GHG Emission Estimation Using Precipitation-Adjusted Vehicle Usage Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from vehicle use do not effectively account for the vehicle's use environment, leading to varying and often inaccurate estimates, especially when considering factors like precipitation and commuting distance.
Innovation Solution
A GHG emission estimation method that uses a computer to derive approximation functions based on vehicle usage rates and precipitation data, integrating these functions to calculate a corrected vehicle usage rate and subsequently estimate GHG emissions, taking into account both distance and precipitation as key variables.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If vehicle usage rate is calculated using simple multiplication of travel distance and emission intensity, then calculation process is simple, but estimation accuracy deteriorates due to ignoring use environment factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters used in emission calculation from simple distance-based parameters to include environmental parameters (precipitation amount, temperature, humidity) and behavioral parameters (vehicle usage rate under different conditions). This is achieved by deriving approximation functions that incorporate these additional parameters to reflect actual vehicle usage patterns under varying environmental conditions, thereby improving estimation accuracy while maintaining calculation feasibility.
2Measurement precision
If vehicle usage rate varies by precipitation amount and distance, then emission estimation accuracy improves, but calculation complexity increases due to multiple approximation functions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vehicle usage rate calculation into multiple approximation functions, each tailored to specific precipitation amount classes and distance classes. By dividing the calculation space into discrete segments based on environmental and spatial parameters, the system can apply appropriate functions for each segment, improving accuracy while organizing complexity in a structured manner that facilitates implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of vehicle usage rate based on varying environmental conditions (precipitation, temperature, humidity) and distance factors. Instead of using a static usage rate, the system dynamically selects and applies appropriate approximation functions based on real-time or historical environmental data, allowing the calculation system to adapt to different conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic function selection.
3Ease of operation
If future GHG emissions are estimated without considering use environment, then estimation process is straightforward, but reliability of reduction target planning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary derivation of approximation functions using historical data on vehicle usage rates, precipitation amounts, temperatures, and humidity levels. By pre-processing and storing these environment-specific usage rate patterns in advance, the system enables reliable future emission projections without requiring complex real-time calculations. This preliminary action ensures that reduction target planning is based on empirically derived relationships between environmental conditions and actual vehicle usage, thereby improving reliability while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A GHG emission estimation method includes: deriving, based on a vehicle usage rate of each distance class for each precipitation amount class based on a vehicle commuting distance of each employee and precipitation amount data of each past commuting day for the precipitation amount class, a first approximation function that estimates the vehicle usage rate; deriving a second approximation function that approximates a parameter value of the first approximation function; integrating the first approximation function and the second approximation function to derive a function for estimating the vehicle usage rate; calculating a corrected vehicle usage rate in which an appearance rate of the precipitation amount class is reflected in an output value of the function for the precipitation amount class; and calculating an estimated value of estimated GHG emissions based on the distance and the number of commuting days of the employee.