IMPACT OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES 9
Running head: IMPACT OF AUTOMATED VEHICLES
Impact of Automated Vehicles in Cleaning Parks
Name:
Institution:
Abstract
Autonomous vehicles are set to become an emergent phenomenon. They will transform the transportation sector and alter how people travel from one destination to the next. Multiple sectors are expected to benefit from the introduction of automated vehicles. The environment remains one of the areas that will benefit from self-driving vehicles. With potential benefits such as efficient road use, energy savings, traffic decongestion, and energy savings, parks should benefit from improved air quality. Up to 90% of greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be eliminated through the introduction of automated vehicles. Secondly, self-driving cars are more efficient users of space than traditional cars, thus opening up opportunities for cities to be reimagined with the focus being on expanding actual parks. Combining these improvements, automated vehicles will contribute toward the upgrade of cleaner parks.
Impact of Automated Vehicles in Cleaning Parks
Autonomous vehicle technology was arguably the most critical innovation in the transportation sector since the invention of the automobile in the 20th century. Car manufacturers and tech firms across the world are keen on developing and testing autonomous vehicles in preparation for a future where non-autonomous vehicles are likely to be phased out. The automated vehicles are expected to provide better alternatives to conventional forms of transport. According to Hewitt (2018), they will transform how people commute through city streets and highway systems. They will not only be safer to use compared to conventional transport systems but also reliable and affordable. All these developments will not only transform how people run errands, but also the state of our parks. While human-driven vehicles have spelled disaster for urban parks, the autonomous cars are expected to eliminate different forms of urban air pollution associated with the fossil fuel cars (Harrop, 2018). The introduction of autonomous vehicles will make parking obsolete, freeing up more urban space that cities can redesign into green spaces or community facilities. Cities will benefit from autonomous vehicles because they will free up more urban space and reduce urban air pollution.
More Urban Space
Driverless cars will transform parking and urban landscapes. The number of vehicles that access cities in a day is increasing, putting more pressure on urban space and parks. Research shows that the average vehicle in the U.S. spends 95% of its lifetime parked (Choi, 2019). In total, about 6,500 sq. miles of land is used for parking in the U.S., which is a land size larger that the state of Connecticut (Choi, 2019). The introduction of self-driving cars will, in principle, increase the capacity of urban spaces. According to Stricker (2019), self-driving cars are more efficient users of space than conventional vehicles, thus allowing cities to design smaller parking lots. More urban space will therefore be available to the urban authority to allocate other activities such as green areas. It is a transformation that is expected to ease pressure on parks from an influx of population. With more urban space, urban authorities can create more parks that people can visit without having to overcrowd at limited spaces. Self-driving vehicles are expected to transform urban space and create more room for parks, easing pressure on the critical resources.
Similarly, the use of autonomous vehicles is expected to foster livable cities. The world is experiencing rapid urbanization with more than 54% of people now living in urban areas. Adler (2015) anticipates the proportion to increase to 66% by 2050. With more people moving into cities every week, parks are set to suffer further deterioration if their capacity is exceeded. Autonomous vehicles will intervene to solve this challenge and contribute toward better use of urban infrastructure. According to Sperling (2018), the shared rides component associated with autonomous vehicles will feature prominently in reducing the need for road expansion. The reduced road expansion is likely to free up more public space that may be repurposed for uses such as green space. It is in this perspective that autonomous cars will reduce the strain on available parks by eliminating the need for frequent road expansion, which would have been needed to accommodate more conventional vehicles.
The use of autonomous vehicles will reduce congestion. Traffic congestion is cited as a major source of inconvenience for people within urban centers. Urban spaces are reserved for roads and highways, leaving little room for parks. Autonomous vehicles are expected to decongest highways and city streets by reducing the number of conventional cars and the need for reserving more space for roads. According to Heinrichs, Rupprecht, & Smith (2019), self-driving cars will reduce vehicles on roads by 80% because more efficient transport networks support them. The steady flow of traffic will create more opportunities for urban planning that is focused more on green spaces and less on traffic buildup.
Additionally, autonomous vehicles are estimated to cover a distance of 100,000 miles every year, lowering the number of passenger cars on American roads further (Greenblatt & Shaheen, 2015). Fewer vehicles on US roads translates to more urban spaces. According to Harrop (2018), autonomous vehicles will free up more landmass that city authorities may use to redesign the urban landscape. For example, the cities can be reimagined to include greener parks, recreation centers, and communal spaces (Greenblatt & Shaheen, 2015). In the U.S., the advent of autonomous vehicles has already introduced tangible benefits. In areas such as Santa Monica, car parks are being turned into actual parks (Greenblatt & Shaheen, 2015). More cities are expected to transition into cleaner and vibrant urban centers out of the polluted system that exists today. This improvement is linked to the emergence of autonomous vehicles. Therefore, the challenge of congestion will be solved through the integration of autonomous vehicles in the transportation sector creating more room space for cleaner parks.
Environmental Sustainability
The introduction of autonomous vehicles will improve the quality of parks by reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Stricker (2019) estimates that self-driving cars will lower US carbon emissions by nearly 200 million tons per year. The quality of parks is expected to improve with sustained reduction of carbon emissions. Greenblatt & Shaheen (2015) state that parking by conventional cars adds up to 25 grams of carbon dioxide and nearly 89% of sulfur dioxide equivalent per passenger-kilometer. The autonomous vehicles, which are supported by technologies that do not allow emission of ozone-forming precursors, will contribute toward improvement in air quality. Environmentalists have always been concerned about the high levels of carbon emissions released into the environment, especially from the transport sector (Alexander-Kearns, Peterson, & Cassady, 2016). Studies reveal that transportation is the major source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. (Greenblatt & Shaheen, 2015). Consequently, the introduction of autonomous vehicles is certain to accelerate the reduction of emissions. The parks that are often situated within urban areas will benefit from improved air quality as soon as self-driving vehicles are introduced in the society.
Energy Savers
Autonomous vehicles will potentially be energy savers. Past studies indicate that energy consumption can be reduced by close to 90% with the integration of self-driving vehicles (Alessandrini, Campagna, Delle Site, Filippi, & Persia, 2015). This is because they are not only programmed to be aerodynamic, but also capable of operating in a more fuel-efficient manner. Traditional cars are inefficient in their consumption of fuel. They burn excessive fuel, but autonomous vehicles are designed to operate at maximum efficiency. When other factors such as efficient traffic flow and automated ride-sharing are considered, autonomous vehicles are estimated to reduce energy use by up to at least 80% (Greenblatt & Shaheen, 2015). The environment benefits from improved fuel efficiency, because it means that there will be fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The authorities will also not need to approve budgets to clean the environment each year. It means that more financial resources will be freed to develop actual parks and green spaces. City dwellers will have access to public spaces that are well-preserved and protected from adverse effects of fuel combustion. The increased uptake of autonomous vehicles is expected to cause a multiplier effect that will benefit urban centers. Cities should plan for a future that is defined by a more vibrant and cleaner environment, which is more habitable because of reduced pollution. The secondary effects of inefficient fuel usage on the environment such as smog should be avoided with the uptake of autonomous vehicles. The net result will be an improved air quality within urban centers.
Conclusion
Autonomous vehicles will come to dominate the transportation sector. If they become ubiquitous, self-driving vehicles will have a desired positive effect on the environment. Specifically, autonomous vehicles are expected to open up more space in urban centers where city planners can build green spaces and actual parks. It is a contribution that emanates from the capacity of autonomous vehicles to ease traffic congestion through efficient traffic flow and automated ride-sharing. Secondly, self-driving vehicles are expected to improve the quality of parks by reducing energy and greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions are certain to enhance the quality of air around cities for urban dwellers to enjoy pollution-free public spaces and parks. These are some of the positive effects that are going to accrue to benefit the environment and improve the quality of urban parks. Cities will benefit from self-driving vehicles because they will free up more urban space and eliminate urban air pollution.
References
Adler, B. (2015). Cities could be big players when it comes to cutting carbon emissions. Retrieved from https://grist.org/cities/cities-could-be-big-players-when-it-comes-to-cutting-carbon-emissions/
Alessandrini, A., Campagna, A., Delle Site, P., Filippi, F., & Persia, L. (2015). Automated vehicles and the rethinking of mobility and cities. Transportation Research Procedia, 5, 145-160.
Alexander-Kearns, M., Peterson, M., & Cassady, A. (2016). The impact of vehicle automation on carbon emissions. Center for American Progress. Retrieved from https://www. americanprogress. org/issues/green/reports/2016/11/18/292588/theimpact-of-vehicle-automation-on-carbon-emissions-where-uncertainty-lies.
Choi, C. (2019). How Self-Driving Cars Might Transform City Parking. IEEE Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/self-driving/autonomous-parking
Greenblatt, J. B., & Shaheen, S. (2015). Automated vehicles, on-demand mobility, and environmental impacts. Current sustainable/renewable energy reports, 2(3), 74-81.
Harrop, O. (2018). Air quality assessment and management: A practical guide. CRC Press.
Heinrichs, D., Rupprecht, S., & Smith, S. (2019). Making Automation Work for Cities: Impacts and Policy Responses. In Road Vehicle Automation 5 (pp. 243-252). Springer, Cham.
Hewitt, D. (2018). We’re on the cusp of the biggest transport disruption in history: here’s why. Sage Automation. Retrieved from https://www.sageautomation.com/blog/were-on-the-cusp-of-the-biggest-transport-disruption-in-history-heres-why-.
Seba, T. (2018). The cars of the future will end parking tickets, traffic jams, and car loans. Quartz. Retrieved from https://qz.com/1381104/the-cars-of-the-future-will-end-parking-tickets-traffic-jams-and-car-loans/.
Sperling, D. (2018). Three revolutions: steering automated, shared, and electric vehicles to a better future. Island Press.
Stricker, J. (2019). Transforming Transport, Transforming Urban Spaces. In Contemporary Urban Design Thinking (pp. 197-211). Springer, Cham.