Evaluating real-time air monitoring system of PM10 emission from highway construction work zones

The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) established the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), which analyzed the highway safety project and reduced traffic fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads (Chow 2011). The construction of transportation infrastructures involves heavy movement of dirt and chemical, emission of aerosol from various construction equipment, production of fugitive dust from the excavations, saw cutting, demolitions, and vehicle movements. This results in liberation and offsite migration of the contaminated dust in and around the construction work zone, which effects the natural state of the environment and people around. The major issues are lack of visibility for drivers on the road and health concerns for the construction workers. The main objective of this study is to present a real-time air monitoring system for the highway construction work zones and determine the air quality impact and control measures. The exposure level of the aerosol co ntent in the soil-derived dust were calculated using the DustTrak 8520 by measuring the particle concentrations corresponding to PM10 size fraction. The TrakPro software is used to extract data file from the DustTrak 8520 instrument collected during the field experiments. To provide the appropriate actions against PM10 emission from the construction work zones, a detailed analysis of the released PM10 concentration during the field test in form of graphical representation is conducted. This research will determine the air quality impact of work zones during peak hours at various locations. Moreover, it will signify the impact of air quality on the local environment due to release of PM10 concentration by various construction activities and equipment. Thus, the detailed analysis will estimate the major dust emitting source from the construction work zones and thereby determining its impact on the surrounding environment. Furthermore, various control measures and strategies are discussed for controlling the PM10 emission rates from these sources. According to this research, the average amount of PM10 concentration from the construction work zones is obtained by estimating the average amounts of upwind and downwind locations of the work site. Thereby, providing awareness to the workers for executing appropriate actions against fugitive dust released from the work zones