Environmentally-Friendly Navigation

One of the major successes in ITS technology lately has been in the area of advanced traveler information systems (ATIS). In particular, there are now many good navigation systems that can advise drivers on route selection within a roadway network. This type of navigation software is now available on the Internet that can be used for trip planning, as well as in on-board navigation systems that can calculate optimal routes based on current vehicle location. The primary role of these navigation systems is to help drivers find their destinations. More advanced navigation systems can now help drivers avoid congestion on the roadways based on receiving real-time roadway data information. To date, these navigation systems have embedded algorithms that attempt to minimize trip distance and/or travel time. However, many drivers are now becoming increasingly concerned with rising fuel costs and pollutant emissions. Therefore, it is desirable to create new "environmentally-friendly" navigation algorithms. Taking advantage of the latest navigation technology, we have developed new navigation techniques that focus on minimizing energy consumption and pollutant emissions. These methods combine sophisticated mobile-source energy and emission models with route minimization algorithms that are used for navigational purposes. These new methods have been applied in several southern California case studies resulting in significant energy savings compared to standard navigation techniques.