New Framework for Real-time Measurement, Monitoring, and Benchmarking of Construction Equipment Emissions

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dc.contributor.authorHeidari Haratmeh, Bardiaen
dc.contributor.committeechairMarr, Linsey C.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPearce, Annie R.en
dc.contributor.committeememberGolparvar-Fard, Manien
dc.contributor.departmentCivil and Environmental Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-22T07:00:18Zen
dc.date.available2015-12-22T07:00:18Zen
dc.date.issued2014-06-29en
dc.description.abstractThe construction industry is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and health-related pollutants. Monitoring and benchmarking emissions will provide practitioners with information to assess environmental impacts and improve the sustainability of construction. This research focuses on real-time measurement of emissions from non-road construction equipment and development of a monitoring-benchmarking tool for comparison of expected vs. actual emissions. First, exhaust emissions were measured using a Portable Emission Measurement System (PEMS) during the operation of 18 pieces of construction equipment at actual job sites. Second-by-second emission rates and emission factors for carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons were calculated for all equipment. Results were compared to those of other commonly used emission estimation models. Significant differences in emission factors associated with different activities were not observed, except for idling and hauling. Moreover, emission rates were up to 200 times lower than the values estimated using EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) guidelines. Second, the resulting database of emissions was used in an automated, real-time environmental assessment system. Based on videos of actual construction activities, this system enabled real-time action recognition of construction operations. From the resulting time-series of activities, emissions were estimated for each piece of equipment and differed by only 2% from those estimated by manual action recognition. Third, the actual emissions were compared to estimated ones using discrete event simulation, a computational model of construction activities. Actual emissions were 28% to 144% of those estimated by manual action recognition. Results of this research will aid practitioners in implementing strategies to measure, monitor, benchmark, and possibly reduce air pollutant emissions stemming from construction.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:2866en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/64345en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectSustainable Constructionen
dc.subjectHeavy-duty Equipment Emissionsen
dc.subjectPortable Emission Measurement Systemen
dc.subjectVision-based Technologyen
dc.subjectDiscrete Event Simulationen
dc.titleNew Framework for Real-time Measurement, Monitoring, and Benchmarking of Construction Equipment Emissionsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineCivil Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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