COVID-19: Reducing the Risk of Transmission on London's transport vehicles
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Civil Environmental and Geomatic Eng
Abstract
We have much to learn about how COVID-19 has spread, however it is clear that being close to an infected person is a risk. The virus causing COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can be transmitted from one person to another through the air, by direct contact or via inanimate objects. The risk of transmission becomes higher the more people come into contact with each other as well as how long this contact lasts. Governments across the globe have enforced measures which aim to minimise person to person contact, including the transmission of saliva droplets carrying the virus. Public transport vehicles are spaces where the risk of transmission is high because a lot of people use them. London's underground and bus network runs millions of journeys daily and is running at a lower capacity during COVID-19 to minimise risk to passengers and staff. However, it is virtually impossible to maintain the 2 m distance recommended in the UK within the public transport system. This project will combine staff and passenger surveys, microbiological sampling, air flow computer simulations, passenger crowding and ventilation models and air quality measurements to better understand how the risk of transmission can be minimised on London's transport systems.
Publications
Liora Malki-Epshtein
(2020)
Report on scientific advice to TfL on bus driver assault screen modifications due to the COVID-19 pandemic
| Description | The work carried out so far has shown that amendments to the driver assault screens lower exposure of drivers to the air in the bus passenger saloon. Microbiological sampling of buses and train carriages has highlighted contamination hotspots and quantified microorganisms in the vehicle air. This has been shared with TfL and their policy has been amended accordingly. The microbiology data is now being correlated with CCTV analysis of passenger numbers and touch points on the sampled trains. Air quality on buses has been collected over a long period of time and has identified specific conditions (e.g. routes, bus models) that pose a higher risk of airborne transmission. Computational modelling of the double decker bus has identified the air flows and velocities and locations of stagnant air. |
| Exploitation Route | Data is still being analysed and there are many more outcomes to be achieved over the coming months. The outcomes so far have been shared with the Department for Transport and bus and train operators around the UK. Once the data has been fully analysed it will be presented to TfL and then prepared for publication in peer-reviewed journals. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Healthcare Transport |
| Description | TfL has used the project finding to make changes to their vehicles in order to improve driver safety and ventilation. The work has also been used to aid decision making on the wearing of face coverings for staff and passengers. The project team has participated in international workshops on the subject of minimising airborne transmission on public transport and published a number of media articles on the subject. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Environment,Healthcare,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |
| Description | Participation in the US National Academies Science Engineering and Medicine "Indoor Air Management of Airborne Pathogens: Public Transportation" |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| URL | https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/11-16-2022/indoor-air-management-of-airborne-pathogens-publi... |
| Description | We have been doing with the TRACK project at DfT to influence policy. TfL has also used our research results to make decisions on staff and passenger safety. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Our work has led to the reduction of SARS-CoV-2 transmission to bus drivers in particular, as well as passengers on TfL vehicles. |
| URL | https://www.smarttransport.org.uk/news/latest-news/london-s-buses-to-return-to-front-door-boarding |
| Description | Airborne Infection Reduction through Building Operation and Design for SARS-CoV-2 (AIRBODS) |
| Amount | £1,256,284 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/W002779/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2021 |
| End | 12/2022 |
| Description | TRACK project |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | UCL VIRAL and the TRACK project led by the University of Leeds and supported by the Department for Transport are working together in a complementary way to make sure we answer as many questions as possible and do not replicate experimental work. |
| Collaborator Contribution | UCL VIRAL and the TRACK project led by the University of Leeds and supported by the Department for Transport are working together in a complementary way to make sure we answer as many questions as possible and do not replicate experimental work. |
| Impact | This is a multidisciplinary collaboration including microbiology, infection control, air quality, fluid dynamics and behaviour change. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Transport for London |
| Organisation | Transport for London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The UCL team has worked closely with TfL to monitor environmental contamination, air quality, ventilation and passenger numbers in order too better understand transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on public transport vehicles. TfL have provided data, including confidential and personal data for the research to take place. Research outcomes have already informed ventilation strategies on TfL buses and cleaning regimes. |
| Collaborator Contribution | TfL have provided data for the research project and have facilitated access to vehicles. They have also helped us shape the research. |
| Impact | The project website can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/civil-environmental-geomatic-engineering/research/groups-centres-and-sections/hirg/ucl-viral-reducing-risk-virus-transmission-londons-public. A number of outputs have been listed. The most important one at this stage is the bus driver safety report: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/civil-environmental-geomatic-engineering/sites/civil-environmental-geomatic-engineering/files/tfl_drivers_cab_modifications_ucl_full_report_2020-10-28_0.pdf. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Participated in indie_SAGE Weekly Briefings 29th July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Some results of VIRAL research were presented and discussed at the oneline webinar open to the public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.independentsage.org/weekly-briefing-29th-july-2022/ |