Visualizing Sustainable Transportation Choices for K-12

In 2018, the average commute time in LA county is about 30 minutes.

According to Data USA for LA County, LA employees have a longer commute time than the normal US worker, which is an average of 25.7 minutes and 4.16% of LA workers have a super commute that can be over 90 minutes.

• Gasoline vehicles relies heavily on petroleum which contributes half of the CO2 emissions in the U.S.

• Using one gallon of gas contributes 20 pounds of CO2. This means that the average vehicle in the U.S. emits 6-9 tons on CO2 each year.

• Hybrid vehicles relies on petroleum and electricity.
• 50% less emissions are emitted from a hybrid vehicle when comparing to a gasoline vehicle.

• EVs relies on an electric motor which is powered by energy from rechargeable batteries and provide a low-carbon alternative to gasoline vehicles.
• EVs vehicles emit no exhaust which has a zero impact on your carbon footprint.

• Households in the U.S. that live near a bus or rail line contribute the least amount of carbon emissions. An average of 4,400 driving miles are reduced for these households.
• According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, "communities with strong public transportation can reduce the nation's carbon emission by 37 million metric tons yearly".

• Bicycling and walking relies on your energy!
• Choosing active transportation reduces your carbon footprint, traffic congestion, demand for oil, and environmental impact with less destruction on natural lands.

This map displays all routes including public transportation, active transportation, and highways & roads.

The purpose of this Story Map is to showcase an activity on how educators can teach the topic of sustainable transportation while introducing geospatial technology.

According to Esri, "Children learn in a variety of ways, but visual learning is especially effective. Using maps in the classroom illustrates geographic context, helping students connect lessons with real places."

Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is a multidisciplinary approach that can improve education and the workforce, and enforces national competitiveness.

GIS allows students to become spatial thinkers with collecting, analyzing, and visualizing their data. Spatial technology can be used for student to engage in STEM curriculum and prepare them as STEM professionals.

• LATTC has a Bridge to College program that allows K-12 students concurrently enroll in college courses while still being enrolled in high school. Since K-12 students are able to attend LATTC, the campus is used as the study site for the activity.

The map shows, a 5 mile radius from LATTC to display all public transportation options and bike lanes. 

Different modes of transportation, their distance, travel time, emitted CO2 in lb of CO2-e will be evaluated. Modes of transportation will include commuter vehicles, public transit, and active transportation that include bicycling & walking. Commuter vehicles will compare a gasoline-powered vehicle, hybrid vehicle, and all electric vehicle.

Routes were chosen based off distance. There will be 4 examples of routes displayed. First, a student commuting into school from a residential area in LA county. A student commuting on public transit from a coastal location in LA county. A student who lives in Los Angeles city and bikes to school. Lastly, a student who also lives in Los Angeles city and walks to school.

Data used to measure transportation time, distance, and CO2 footprint is obtained from  Map My Emissions Website . Routes were created in ArcMap, by creating a File Geodatabase and creating a Feature Class then using Editor.

This route is mapped for a student commuting into school from a residential area in LA county.

Since this student is commuting from a further distance they were given a commuter vehicle as their mode of transportation. Depending on what type of commuter vehicle they own, we can observe the difference in pound of carbon emissions (CO^2-e) they have contributed.

• Gasoline-powered vehicle – distance: 22.55 miles, duration 33 mins, and emissions: 15.91 lb of CO^2-e
• Gasoline-hybrid – distance: 22.55, 33 mins, and emissions: 10.44 lb of CO^2-e
• All electric – distance: 22.55 miles, duration: 33 mins, and emissions: 0.23 lb of CO^2-e

This route is mapped for a student commuting from a coastal location within LA County.

The commute distance is not much of a difference from the vehicle example, although this student was given a public transportation as their way of transporting to school. For this route, bus and rail were used with walking intermissions to change mode of transportation.

• Distance: 20.65 miles
• Duration: 1 hour and 18 minutes
• Emissions: 7.14 lb of CO2-e

These routes include a bicycle route and a walk route. Both the bicycle and walk route is mapped for a student that is located within Los Angeles City.

A student's carbon footprint when cycling or walking is lessened due to their choice of transportation emitting no carbon.

• Distance: 3.85 miles
• Duration: 1 hour and 19 minutes
• Emissions: 0.0 lb of CO2-e

• Distance: 0.99 miles
• Duration: 20 miles
• Emissions: 0.0 lb of CO2-e