EVALUATING THE OPERATIONAL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF A SMART ROUNDABOUT

Alkhaledi, Khaled Ali · 2015 · Crossref

DOI: 10.7166/26-2-1025

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

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Summary

This study addresses the rising vehicle fuel consumption and emission rates in Kuwait, which contribute to significant health and economic problems. The research evaluates the operational and environmental benefits of a proposed "smart roundabout" design compared to traditional roundabouts and light-signalised intersections. The smart roundabout features dedicated right-turn exit lanes, U-turn paths connecting adjacent entry and exit roads, and underground tunnels for pedestrians and cyclists. These design elements allow vehicles to turn without entering the central circulation area and eliminate vehicle-to-pedestrian conflict points. The methodology involved selecting two busy intersections in Kuwait: Dirwaza in downtown Kuwait City and Beirut in Hawally. Traffic data, including vehicle counts and turning movements, were collected via monitoring cameras during peak morning and afternoon hours in November 2013. The study used SIDRA 6.0 software to simulate three scenarios for each site: the existing light-signalised intersection, a traditional roundabout, and the proposed smart roundabout. The simulations varied the roundabout diameter from 20 to 80 meters to determine the optimal design. The primary metrics for comparison were vehicle fuel consumption and the emission rates of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and hydrocarbons (HC). Results indicated that a 50-meter diameter was optimal for both intersections. At the Dirwaza intersection, the smart roundabout reduced fuel consumption by 61.62% compared to the signalised intersection and by 54.28% compared to the traditional roundabout. Emission reductions were similarly significant: 61.64% less CO2, 63.93% less CO, 73.15% less HC, and 47.83% less NOx than the signalised intersection. At the Beirut intersection, the smart roundabout reduced fuel consumption by 64.31% compared to the signalised intersection and by 56.84% compared to the traditional roundabout. It also reduced CO2 emissions by 64.33%, CO by 65.12%, and HC by 76.47% relative to the signalised intersection. While NOx emissions were lower than at signalised intersections, they were slightly higher than at traditional roundabouts in the Beirut scenario. Additionally, the smart roundabout reduced the number of vehicles entering the central circulation by approximately 30–36% compared to traditional designs. The study concludes that smart roundabouts offer substantial improvements in energy efficiency and environmental quality by minimizing delay and idling time. The design also enhances safety by physically separating pedestrian and cyclist traffic from vehicles. Economically, the reduction in fuel consumption translates to significant savings for the government, which subsidizes fuel in Kuwait, and reduces societal costs associated with air pollution-related health issues. The authors suggest that constructing smart roundabouts is a feasible and beneficial strategy for highly congested intersections, particularly in regions with increasing vehicle populations and stringent emission limits.

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• intersection design