Through the financial support of the federal government (Natural Resources Canada) and the help landed through the YMCA Eco-Internship Program and the MITACs Graduate Student Research Internship Program, a two-year research project was launched over the 2010 winter ski season.

The research project, "Monitoring and Characterizing Driver Behaviour Among Ski Resort Fleet" will enhance the Engine Idling Reduction Program by acquiring a better understanding of the driver behaviour, fuel use and greenhouse emissions associated with operating light and medium duty vehicles within ski resort fleet.  These vehicles perform a range of duties at ski resorts including: passenger shuttle services, security services, general operations support and extended business travel.  This project will also evaluate the influence of eco-driver training and on-board vehicle monitoring devices on driver behaviour towards more fuel-efficient driving behaviour and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Over the 2010 winter ski season, baseline data on vehicle operation and driver behaviour has been successfully collected through the installation of on-board vehicle monitoring devices, known as the CarChip®.  The CarChip® logs vehicle trip and engine data to provide a detailed history of driver performance and vehicle operations. The CarChip® was installed in a sample of 23 vehicles at Blue Mountain Resort, Horseshoe Resort and Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre.The research team of Michelle Rutty (Ph.D. candidate from the University of Waterloo) and Lindsay Matthews (OSRA YMCA Eco-Intern), guided by Tania Del Matto (Chair of OSRA Environmental Best Practices Taskforce and Director of My Sustainable Canada), are now in the process of analyzing the data collected between mid-December 2009 and end of March, 2010.  The data will be used to acquire an understanding of the driver behaviour, fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions associated with operating light and medium duty vehicles within a ski resort fleet.  The research team will identify best practices associated with the use of the CarChip®, including its usefulness in improving operational efficiency, safety and environmental performance.

Some preliminary findings will be presented at the 2010 OSRA Annual General Meeting.  For more information, contact Tania Del Matto (chair of OSRA Environmental Best Practices Taskforce):  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / 519-886-3699.