Rakesh has played a leadership role in developing various decarbonization, emissions, life cycle analysis, and carbon cost analysis models/tools across North America and Europe. These models/tools have been instrumental in supporting organizations and municipalities in their efforts to understand and address environmental challenges. Some notable examples include:
Canadian In-Use Diesel Fleet Emissions Inventory Analysis Tool (FEIAT) for CCME: Rakesh led the development of this tool, which enables the analysis of emissions from in-use diesel fleets in Canada. It helps stakeholders assess the environmental impact and identify opportunities for emission reductions.
Green Vehicle Evaluation and Selection Tool (GVEST) for the City of Toronto: Rakesh contributed to the development of this tool, which assists the City of Toronto in evaluating and selecting green vehicles. It considers factors such as emissions, cost-effectiveness, and technology options to support sustainable transportation decisions.
CALAFT for the City of Calgary: Rakesh was involved in the creation of CALAFT, a tool used by the City of Calgary to compare the cost-effectiveness of alternative fuels and technologies for vehicles. It helps inform decisions related to reducing emissions and adopting cleaner transportation options.
GAPWaterloo for Waterloo Region: Rakesh led the development of GAPWaterloo, a tool specifically designed for the Waterloo Region. It enables the assessment of the effectiveness of greenhouse gas reduction plans, aiding in decision-making processes and emission reduction strategies.
TRANSET and TRANSEM for transit systems: Rakesh has contributed to the development of TRANSET and TRANSEM, which are tools used in transit systems. These tools facilitate analysis and planning for emission reduction measures, supporting sustainable transportation solutions.
MicroFac©: Rakesh has led the development of MicroFac©, a micro-scale emission factor model specifically designed for motor vehicles in North America. It provides valuable insights into emissions at a localized level, aiding in air quality management and pollution control efforts.
PMFAC and FUELFAC: Rakesh has also been involved in the development of PMFAC and FUELFAC models for European motor vehicles. These models provide critical information on emissions and fuel consumption, assisting in assessing environmental impacts and promoting sustainable transportation practices.
Through Rakesh's expertise and leadership, these models/tools have contributed significantly to advancing decarbonization efforts, emissions analysis, and sustainable transportation practices in both North America and Europe.
Modelling System on Human Health Impact Evaluation by Change in Emissions
We have developed an MS Excel-based modelling system that serves as a powerful tool to establish a direct relationship between changes in total air emissions and ambient pollutant concentrations. This system allows us to assess the resulting human health impacts in Canada.
Our study is grounded in comprehensive and detailed emission inventories obtained from provinces across the country. We combine this data with ambient air monitoring information gathered from various locations throughout Canada. By leveraging mathematical equations derived from the Air Quality Benefits Assessment Tool (AQBAT), which establish the associations between air pollution and health effects, we can accurately estimate the potential health impacts associated with changes in air quality.
The modelling system provides a user-friendly interface within MS Excel, enabling efficient data input and analysis. It incorporates complex algorithms and calculations to quantify the relationship between emission reductions and improvements in ambient pollutant concentrations. This, in turn, allows us to estimate the potential benefits in terms of human health outcomes.
By utilizing this MS Excel-based modelling system, we can assess the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies and policies in mitigating air pollution and improving public health. The tool provides valuable insights to inform decision-making processes, support evidence-based policy development, and evaluate the potential health benefits associated with air quality improvements in Canada.
Canadian In-Use Diesel Fleet Emissions Inventory Analysis Tool (FEIAT)
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has undertaken a significant project aimed at developing an MS Excel tool specifically designed for on-road and off-road fleets. The tool is accompanied by comprehensive instruction manuals to assist users in effectively utilizing its functionalities. Additionally, a comprehensive report will be prepared, presenting the findings of an analysis conducted on national, provincial, and territorial on-road and off-road diesel emissions inventory data.
The MS Excel tool developed for this project is a robust and user-friendly platform that leverages millions of data points. It offers various scenarios that can be selected by the user, enabling them to explore different emission reduction strategies and assess their potential impacts.
Through the tool, users can analyze and evaluate on-road and off-road fleet emissions across Canada. It provides valuable insights into the sources and magnitude of diesel emissions, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the current emissions landscape. The tool's functionality enables users to explore different scenarios and evaluate the potential outcomes of implementing specific emission reduction measures.
To support the effective utilization of the tool, accompanying instruction manuals provide detailed guidance on its functionalities, ensuring that users can navigate and make the most of its features. These manuals serve as valuable resources, helping users understand the tool's capabilities and providing step-by-step instructions for conducting emissions analysis.
Furthermore, the project will culminate in a comprehensive report that integrates the findings derived from the analysis of national, provincial, and territorial on-road and off-road diesel emissions inventory data. This report will provide a comprehensive overview of the current emissions landscape, highlighting key insights and trends.
Overall, the CCME project aims to empower stakeholders with a powerful MS Excel tool, supported by instruction manuals and a comprehensive report, to facilitate informed decision-making and the development of effective emission reduction strategies for on-road and off-road fleets in Canada.
Green Vehicle Evaluation and Selection Tool (GVEST)
The City of Toronto embarked on a notable project aimed at developing the Green Vehicle Evaluation and Selection Tool (GVEST). This innovative MS Excel-based tool plays a crucial role in the City's decision-making process for purchasing and selecting the most suitable technology vehicles, particularly heavy-duty vehicles like garbage trucks. GVEST takes into consideration several key factors, including criteria air contaminants (CAC) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction, fuel economy, cost savings, and operational efficiency.
GVEST's unique design enables the City of Toronto to evaluate and compare different types of heavy-duty vehicles, considering their environmental impact and performance metrics. By incorporating criteria such as CAC and GHG emissions, the tool provides a comprehensive assessment of the vehicles' environmental footprint. Additionally, GVEST considers fuel economy, cost savings, and operational efficiency, ensuring a holistic approach to vehicle selection.
To calculate GHG emissions, GVEST leverages the GHGenius model, a widely recognized and reputable tool for estimating GHG emissions in the transportation sector. By adopting GHGenius, GVEST ensures the accuracy and reliability of its GHG calculations, allowing for informed decision-making regarding the selection of vehicles with lower emissions and higher environmental performance.
The City of Toronto utilizes GVEST to support its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The tool enables the City to make data-driven decisions when procuring heavy-duty vehicles, ensuring they align with the City's goals of reducing CAC and GHG emissions, improving fuel efficiency, and achieving cost savings.
By leveraging GVEST, the City of Toronto optimizes its vehicle selection process, prioritizing vehicles that not only meet performance and operational requirements but also deliver significant environmental benefits. This strategic approach contributes to the City's ongoing efforts to create a greener and more sustainable transportation fleet.
Greenhouse Action Planning Tool GAPWaterloo
As the project manager and technical lead for the Waterloo Region projects on community greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria air contaminants (CAC) emissions, my role was crucial in advancing GHG action planning in the region. These projects aimed to develop effective strategies for reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.
One of the key accomplishments of these projects was the development of an alternative method to support the preparation of an updated transportation sector community-scale GHG and CAC emissions inventory. This method provided a robust framework for collecting and analyzing data, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the inventory.
Additionally, I led the development of an MS Excel-based emissions Action Planning Tool for Waterloo, known as GAPWaterloo. This tool played a pivotal role in assisting the development of emission inventories, both baseline and forecast, and quantifying GHG emission reduction action plans.
GAPWaterloo, being an MS Excel-based tool, provided a user-friendly interface for stakeholders to input relevant data and evaluate different action plans. It facilitated the analysis of three specific action plans for the Waterloo Region: the deployment of electric vehicles, anti-idling initiatives, and mode shift resulting from the implementation of the Region's Transportation Master Plan.
Through the GAPWaterloo tool, decision-makers in the Waterloo Region were able to assess the potential impact of different strategies and evaluate their effectiveness in reducing GHG emissions. This tool enabled informed decision-making by providing comprehensive data and analysis for action planning.
Calgary Alternative Fuel and Technology (CALAFT) Tool
As the project manager and technical lead, I was responsible for overseeing the development of the Calgary Alternative Fuel and Technology (CALAFT) tool for the City of Calgary. The purpose of CALAFT was to conduct emissions and cost benefit analysis, considering a wide range of scenarios and parameters.
CALAFT, an MS Excel-based tool, was specifically designed to compare emissions and cost scenarios associated with different fuels and technologies applicable to various segments of the City of Calgary fleet. By inputting relevant data and considering available options, CALAFT allowed decision-makers to assess the environmental and financial implications of different fuel and technology choices.
One important aspect of CALAFT was its capability to assess the impact of biodiesel blends on emissions reduction within the existing City fleet. By incorporating biodiesel blends, the tool provided insights into the potential benefits and emission reductions achievable by utilizing these blends.
Through CALAFT, the City of Calgary had the ability to evaluate a range of scenarios and parameters to make informed decisions about fuel and technology options. The tool considered factors such as emissions reductions, costs, and the availability of fuels and technologies, providing a comprehensive analysis to support decision-making aligned with the City's objectives.
CALAFT enabled the City of Calgary to conduct thorough emissions and cost benefit analyses, assisting in the selection of fuels and technologies for their fleet. The tool played a crucial role in evaluating different scenarios and parameters, allowing the City to make informed decisions based on their sustainability goals.
Overall, as the project manager and technical lead, I successfully led the development of CALAFT, a powerful MS Excel tool that facilitated emissions and cost benefit analysis for the City of Calgary. The tool's ability to compare emissions and cost scenarios, evaluate biodiesel blends, and consider various parameters supported the City in making informed decisions regarding their fleet's fuel and technology choices.
Toronto Transit Commission Environmental Study: Greenhouse Gas/Criteria Air Contaminants Emissions and Key Environmental Priorities
As the project manager and technical lead, I was responsible for the development of methods to quantify emissions within the framework of The Climate Registry General Reporting Protocol and the "Recommended Practice for Quantifying GHG Emissions from Transit" APTA Working Group (APTA CC-RP-001-09). These methods aimed to provide accurate and standardized approaches for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
One of the key outcomes of this project was the development of emission inventories consistent with the three scopes adopted by The Climate Registry and World Resources Institute. These inventories allowed for comprehensive tracking of emissions from various sources, enabling the identification of key environmental priorities.
Furthermore, this study identified specific environmental priorities that the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) should consider when developing plans to achieve the city's emission reduction targets. It also emphasized the importance of establishing an environmental management system (EMS) to monitor ongoing performance and track progress towards the targets.
To meet the objectives of this study, we developed a TTC-specific MS Excel-based emission inventory tool known as the TRANsit System Emission Tool (TRANSET). This tool provided a user-friendly interface for collecting and analyzing data related to transit system emissions. It facilitated the quantification of emissions and helped assess the environmental impact of various factors within the transit system.
By implementing TRANSET, the TTC was able to track its emissions, evaluate the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies, and make informed decisions to improve environmental performance. This tool played a crucial role in supporting the development of sustainable transportation plans and guiding the TTC towards achieving the city's emission targets.
Overall, as the project manager and technical lead, I successfully led the development of methods for quantifying emissions, identified environmental priorities, and created the TRANSET tool for the TTC. These efforts contributed to establishing a robust framework for emissions management and supported the TTC in its commitment to environmental sustainability.