50
M. L. de Barros Baltar et al.
incidents need to be done. Therefore, this chapter serves this purpose by analyzing,
through a case study of Avenida Brasil (the main expressway in Rio de Janeiro city),
the impacts on CO 2 emissions as well as proposing actions to minimize these emissions. The methodology used the Methodologies for Estimating air pollutant Emissions from Transport (MEET), model proposed by Hickman et al. [25], to calculate
the emission of CO 2 , which is based on vehicle type and on speed.
The results indicate that the incidents contribute to a 22% increase in CO 2 emissions, that the broken-down vehicles are the incidents with the greatest impact on
these emissions, due to its high frequency, despite being the incidents that on average
cause less emission on the road, and that the peak hours in the morning (between 6 am
and 10 am) and in the afternoon (between 2 pm and 7 pm) are responsible for 82.4%
of the increase in CO 2 emissions, related to the incidents. It is also worth mentioning
that, with the analysis of the maps generated through the Kernel density estimator,
it is possible to verify the sections with the highest occurrences of incidents, as well
as CO 2 emissions.
Having exposed the results, this chapter also indicates proposals for improving
the framework presented through public policies and specific actions that can help
to minimize the impacts of incidents, in a more general context which include:
(i) increase traffic safety by creating a safe road mobility system; (ii) the use of
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which allows, for example, a better coordination between those responsible for incident management and the use of mobile
services to assist drivers on the roads; (iii) repositioning of service vehicles that
allows rapid detection and effective service; and (iv) focus on vehicle technologies
such as autonomous driving that have the potential to significantly mitigate many of
the mistakes that drivers routinely make.
In addition, when a more accurate diagnosis of the situation is made, through
analysis of problematic regions, as done specifically for Avenida Brasil, efforts should
be made to address the specific problems found. For example, it was noted for
Avenida Brasil an expressive contribution of broken-down vehicles, increasing the
CO 2 emissions, thus policies such as rigorous annual vehicle inspections must be
encouraged to minimize the problem.
This study is an important tool to assist decision-makers, responsible for incident management, regarding the concentration of efforts to improve air quality and,
consequently, the life of the urban population. With a more effective incident management and the reduction of CO 2 emissions, the main contributor to the increase in
greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, it is possible to: (i) ensure a healthy life and
promote well-being for all, at all ages, due to the minimization of the social impact
caused by the incidents such as increased travel time, stress, pollutant inhalation and
others; (ii) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, due to the faster response to incidents, which reduces secondary accidents,
thereby increasing road safety; (iii) ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns, due to the reduction of congestion that impacts on fuel consumption;
and (iv) take urgent measures to mitigation of climate change and its impacts. It is
noteworthy that all these actions are in line with the goals and targets of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development [39].
M. L. de Barros Baltar et al.
incidents need to be done. Therefore, this chapter serves this purpose by analyzing,
through a case study of Avenida Brasil (the main expressway in Rio de Janeiro city),
the impacts on CO 2 emissions as well as proposing actions to minimize these emissions. The methodology used the Methodologies for Estimating air pollutant Emissions from Transport (MEET), model proposed by Hickman et al. [25], to calculate
the emission of CO 2 , which is based on vehicle type and on speed.
The results indicate that the incidents contribute to a 22% increase in CO 2 emissions, that the broken-down vehicles are the incidents with the greatest impact on
these emissions, due to its high frequency, despite being the incidents that on average
cause less emission on the road, and that the peak hours in the morning (between 6 am
and 10 am) and in the afternoon (between 2 pm and 7 pm) are responsible for 82.4%
of the increase in CO 2 emissions, related to the incidents. It is also worth mentioning
that, with the analysis of the maps generated through the Kernel density estimator,
it is possible to verify the sections with the highest occurrences of incidents, as well
as CO 2 emissions.
Having exposed the results, this chapter also indicates proposals for improving
the framework presented through public policies and specific actions that can help
to minimize the impacts of incidents, in a more general context which include:
(i) increase traffic safety by creating a safe road mobility system; (ii) the use of
Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), which allows, for example, a better coordination between those responsible for incident management and the use of mobile
services to assist drivers on the roads; (iii) repositioning of service vehicles that
allows rapid detection and effective service; and (iv) focus on vehicle technologies
such as autonomous driving that have the potential to significantly mitigate many of
the mistakes that drivers routinely make.
In addition, when a more accurate diagnosis of the situation is made, through
analysis of problematic regions, as done specifically for Avenida Brasil, efforts should
be made to address the specific problems found. For example, it was noted for
Avenida Brasil an expressive contribution of broken-down vehicles, increasing the
CO 2 emissions, thus policies such as rigorous annual vehicle inspections must be
encouraged to minimize the problem.
This study is an important tool to assist decision-makers, responsible for incident management, regarding the concentration of efforts to improve air quality and,
consequently, the life of the urban population. With a more effective incident management and the reduction of CO 2 emissions, the main contributor to the increase in
greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, it is possible to: (i) ensure a healthy life and
promote well-being for all, at all ages, due to the minimization of the social impact
caused by the incidents such as increased travel time, stress, pollutant inhalation and
others; (ii) making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, due to the faster response to incidents, which reduces secondary accidents,
thereby increasing road safety; (iii) ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns, due to the reduction of congestion that impacts on fuel consumption;
and (iv) take urgent measures to mitigation of climate change and its impacts. It is
noteworthy that all these actions are in line with the goals and targets of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development [39].