Pacific Southwest Research Station

Road Dust Control

This study will assess the impact of best management practices (BMPs) designed to reduce the contribution from road dust resuspended by vehicles. Previous emissions studies by these researchers have shown that nearly 300 metric tons of fine particulates are contributed annually to the atmosphere by vehicles traveling on paved roads in the basin.

Figure: Road dust emissions are being measured with the DRI-designed TRAKER system, a specially equipped 1979 Chevrolet van that monitors, measures, and analyzes airborne particles on-the-fly as they are kicked up by the front tires (courtesy Desert Research Institute). Panel a shows the front view of vehicle with inlets mounted behind both tires and on front bumper.  Panel b shows rear view of vehicle with generator and vacuum pumps.

Full title:    Quantifying cost effectiveness of different road dust control strategies applied in the Lake Tahoe Basin

Lead Researchers:    John Gillies, Hampden Kuhns, Vicken Etyemezian, and Alan Gertler at the Desert Research Institute; Steven Cliff, UC Davis

1. Measure particle emissions and chemical/physical properties under a range of road-emission best management practices.
2. Measure deposition of particular matter in landscapes around the lake.
3. Prioritize emission control strategies to prevent particles from depositing on the lake surface.

Sites:    five sites to be determined (maps and table of potential sampling sites [pdf-)

Timeframe:   October 2007 through October 2009 (2 years)

Products:    Report and article summarizing results and providing recommendations on the most cost-effective control measures for use in the Tahoe basin.