consumption and emissions output. Prior research has demonstrated that increased pavement roughness, commonly measured using the International Roughness Index (IRI), is associated with vehicle operating costs and fuel consumption. For example, a one-unit increase in IRI has been associated with fuel consumption increases of approximately 1–3% for passenger vehicles. However, the long term implications of pavement deterioration, and their interactions with vehicle speed and equity performance remain under-explored.

This study models pavement deterioration across Maricopa County, Arizona, and evaluates its impact on vehicle energy use and fuel consumption using the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES). Simulations were conducted for the years 2018 through 2060, with 4-year intervals to capture historical trends and long-term projections. By integrating pavement condition data with regional traffic activity and fleet composition, the analysis quantifies the influence of roadway quality on vehicle operating efficiency and associated emissions, with a focus on carbon dioxide (CO2). Results indicate that increasing IRI significantly increases excessive CO2 emissions, with effects being amplified at higher speeds for ordinary passenger vehicles.

Regression analysis was performed, and shows a large explanatory variable with R2 = 0.99; furthermore statistically significant (p<0.05) coefficient for IRI and IRI * speed2 indicates that pavement roughness increases emissions and  this effect intensifies at higher speeds across all vehicle types, from passenger cars to long-haul trucks. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating pavement conditions into long-term transportation and environmental planning frameworks.