Estimating the amount of fuel consumption and air pollution caused by the traffic of buses rapid transit using agent-based modeling

The increased traffic has been followed by many problems in metropolitans, the key of which is air pollution and excessive fuel consumption. Paying attention to public transportation, particularly the bus rapid transit (BRT) system is one of the measures that may be taken, since besides reducing social expenses, it may be very effective in declining air pollution. The main objective of the present research is to study the fuel consumption rate and the emissions rate of various air pollutants including CO2, CH4, and N2O gases in various scenarios of BRT system.

Since traffic and congestion phenomena are complex and dynamic, it is very difficult and sometimes impossible to model them with common mathematical models. To this end, agent-based technologies, highly compatible with these characteristics, can be utilized. In the current research, BRT system’s performance, the fuel consumption rate, and the amount of air pollutants production are estimated using agent-based modeling. This study emphasizes what changes should be made in effective parameters such as bus speed and bus stop time at stations, as well as bus dispatch timing in order to control fuel consumption and reduce pollution factors. This research uses NetLogo software to code the model and run its simulation and considers three different scenarios in line one of BRT system in Tehran (Iran).

following the analysis and comparison of different scenarios, suggestions are made to decline fuel consumption and air pollutants, such as minor changes in the parameters of bus stop times at stations as well as changes in the dispatch time of buses from the terminal in order to reduce fuel consumption and air pollution rates. The results indicate that one of the improved situations was related to the situation of increasing the bus dispatch time parameter and in the bridge scenario, CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions are 1458.6, 1.122, and 11.781, respectively, in one hour of peak passenger time.

According to the results, achieving the goal of reducing fuel consumption and air pollution rates is more suitable in the bridge scenario compared to the other two scenarios. Furthermore, if possible, it is suggested to build bridges at intersections with high traffic, or put the smart traffic light system on the agenda.