Evaluation and Enhancement of Carbon Sequestration Potential, Bioenergy Production and Ecosystem Services of Existing Vegetation along Roadsides

There is a growing realization that anthropogenic greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions are contributing to global climate change. Therefore, it is critical to identify and leverage appropriate avenues to mitigate this problem. With the transportation sector being one of the main sources of GHG emissions globally, it is incumbent on the transportation sector to address issues leading to this state, given its direct impact on the environment, health, and climate. Policies and strategies suggest several preventive mitigation options, but have paid little attention to compensatory mitigation such as through carbon sequestration along highway rights-of-way (ROWs). As such, this study aims to evaluate and enhance the carbon sequestration potential and other ecosystem service provided by roadside vegetation. This study is especially important for roadsides in highly polluted zones such as those affected by heavy vehicular traffic and industries. Therefore, due to heavy traffic and proximity to UTSA, the research team will evaluate carbon sequestration along Interstate-35 (I-35) within Bexar County, Texas for this study. The proposed research will produce a baseline assessment of the carbon captured and stored along the roadside in an arid Region 6 state (Texas). This study will result in refinements of additional steps towards establishing a simple, reliable, and replicable methodology for assessing the carbon stocks in vegetation along federal highways of USA and eventually developing strategies for registering carbon credits. The information gained in this study will also assist transportation engineers in taking remedial measures for improving carbon sequestration along the roadside, thereby contributing significantly towards the reduction of GHG emissions. In addition to preserving the environment, this study will also provide information on the ecosystem services provided by roadside vegetation.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • 18HSTSA01

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $100000
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Dessouky, Samer

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas, San Antonio

  1 UTSA Circle
  San Antonio, TX  United States  78249
• Principal Investigators:

  Kapoor, Vikram

  Hutchinson, Jeffrey

  Dessouky, Samer

• Start Date: 20180315
• Expected Completion Date: 20190915
• Actual Completion Date: 20190915
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Carbon capture and storage; Ecosystems; Greenhouse gases; Right of way (Land); Roadside; Vegetation
• Geographic Terms: Bexar County (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01663469
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Mar 21 2018 9:33PM