Real-time integrated modelling of transport-related air pollution in urban street networks - risk assessment and policy evaluation
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
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Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NE/R011265/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 2071543 | Studentship | NE/R011265/1 | 30/09/2017 | 23/06/2021 | Helen Pearce |
| Description | Developed, tested and applied methodology of estimating real-time road traffic emissions from crowd-sourced data. The process utilises automatic requests to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) provided by mapping platforms (Google Maps, HERE, TomTom, Bing) to obtain journey times between multiple origins and destinations, influenced by the real-time traffic conditions. This travel time is then used to calculate average speed of vehicles, which in turn is used to obtain a speed-influenced emission factor for oxides of nitrogen (NOx), which are highly dependent on engine load and speed of travel. Once tested, the methodology was applied to over 900 road links for the Birmingham area, and the process automated to query the APIs every hour between 7am and 7pm to build up a traffic database. This work forms the basis of a paper that has been accepted for publication in 'Weather'. Emissions estimates that take into account real-time traffic conditions are integral to reducing public exposure to harmful pollutants in city environments. |
| Exploitation Route | The described methodology can be used as a complimentary method of emissions estimated for other UK cities, but also further afield, potentially in less developed countries that don't have traditional emissions inventories, but are covered by mapping products. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Healthcare Transport |
| Description | Currently in discussion with outreach teams at the university to help local communities understand air quality in their environments. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Other |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Title | 3-stage modelling chain |
| Description | Novel three-stage modelling chain which utilises real-time data from mapping platforms (Google Maps, TomTom, HERE technologies, Bing Maps) to approximate vehicle speed, and therefore more accurate emission factors, within a street canyon. Total emissions for a road link can therefore be quantified more accurately. The third and final link in the modelling chain simulates how pollutants interact within the environment, accounting for photochemical reactions, mixing with air aloft the building height and accounting for advection of pollutants along the street axis. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Ability to provide road-by-road calculation of real-time road-traffic emissions - crucial for health impact studies in the future. |