Delhi Tests Remote Vehicle Emissions Sensors

April 14, 2004

NEW DELHI -  Identifying gross polluters on the roads of Delhi will be done by remote sensors over the next two weeks as the Delhi Department of Transport tests devices that detect vehicle emissions in real time and driving situations.

USAID supported study tests remote sensing equipment to curb vehicle pollution in New Delhi  Photo: USAID India, April 2003

The pilot study follows a test run of the equipment in Pune and is being demonstrated under a partnership between the city's transportation department, the Automotive Research Association of India and Environmental Systems Products (a U.S. company). The U.S. Agency for International Development's U.S.-Asia Environmental Partnership supports the public-private effort to improve existing vehicle inspection and certification methods that aim to curb air pollution from city traffic.

The remote sensing device technology detects a vehicle's emissions when it drives through an invisible light beam projected across a roadway, and can be placed at different locations around the city. The devices identify polluters and help evaluate control programs such as the Pollution Under Control (PUC) Centers.

Such sensors give city officials and policy makers access to actual emissions on the roads and reduce the cost of traditionally costly inspection and maintenance programs. The technology measures Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Oxides of Nitrogen and smoke opacity exhaust emissions of thousands of vehicles per day. It is a practical approach for characterizing on-road vehicle emissions or for generating comparative data for benchmarking purposes.

The technology is recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is used by more than 11 countries around the world including the U.S. , Canada , Mexico , China , Japan , and U.K. together with fixed station inspection and maintenance programs to enhance mobile source pollution control efforts.

The pilot study and subsequent fleet characterization will assist the Delhi Government to cost effectively make policy decisions to combat vehicular related air pollution.