Emissions Impossible
Emissions Impossible engaged us to help Te Manatū Waka Ministry of Transport better understand Vehicle Kilometres Travelled (VKT) by rigid and trailer combinations across New Zealand. The goal was to deliver a highly accurate breakdown of VKT to inform transport policy, emissions reduction strategies, and freight efficiency initiatives.
Approach
- Geospatial Vehicle–Trailer Matching – Analysed GPS traces to accurately pair rigid vehicles with their active trailers across New Zealand's road network.
- RUC Class Aggregation – Classified trips by Road User Charges category, ensuring that data aligned with regulatory frameworks and provided meaningful segmentation for analysis.
- Comprehensive VKT Summary – Compiled detailed summaries of VKT by vehicle and trailer combinations within each RUC class, giving a granular picture of freight travel.
Key Findings
- Detailed VKT Distribution – Produced a clear breakdown of travel distances for each vehicle–trailer type, allowing for targeted freight policy analysis.
- Operational Insights – Identified patterns in heavy vehicle usage across regions and industry types.
- Environmental Relevance – Provided the baseline data needed to evaluate emissions from different freight configurations.
Impact
- Enhanced Policy Insight – Gave Te Manatū Waka a more precise understanding of freight movement, enabling smarter policy design.
- Support for Emissions Reduction Goals – Informed strategies aimed at reducing the environmental impact of heavy vehicle operations.
- Evidence-Based Freight Planning – Supported targeted investment in infrastructure and regulatory measures to optimise freight efficiency.