We are pleased to announce that our Environmental Sciences graduate student, Emily Wolff, will defend for their Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree as follows:
Date: December 3, 2020 from 10:00 – 12:00 pm Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Title: The COVID-19 effects on Transportation and Greenhouse Gases
Abstract: To fulfill the requirement of the Professional Science Master’s in Environmental Sciences, I served as a Transportation Planning Intern for WSP USA in Portland, Oregon. WSP is a global business providing project management and consulting services to the built and natural environment via transportation, building, water and environment, energy, federal programs and advisory services expertise. As an Intern on the Portland planning team, I provided support and assistance to a variety of transportation projects across the region while investigating the impacts of COVID-19 on transportation and greenhouse gasses in Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
This study analyzes how COVID-19 state-wide shutdowns impacted traffic patterns using traffic count data in vehicles per hour (VPH) from January 2017 through August 2020. Traffic information is further compared to known greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data by vehicle type for a deeper understanding of how COVID-19 has affected transportation related GHGs. All of the 12 highways in this study experienced significant declines in on-road traffic correlated with COVID-19 shutdowns in March 2020. Passenger car travel has the highest associated GHG emissions and declined most significantly compared to other vehicle types. Heavy-duty trucks are the second biggest on-road emitters and their traffic increased during COVID-19, but this vehicle category also experienced increased speed and efficiency. These findings suggest significant reductions in transportation-related GHG emissions due to COVID-19. Wolff, Emily Sarah is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: The COVID-19 effects on Transportation and Greenhouse Gases
Time: Dec 3, 2020 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Zoom links and information are available in your inbox, or contact esgp@oregonstate.edu
