A Simulation Model for Road and Maritime Environmental Performance Assessment

J J Usabiaga,M Castells,F X Martínez,,A Olcer

doi:10.4236/jep.2013.47079

J J Usabiaga, M Castells + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4236/jep.2013.47079

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Abstract

The White Paper published in 2011, Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area [1], urges on a 30% modal shift of road freight over 300 km to other modes (rail, maritime and inland waterways) by 2030, and more than 50% by 2050. However the environmentally friendly performance of maritime transport regarding air pollutant emissions in comparison with road transport is in doubt. This paper presents a three dimension simulation model, in which performed transport work, arisen emissions and produced impact are estimated and inter-related for the assessment of the environmental performance of both road and maritime transport. The simulation model will be a valuable decision making tool for policymakers as it enables the precise assessment of considered transport alternatives in the EU27 until 2020, and hence supports the design of future intervening actions.

Highlights

Maritime transport is, after road transport, the most importent mode of transportation within the European transport system, being responsible for 36.8% of the intra-European transport in 2009 [2].In the last decades, based on a presumed environmentally friendly performance, intra-European maritime services, known as Short Sea Shipping (SSS) services, have been favored by numerous supporting actions coming from both national governments and the European Union (EU): Marco Polo and Trans European Network of Transport (TEN-T) programs, the most relevant
This paper presents a three dimension simulation model, in which performed transport work, arisen emissions and produced impact are estimated and inter-related for the assessment of the environmental performance of both road and maritime transport
Substantial CO2 emissions originate in transport sector (25% in 2007 for the EU15, excluding the international traffic departing from the EU) and almost all of this comes from road transportation (93% in 2007 for the EU15) [3]

Summary

Introduction

After road transport, the most importent mode of transportation within the European transport system, being responsible for 36.8% of the intra-European transport in 2009 [2].In the last decades, based on a presumed environmentally friendly performance, intra-European maritime services, known as Short Sea Shipping (SSS) services, have been favored by numerous supporting actions coming from both national governments and the European Union (EU): Marco Polo and Trans European Network of Transport (TEN-T) programs, the most relevant. After road transport, the most importent mode of transportation within the European transport system, being responsible for 36.8% of the intra-European transport in 2009 [2]. That does not mean it is the greenest alternative in terms of air pollutants (NOx, VOCs, PM2.5, SO2,) emissions, which are not solely dependent on fuel quality. Aspects such as engine technologies, types of fuel, emissions abatement technologies, emission standards, logistical factors and sensitivity of concerned areas make all the difference in favor or against each mean of transportation. An optimized infrastructure investment model is developed to evaluate local air pollution of maritime transport and its effects as a result of manoeuvring, hoteling, and load/unload activities at ports [6]

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