Carbon Emission Estimator for Public Transportation in Finland

Abstract

Now a days, every person is more aware about carbon emissions due to drastic changes in climate. They feel responsible to track and reduce their individual carbon emissions. In this thesis study, we are proposing a method to offer carbon emissions data of journey plan which can be visualized in an easily format to understand and compare with carbon emissions of daily utilities. This will function as an added motivating factor for choosing more sustainable travel options. Currently there are many online carbon emissions calculators readily available online, but in those tools, we must enter our travel data and then it calculates carbon emissions based on a common average factor for emissions. This is a post analysis work and a demotivating factor for many people to plan their sustainable travel habits and they are unsure about the results because of a common factor used in every situation. In this current proposed model of this study, the emission factor will reflect the transport providers emissions average factor. So, this model is more accurate comparatively for real time visualization and comparison. We also propose the data points needed for ideal real time estimations of emissions. The emissions factors are calculated based on the data provided by the public transportation providers and the data will be updated periodically by authorized governmental institutions like Fintraffic and Traficom. By implementing this dynamic real time feature in currently used regular journey planners helpful to make people choose sustainable travel choices and by this, the carbon emissions due to transport sector in Finland can be reduced.