Three Essays on Renewable Jet Fuel Supply Chain Network Design and Traffic Safety
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Abstract
Because of rising energy consumption, climate change, and environmental concerns about fossil fuels, finding alternative renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly crucial. With the non-advanced share of the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard having been mainly met by corn ethanol, many states are considering cellulosic or non-edible oilseed crops as the next source of biofuels. This study seeks to design a supply chain to produce renewable jet fuel (RJF) within the Midwest region and southeastern U.S. This is accomplished through the use of optimization models (mixed-integer linear programming). Furthermore, because RJF manufacturing incurs higher expenses than conventional jet fuel, the use of various monetary incentives is being studied to establish their usefulness in commercializing the supply chain. The findings of this study can be used by energy policymakers, RJF producers, and investors to operate in a competitive market while safeguarding the environment.
In another study, we evaluate speeding crash risk in North Dakota counties. In the United States, one of the most common contributing factors to car crashes is speeding. Speeding impairs a driver's ability to control and steer properly, as well as respond to a dangerous situation in a timely manner. Speeding crashes account for one-third of fatal crashes in the United States and are one of the risks for drivers on U.S. highways. Speeding crash risk can vary among regions. When it comes to allocating road safety expenditures to regions in order to reduce speeding crashes, it's vital for road management to understand which areas are at higher risk and should be prioritized for safety measures. This study uses a failure mode effect analysis method to evaluate the speeding crash risk.