The analysis of the environmental impact of road traffic in a transport node on the example of the Rondo Rataje roundabout in Poznan

Abstract

Road transport is one of the main sources of environment pollution. Transport nodes are a particular challenge for the environment and are related to substantial traffic congestion and slow vehicle flow. One of the main transport nodes in the city of Poznan (Poland) is a roundabout known as Rondo Rataje. Within an hour, up to approximately 5500 vehicles pass through this intersection with an average speed of 10–15 km/h. The paper presents the exhaust emissions and fuel consumption by the vehicles passing through this intersection. These values have been determined based on complex traffic investigations carried out on this intersection, the knowledge of the vehicle structure in Poznan and the use of software for microsimulation of road traffic. The obtained results were subject to further analysis within which the shares of individual vehicle types and emission categories in the total exhaust emissions of individual exhaust components have been identified. The test procedure described in the paper may turn out to be useful in the evaluation of the influence of the traffic parameters on the exhaust emission level generated by vehicles, thus in the evaluation of various traffic control solutions or infrastructural options.