Too much sulfur can poison advanced catalysts, making them gradually ineffective at removing nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and particulates. Increased traffic congestion and deteriorating roads, as well as congestion on our rivers and at our airports, are causing losses in productivity and profits. ORNL researchers have been developing computer models of traffic congestion on freeways, growing congestion of barge traffic on a major river, and airplane congestion en route to airports. These models are providing insights into how to reduce congestion. Software tools are being developed at NTRC to help emergency responders avoid streets that are closed or blocked.
Traffic congestion causes losses in productivity and profits.
More than 41,000 people die each year on U.S. highways. NTRC's development of tools to weigh trucks faster and comprehensively test their brakes and rollover stability could ultimately increase highway safety if the technology catches on. NTRC is also boosting highway safety through its evaluations that ensure that hazardous materials are properly packaged and transported along routes in less populated areas. In this way, packages are less likely to release their contents in case of an accident in transit and thus possibly expose a large population. ORNL researchers are developing computer tools to help traffic management centers anticipate and avoid unnecessary congestion, which can lead to traffic accidents and waste fuel.