Project Summary
Over the last several years agencies in Alaska, including ADOT&PF and local governments, have been working on solutions for fugitive dust. Fugitive dust impacts health and quality of life, and increases road maintenance costs as material is lost from the road surface. One objective of this project is to assess the longevity of different palliatives applied to rural Alaska roads over two summer seasons. For this study, roads in three villages will receive palliatives and be monitored, in addition, researchers will treat sections of roads in North Pole and Point McKenzie, Alaska. Data will be collected using the UAF DUSTM. The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation requested comparisons of associated dust concentrations measurements by UAF DUSTM and by stationary monitors. Developing this correlation will determine how much of the measured fugitive dust is from a controllable emission source, and how much is from uncontrollable sources. These results will be useful to any community planning to use dust-control palliatives. From a public health and an economic standpoint, an important question is, how much of the dust arising from unpaved roads needs to be controlled to meet regulatory standards? Additional funding extending project research another year.
