Data Infrastructure for Decarbonizing Transportation
Changing the behavior of households and firms is a key component of plans to decarbonize the transportation sector in the US and elsewhere. Various types of timely, and in some cases real-time, data that are currently available, or that could be constructed, might aid in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Real-time data on traffic conditions, for example, which offer insights into congestion levels, travel speeds, and potential delays on roadways, allow drivers to choose the most time- and emission-efficient routes. Data on driving behavior, such as speed, acceleration, and braking patterns, can help optimize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. For electric vehicle (EV) drivers, data on the availability and functionality of charging stations can be crucial in route selection and the decision of whether to drive an EV or an alternative vehicle. Real-time data on public transportation schedules and occupancy levels can improve the reliability and attractiveness of buses, trains, and subways. Shipping and logistics firms can benefit from real-time data on fleet locations, route progress, and environmental conditions, which permit more efficient route planning and load management.
To promote research on the collection and analysis of data that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, and that can improve efficiency in this sector more generally, the NBER, with generous support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, will convene a conference on March 13-14, 2025 in Cambridge, MA. The conference will be organized by Christopher Knittel of MIT and Katalin Springel of HEC Montreal. It will bring together researchers who are studying the infrastructure that is needed to create and analyze data on the transportation sector, the impact of data access and dissemination on the behavior of firms and households in the transportation sector, and the roles of private and public policies in promoting data collection and analysis.
The organizers invite submissions of completed research papers as well as drafts of papers that will be completed by March 2025. Preference will be given to papers that provide direct links between data collection and analysis and the carbon footprint of the transportation sector. A non-exhaustive list of potential topics includes:
- Measuring the impact of real-time data on congestion and traffic conditions on the route choices of drivers of light-duty as well as commercial vehicles.
- The role of credible information on charging station availability on the driving behavior of electric vehicles, the vehicle choices of drivers, and perceptions of “range anxiety.”
- The current data collection activities of trucking fleet operators and others with substantial logistical activities, as well as the links between data collection and fleet logistics, maintenance, and other behaviors.
- The impact of real-time data on public transportation schedules, delays, and occupancy levels on commuter behavior, urban mobility patterns, and modal shift from private vehicles to public transport.
Submissions of both empirical and theoretical research, and of papers and proposals by scholars who are early in their careers, who are not NBER affiliates, and who are from under-represented groups, are welcome. Please do not submit papers that have already been accepted for publication. To be considered for the conference, submissions upload papers by midnight (ET) on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
Authors chosen to present papers will be notified by late December, 2024.
The NBER will cover the cost for up to two presenters per paper to attend the meeting; other co-authors are welcome to attend at their own expense. Each team of authors will also receive a modest honorarium. Please share this call for papers with others who may be interested in submitting a paper. Questions about this conference may be addressed to confer@nber.org.