Backed by a 2024 EPA Clean Ports Program grant, SMU researchers and the Southern Dallas Inland Port Transportation Management Association are working with officials from Wilmer and Arlington to address air quality around key logistics hubs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

SMU said that the DFW Clean Ports Project seeks to support sustainable economic growth while enhancing community health.

“Receiving the 2024 Clean Ports Program grant underscores our commitment to improving air quality and enhancing the quality of life for residents,” Laura Freeland, executive director of the Inland Port Transportation and economic development director of Wilmer, said in a statement. “By collaborating with experts in transportation, remote sensing, and community engagement, we’ll gain precise insights into the emissions affecting our region, which will help us develop effective, community-centered solutions.”

The DFW Clean Ports study is part of a larger program by the EPA to explore zero-emission solutions to pollution challenges, such as using electric vehicles wherever they make sense. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 provides EPA with $3 billion to fund zero-emission port equipment and infrastructure as well as climate and air quality planning at U.S. ports.

This new funding program will build on EPA’s Ports Initiative that helps the nation’s ports—a critical part of our infrastructure and supply chain—address public health and environmental impacts on surrounding communities.

Challenges of heavy truck traffic

Dallas-Fort Worth’s intermodal terminals drive economic expansion, create jobs, and foster business growth, but heavy truck traffic in these areas poses air quality challenges for nearby communities.

The DFW Clean Ports Project will evaluate emissions at major terminals and collaborate on solutions to reduce their impact. The Dallas County Inland Port spans over 120 square miles in Southern Dallas County, covering cities like Wilmer, Hutchins, and parts of Lancaster, DeSoto, and Dallas.

The largest inland port in the DFW region, the Dallas County Inland Port houses 83 companies, including Amazon, Walmart, and FedEx, and provides more than 30,000 jobs.

While a critical economic driver, the Inland Port also is a significant source of diesel truck emissions, with over 15,000 heavy-duty trucks passing through daily. The heavy freight activity has placed nearby communities, designated by the EPA as above the 90th percentile in environmental justice indicators, at increased risk for pollution-related health issues, SMU said.

The role of SMU researchers

The DFW Clean Ports Project unites city officials from Wilmer and Arlington with SMU researchers and the Southern Dallas Inland Port Transportation Management Association to tackle these air quality issues. SMU said the team will focus on measuring diesel emissions from trucks at two key sites: the Dallas Intermodal Terminal in Wilmer and the Dallas Intermodal Center in Arlington.

The project team said that by using sophisticated sensor technology and data analysis, they will try to establish an accurate emissions baseline and explore practical strategies for reducing air pollution around these terminals.

SMU’s team will employ cutting-edge road-based remote sensing technology to track emissions, using devices similar to satellite weather sensors, the university said. The sensors, installed along key routes to and from the terminals, will measure emissions in real-time as trucks pass by.

Also, motion detectors, visual cameras, and traffic signals will capture traffic flow data, enabling a comprehensive analysis of how congestion and truck idling contribute to air quality issues. SMU said its involvement adds a significant scientific component, with researchers specializing in remote sensing and transportation analysis, contributing technical expertise to measure emissions at an unprecedented level of precision in the DFW area.

“SMU is excited about this unique collaborative opportunity to support both public health and economic growth in our region.” said Suku Nair, SMU’s Vice Provost for Research and Chief Innovation Officer.

SMU’s team includes professors Scott Douglas and Khaled Abdelghany from the Lyle School of Engineering.

“We bring our expertise in remote sensing and transportation to this impactful project.” Abdelghany said. “We’ll gather actionable data that allows decision-makers to implement evidence-based solutions for cleaner air.”

Community engagement

The university said that the DFW Clean Ports Project also focuses on community engagement as a cornerstone of its mission.

Partnering with local residents and organizations, SMU said the project will hold 20 monthly community meetings to share progress updates, gather resident input, and deliver EPA-led training on environmental action. It said a door-to-door canvassing campaign will engage residents directly, with trained canvassers collecting feedback on specific neighborhood concerns, from pollution and noise to safety and local job access.

The project’s recommendations will be shaped by those insights, alongside technical data from the emissions monitoring.

SMU said the project’s goals extend beyond assessment, aiming to identify actionable strategies such as optimizing traffic patterns to reduce congestion-related emissions. This could have immediate effects on air quality and could serve as a model for sustainable logistics practices nationwide. Via partnerships with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), real-time air quality data will be integrated into the project, offering further insight into regional air quality trends and supporting data-driven recommendations, SMU said.

As part of the EPA’s broader efforts to explore zero-emission solutions, the DFW Clean Ports Project also will look at the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) and other low-emission alternatives to diesel trucks in the long term. Although the current study does not involve immediate implementation of EVs, the data gathered will provide a foundation for assessing future shifts toward sustainable transportation technology within the Dallas-Fort Worth logistics industry, SMU said.

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