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    <copyright>Copyright © 2026. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright>
    <docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs>
    <managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor>
    <webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster>
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      <title>Research in Progress (RIP)</title>
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      <link>https://rip.trb.org/</link>
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    <item>
      <title>Utilizing ITS at International Ports to Reduce PM2.5 and NO2 Emissions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772963</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will develop an integrated Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) at four ports of entry, supplemented by low-cost PM2.5 and NO2 sensors, to support real-time information and monitor idling-related emissions from commercial vehicles. This project would supplement the existing ITS network managed by the City of El Paso by installing low-cost PM2.5 and NO2 sensors at ports of entry and across the network to monitor air quality and idling-related emissions. Mitigating PM2.5 and NO2 emissions from commercial vehicles is an essential component to reducing poor air quality, which has a major health impact on El Paso residents. The objective of the project is to monitor and visually-represent commercial vehicle activity and emissions in real-time simultaneously and identify congestion points and high-emission zones. This objective is achieved by combining dedicated PM2.5 and NO2 sensors with traditional ITS (fiber optic communications, lane management systems, dynamic message signs, closed-circuit television cameras, ground vehicle sensors, signal phasing and timing).  As part of Outreach Tasks, this model is intended to provide additional datasets that will be presented to the public, to logistics companies operating commercial vehicles at international ports, to decision makers that can make policy changes, and funding agencies like USDOT for funding construction improvements. Focusing on mitigating congestion and reducing PM2.5 and NO2 emissions at international ports will result in positive transportation-related health disparities and improve air quality for disadvantaged communities. This model can be replicated across all international ports along the U.S.-Mexico and U.S. Canada border and in international borders with similar commercial activity.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:09:42 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2772963</guid>
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    <item>
      <title>The Effects of Road Types and Construction Activities on Particulate Matter and Development of Best Practices for PM2.5 Reduction</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604527</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will evaluate the impact of roads (paved and unpaved roads, and unpaved shoulders) and construction on 2.5 microns (PM2.5) emissions and develop strategies for reduction. Objectives include quantifying PM2.5 emissions from roads and construction sites, identifying high-risk areas using thematic mapping, and designing cost-effective mitigation measures like dust suppression and optimized paving practices. The research team will create a user-friendly decision-support toolkit to help prioritize interventions and assess emission reduction strategies. The project outcomes will provide actionable solutions for air quality planning at both project and regional levels, enabling the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to meet environmental regulations, improve public health, and reduce PM2.5 impacts. The research team will collaborate with the TxDOT project 0-7256 "Monitoring and Speciation of Particulate Matter Under 2.5 Microns (PM2.5) Composition across Texas Counties" to enhance data collection and analysis, ensuring effective mitigation efforts.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 29 Sep 2025 16:24:57 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2604527</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Monitoring and Speciation of Particulate Matter Under 2.5 Microns (PM2.5) Composition across Texas Counties</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593191</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Texas needs a detailed understanding of statewide particulate matter under 2.5 microns (PM2.5) sources, as current regulatory monitoring lacks the granularity for source apportionment. Since speciated PM2.5 data is limited, the research team will collect and analyze samples from multiple regions nearing or exceeding the 9.0 µg/m3 threshold set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The research team will conduct source apportionment analysis and highlight the prominent sources of PM2.5 emissions by region. This will support future research and regulatory efforts, such as developing and implementation appropriate emission reduction strategies. The research team will collaborate with state and local governments, academia and other stakeholders, to acquire any existing data and ensure local regulations and best practices are met. The research team will collaborate with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) project 0-7257, "The Effects of Road Types and Construction Activities on Particulate Matter and Development of Best Practices for PM2.5 Reduction" by sharing data, resources, and coordinating efforts to enhance data collection and analysis.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:42:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2593191</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Microplastic Air Pollution from the Wear of Vehicle Tires</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582930</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Tire wear particles from mobile sources are the dominating source of microplastic pollution globally. Tires typically consist of rubbers/elastomers, polymers, fillers, processing oils and resins, additives, reinforcements, and vulcanization agents. This study aims to investigate the abundance and examine the occurrence and composition of traffic-derived microplastics from in-use vehicles when operating on different routes. To the best of the research team's knowledge, the present study is one of the first attempts to characterize and quantify microplastic pollution from tire wear during in-use conditions. This study will employ state-of-the-art and novel sampling systems, which will be installed on vehicles operating on routes with different pavement materials (concrete vs. asphalt) and a mix of driving conditions (urban vs. highway driving, aggressive driving and elevation changes). The goal of this study is to investigate tire-wear microplastic particles and better understand how these pollutants affect communities near major highways.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:42:13 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2582930</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Framework for Enhanced Model Evaluations for Project-Level Air Quality Analyses


</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558418</link>
      <description><![CDATA[State departments of transportation (DOTs) conduct project-level air quality analyses as part of the National Environmental Policy Act and 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments to meet transportation conformity rule requirements. These analyses are conducted with travel demand forecasting models; vehicle emissions models, such as the Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) and the EMFAC (EMission FACtor) model; and air quality dispersion models, such as the American Meteorological Society (AMS)/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulatory Model (AERMOD). A model evaluation process (MEP) is typically employed to assess the contextual suitability of available models and conformance with the regulatory modeling chain (RMC) of traffic, emissions, and, as applicable for the pollutant(s) involved, dispersion, including the determination of representative background concentrations. 

However, current MEPs typically focus on individual models and not the overall RMC or the full array of regulatory transportation applications (e.g., project types and associated configurations, operating conditions and settings, pollutants and compliance tests) required to be modeled. NCHRP Research Report 1058: Assessing Air Pollution Dispersion Models for Emissions Regulation first recommended the implementation of an enhanced model evaluation process (EMEP) for the RMC to supplement existing evaluation processes that focus on individual models. Responding to an EPA notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) indicated additional support for the development of an EMEP in its Comments on Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Guideline on Air Quality Models Enhancements to the AERMOD Dispersion Modeling System. Research is needed to further develop a framework to develop this EMEP and update existing recommendations. 

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to further develop the framework for an EMEP for transportation air quality models for surface transportation projects and support its implementation. ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 26 May 2025 22:32:46 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2558418</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>An initial step towards the development of predictive tools to reduce pollution from transportation</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2442022</link>
      <description><![CDATA[US DOT Priorities: This project aims at mitigating the particulate pollution from transportation systems towards Preserving the Environment and Climate and Sustainability.

Outputs: Successful implementation of this project will create a base modelling framework (in-silico) tool that allows optimization of exhaust systems to reduce particulate pollution.

Outcomes/Impacts: Availability of a reliable optimization tool allows for efficient design of various component of transportation systems where particle deposition may pose a serious challenge. Additionally, such tool are general and have the potential to be extended to study particle transport (pollution) beyond any specific device. 
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Oct 2024 11:05:53 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2442022</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Highway Construction Impact on Air Quality</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417309</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This project will collect air quality measurements along I-270 in Denver as part of a roadway reconstruction research project. The project will help determine the levels of particulate matter and other pollutants in the air along I-270 before and during different phases of construction. The project will also inform the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) of the utility of a range of measurement instruments and configurations allowing CDOT to select appropriate measurement strategies for future needs. With the data, mitigation efforts can be implemented to reduce pollution levels. The data will also allow the general public to be aware of these pollution levels and make more informed decisions on their potential exposure. Measurements will occur at approximately ten (10) primary locations along I-270 using a variety of technologies. Measurements will be real-time with data uploaded to the cloud and a public-facing website.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 14 Aug 2024 14:07:14 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2417309</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>ReACh: Resuspension Emissions Based on Aerodynamic Characteristics</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2410440</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Non-exhaust emissions, including resuspension emissions where vehicles aerosolize road dust and debris, are a major concern for both environmental and human health. As alternative transportation modes become more popular, resuspension is expected to dominate tailpipe emissions as a regulatory concern. However, our current understanding of resuspension emissions is based on fleet-wide and regional values, and there is limited information on vehicle-specific characteristics that contribute to resuspension, with the exception of vehicle weight and road-tire interactions. This yields a regulatory impasse on how to craft appropriate regulations on the basis of limited information. This is a critical discrepancy, especially if weight-based regulations are adopted, which could unnecessarily penalize certain vehicles, jeopardizing continued innovation in transportation. To address this foundational gap, we propose to study the connection between resuspension, road surface type, and vehicle-specific aerodynamic characteristics, including ride height, undercarriage area, and rear bumper overhang. This work will determine why specific vehicles produce more or less resuspension, and whether road surfaces can help mitigate resuspension. This work will be critical to informing vehicle and roadway regulations to mitigate the rising threat of resuspension emissions.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:38:50 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2410440</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Granular Characterization of Mobility-Related Air Pollution Exposure Disparity</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/2350714</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Air pollution is disproportionately affecting racial minorities and economically-disadvantaged populations. Despite continuous improvement in ambient air quality across the United States, relative exposure disparities among different socioeconomic groups continue to persist, worsening health outcomes and the quality of life of disadvantaged groups. Previous studies have typically measured air pollution exposure based on people’s home locations without considering how individual mobility patterns might influence it. This project quantifies air pollution exposure using big mobility data on individual trips from more than 40 million mobile devices in the contiguous United States for the pre-pandemic year 2019. The research team combines these highly granular mobility data with national air pollution estimates, specifically PM2.5, to first calculate mobility-related exposure in major U.S. cities. In addition, the team links anonymized personal mobility data with their demographics at the census tract level to characterize inequalities in particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure among different racial, ethnic, as well as other demographic groups. Methodologically, this approach explores a new paradigm to assessing short- and long-term individual-level exposure, serving as a reference for cross-sectional and cohort epidemiological studies. The study outcome reveals the spatial heterogeneity of air pollution exposure disparity and how it is linked to street design for cities in the United States. The analysis can inform evidence-based environmental plans and public health strategies to mitigate air pollution’s disproportionate impacts on racial and economically disadvantaged communities.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Mar 2024 21:35:36 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/2350714</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Quantify the Real Impact of Transportation Activity on Regional Ozone and Near-Road PM Concentrations</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879840</link>
      <description><![CDATA[TxDOT and its partner agencies are required to comply with the requirements of the transportation conformity requirement. Transportation conformity is an emissions control-centric process built on the assumption that that reducing emissions from transportation activities would lead to better air quality. However, the air quality observations collected since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shows ambient ozone and particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometer in aerodynamic diameter (PM₂.₅), concentrations have a mixed response to the significant changes in traffic activities and emissions. This trend has raised questions regarding the extent of the transportation’s impacts on air quality. This study will bridge the gap in the understanding of the actual extent of transportation activities' impacts on regional and near-road air quality. The research team will study three major activities for selected case study areas: (1) Analysis of before- and during-pandemic traffic activity and air quality monitoring data. (2) Evaluate the performance of air dispersion modeling in capturing the changes of near-road PM₂.₅ concentrations in near-road environment resulting from traffic activity variations. (3) Evaluate the performance of photochemical modeling in capturing the changes of regional ozone in response to changes of traffic activities. The study will also result in a characterization of COVID-19 restrictions’ impacts on traffic activities and air quality.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 23 Sep 2021 10:51:01 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1879840</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>A Comprehensive Analysis of Air Quality in the NYC Subway System</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1844341</link>
      <description><![CDATA[The research team will carry out a comprehensive spatial-temporal analysis of particulate matter air quality across the New York City subway system. This will be achieved through the integration of a high-resolution spatial model and temporally resolved measurements using a field deployable sensor network positioned at selected stations. Data products which will be based on rigorous statistical analysis may subsequently be used by agencies to prioritize system upgrades incorporating public health metrics.  ]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 01 Apr 2021 19:57:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1844341</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Research for the AASHTO Committee on Environment and Sustainability. Task 96. 
Quick Reference Guide for Traffic Modelers for Generating Traffic and Activity Data for Project-Level Air Quality Analyses</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1705847</link>
      <description><![CDATA[There is a frequent disconnect between the traffic data needed for project-level air quality analysis and the traffic data provided by traffic modelers.  The disconnect leads to waste in processing and time and introduces project risk by introducing uncertainty into the NEPA and Transportation Conformity process. The challenge stems from different technical vocabulary and knowledge-base of air quality and transportation modelers.  State DOTs need guidance that can bridge the gap between air quality and traffic modelers by articulating air quality needs with an understanding of common language and tools available to traffic modelers. 

The objective of this research is to supplement NCHRP Report 765, "Analytical Travel Forecasting Approaches for Project-Level Planning and Design" by providing guidance focusing specifically on generating traffic information for air quality analysis.  The guidance will aid traffic modelers in understanding the traffic data needed for air quality analysis. It will also contribute to improved accuracy and efficiency of the traffic and activity modeling required for federally required air quality analyses by providing guidance to modelers to help them develop data in formats that can be easily used by air quality analysts.  NCHRP Report 765 addressed the general subject of project-level modeling in detail but does not address needs specific to project-level air quality analyses. For more information on NCHRP Report 765, visit: http://www.trb.org/Publications/Blurbs/170900.aspx

The Quick Reference Guide describes traffic needs for project screening, refined analyses, and dispersion modeling of carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and mobile source air toxics (MSATs). Information on greenhouse gas (GHG) analysis is also included.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2020 17:02:37 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1705847</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Engine to Engine Variability and Derivation of Characteristic nvPM Emissions</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549365</link>
      <description><![CDATA[MS&T owns and operates the AIR6241 compliant, North American mobile reference system to measure nvPM emissions from the exhaust of aircraft]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:22:45 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549365</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Development of NAS wide and Global Rapid Aviation Air Quality</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549363</link>
      <description><![CDATA[This research will develop tools that will enable rapid assessment of NAS wide and global impacts of aviation emissions on aviation attributable PM,...]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:22:41 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549363</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Analysis to Support the Development of an Engine nvPM Emissions Standard</title>
      <link>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549354</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Establish an international aircraft engine non-volatile particulate matter standard for engines of rated thurst >26.7N.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Fri, 21 Sep 2018 18:22:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid>https://rip.trb.org/View/1549354</guid>
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