Modernizing load and emission factors for construction machinery based on real-world operation: Estimation of emission data in Korea

The emissions inventory for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) in Korea relies on laboratory engine tests, which do not accurately reflect the real-world emissions from construction machinery. Hence, standardized real-world test conditions suitable for the Korean environment were first designed based on the manufacturer's testing methods and previous research. Next, using portable emissions measurement systems (PEMS), data on exhaust emissions and load factor (LF) were collected and analyzed during real-world tests on three types of construction machinery (excavators, loaders, and forklifts) with high registration rates and emissions in Korean environment. The improved LFs, which reflect real-world tests, were significantly lower than the existing LF value (0.48), with values of 0.38–0.5 for excavators, 0.3–0.44 for loaders and 0.26 for forklifts. The emission factors (EFs) were higher than those currently used in Korea's emissions inventory, namely, the Clean Air Policy Support System (CAPSS). Based on the results, emissions were calculated and compared using an emission calculation formula. The relationship between LFs and EFs was also investigated to address the limitations of previous studies that focused solely on EF measurements. The combined improvements in EFs + LFs can lead to slightly higher emissions inventories. The improved LFs and EFs based on the results of real-world tests reported herein can enhance the accuracy of estimating emissions from construction machinery in Korea. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd