Description:

Jing Yu

PhD Candidate

Northwestern University  

Abstract

The transportation sector is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for 29% of the U.S.'s total in 2021. The significant share highlights the potential of emission reduction and the need for effective strategies. However, the mitigation of GHG emissions in the transportation sector not only relates to direct emission reduction of vehicle operations but also requires efforts to design and optimize the downstream sectors such as the infrastructure system and the energy generation. This requires a systematic approach to keep track of tremendous design alternatives and their interactions.
In this presentation, I will introduce a framework that supports the sustainable design of large-scale projects, such as road construction or vehicle electrification. By integrating economic input-output models within optimization frameworks, the developed tool can evaluate the life cycle impacts of these projects with various design alternatives, thereby aiding in informed decision-making. It is designed to be flexible, accommodating new scenarios with ease and efficiency. Furthermore, I will introduce an extended framework that incorporates time dynamics into this planning process. This enhancement not only provides a new understanding of the life cycle impacts but also enables us to plot a pathway towards the goal of net-zero emissions within the foreseeable future.
 
Bio

Jing Yu is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University, advised by Prof. Pablo L. Durango-Cohen. Before joining Northwestern, she obtained her B.S. degree in Aviation Engineering from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Her research focuses on the life cycle assessment and environmental design of transportation systems. She was awarded the Transportation Center Dissertation Year Fellowship for the academic year 2023-2024.