Heat and carbon emission due to vehicle traffic in Dhaka City

Abstract

Rapid growth and urbanisation has led to an increased number of vehicles and more movement between cities in Bangladesh. Road asphalt is produced at temperatures 20 to 46 0 C and temperature use bitumen emulsion. Carbon footprint is a term used to describe the total amount of carbon dioxide and other green house gas (GHG) emissions for which an individual/process/organization/activity is responsible. For that reason this study investigated the effects of traffic congestion and high population density on temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations. Field measurements were conducted in Dhaka and along a major highway to Tangail. Three measurements were taken: air temperature and corresponding humidity on a traffic lane; surface temperatures of roads, buildings and human bodies; and carbon dioxide concentration along the highway. Temperatures were measured in different traffic situations because most vehicles are inefficient, so carbon and heat emissions are higher in traffic lanes. The road surface temperature can be reached 60°C which directly affects passenger body temperature, the main source of heat stroke in humans. Location, traffic and weather conditions and population density were analysed. The road surface temperature in a densely inhabited area was higher than that in a low-density area. The air temperature and humidity on the highway reflected a variation in air temperature (5 °C) and humidity (25%), depending on location, traffic congestion and population density. A map (C1-C6) and table of carbon dioxide emissions for the chosen simulation were generated and indicate how emissions are distributed in Cities.