Abstract

Traffic congestion in fast-growing cities results in considerable growth in fuel usage and emission by vehicles, especially under slow driving conditions or where there are frequent stops and starts in the movement. This research uses simulation-based case studies to examine the effect of traffic congestion in Baghdad city with regard to the impact on fuel consumption and vehicle emissions. It is important to note that an analytical model has been developed in this study, where the connection between traffic, fuel usage, and emissions has been modeled with the help of inventory-based fuel emissions model. Three main levels of traffic congestion were considered, as well as some other traffic states, to study the differences in average speed, fuel consumption, and emissions. According to the study findings, the higher level of traffic congestion the more fuel is consumed, which directly translates to a proportionate increase in emissions as a result of the chosen methodology of estimating the level of emissions.

Keywords

Traffic Congestion, Fuel Consumption, Emission Modeling, Simulation, Baghdad,

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