AERIS Fall/Winter 2012-13 Webinar Series Announcement

The United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) announces a series of webinars for its Applications for the Environment: Real-Time Information Synthesis (AERIS) program. The webinars will review the conclusions of an extensive benefits/cost analysis, three draft concepts of operations devised by the program to describe Transformative Concepts, as well as a summary of the results of an eco-approach field experiment. The webinars are free and open to the public, but interested attendees need to register in advance for each webinar. Each webinar will begin at 1:00 pm Eastern Time and will last approximately 90 minutes.

The AERIS Fall/Winter 2012-13 Webinar Series is being offered by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO), which is part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA). To learn more about the AERIS Program and the ITS JPO in general, please visit: http://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/aeris/index.htm.

Background

The transportation sector accounts for approximately 28 percent of the greenhouse gases generated in the United States, with vehicles representing almost 80 percent of that figure. ITS can play a vital role in reducing vehicle miles traveled, improving vehicle efficiency, and reducing fossil fuel consumption—all of which can reduce all types of emissions generated by vehicles.

The AERIS program was launched in 2010 and is currently sponsoring research and working with stakeholders to assess the ways in which real-time transportation system data could improve the operation of the surface transportation network. The AERIS program vision is to generate, capture, and analyze data collected using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications to create actionable information that allows surface transportation system users and operators to make “green” transportation choices. The program aims to leverage existing and future research, data sets, and technologies to develop, enhance, and model connected vehicle applications that are proven to reduce the negative impacts of transportation on the environment.

Webinar Detail

AERIS Benefit/Cost Analysis
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
1:00 pm EST

This webinar will describe the methodology and review the conclusions of the initial benefit/cost analysis of the AERIS applications. The purpose of the initial analysis was to estimate the magnitude of the environmental benefits (i.e., reductions in greenhouse gases, criteria pollutant emissions, and fuel consumption) of various AERIS applications so that those applications can be prioritized for future research and analysis. Although the initial benefit/cost analysis evaluates the applications individually, the program envisions that the applications will likely be bundled and deployed as part of the Transformative Concepts, which may yield higher or lower benefits than the sum of the applications that comprise them.

Draft Concept of Operations for the Eco-Signal Operations Transformative Concept
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
1:00 pm EST

As part of the AERIS program’s efforts to develop ways in which real-time transportation system data could improve the operation of the surface transportation network, six Transformative Concepts, or bundles of applications, were identified. Each of these Transformative Concepts encompasses a set of applications that individually achieve environmental benefits. By strategically bundling these applications, the program expects that these Transformative Concepts can achieve additional environmental benefits beyond those of the individual applications.

This webinar will describe the concept of operations currently being developed for the Eco-Signal Operations Transformative Concept, which focuses on reducing idling, the number of stops, and unnecessary accelerations and decelerations, and generally improving traffic flow at signalized intersections.

Draft Concept of Operations for the Dynamic Low-Emissions Zones Transformative Concept
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
1:00 pm EST

The Dynamic Low- Emissions Zone Transformative Concept includes a geographically-defined area that seeks to restrict or deter access to specific categories of high-polluting vehicles to improve the air quality within the geographic area. This webinar will describe the concept of operations currently being developed for this Transformative Concept and will provide an overview of how each of its associated applications work together to achieve the goals of the program.

Draft Concept of Operations for the Dynamic Eco-Lanes Transformative Concept
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
1:00 pm EST

The Dynamic Eco-Lanes Transformative Concept features dedicated lanes optimized for the environment. This webinar will describe the concept of operations currently being developed for this Transformative Concept and will provide an overview of how each of the applications work together to achieve the goals of the program.

Results of Eco-Approach to Signalized Intersections Field Experiment
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
1:00 pm EST

This webinar will describe the results of a field experiment held in August 2012. This experiment was based on the AERIS application Eco-Approach to Signalized Intersections, which uses traffic signal phase and timing data to provide driver recommendations that encourage “green” approaches to signalized intersections. Results were measured in terms of typical fuel economy savings and carbon-dioxide emissions reductions that might be possible by employing this AERIS application.

For more information on the AERIS Program, please visit   http://www.its.dot.gov/research_archives/aeris/index.htm.