A step towards a better future! Download the app and start counting!
The Hestia traffic app was designed to overcome a chronic challenge in modeling traffic, traffic flow, and traffic emissions of pollution and greenhouse gases. In particular, data on the distribution of vehicle classes (think “size” or fuel efficiency groups) on a given piece of roadway is very limited. Our aim is to overcome that deficiency with citizen science collected data.
Current Problem with Traffic Data
The current official fixed traffic counting stations in Flagstaff are limited to 5 stations and often have limited information of the vehicle class distribution.
The current official fixed traffic counting stations in Flagstaff are limited to 5 stations and often have limited information of the vehicle class distribution.
This data and the onroad modeling we do is part of a larger model effort called "Hestia" which models and estimates all sources of air pollution, greenhouse gases and heat. This includes buildings, factories, power plants, airports, etc. The Hestia model has been applied to multiple cities in the US including Indianapolis, Washington DC, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. With this effort in the Arizona Southwest we will be adding Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff to that list. You can read more about the larger Hestia project here.
With this data, we can better model:
Traffic Flow
Provide actionable data for cities and ADOT to better understand traffic flows so they can implement changes to reduce congestion and optimize bus routes to avoid traffic and improve access.
Reducing Emissions
Provide accurate data for cities to implement changes aimed at reducing emissions (greenhouse gases and local air pollution – think smog!) through better traffic management and city planning.
Urban Heat
Provide accurate data on heat emissions – the urban heat island is partly driven by heat arising from combustion and vehicles are a large source of local heat emissions. In the urban Southwest, this is a large and growing problem.
Meet Our Team
Our interdisciplinary experts are dedicated to transforming urban transportation through innovative data collection and analysis
About Us
Lorem ipsum odor amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Ut ac bibendum arcu convallis eleifend. Fusce auctor senectus id rhoncus maecenas ex ridiculus. Interdum eu condimentum, aenean at curabitur metus.