Developing a 'GI4RAQ' platform to predict quantitatively the potential of strategic green infrastructure to improve roadside air quality at planning
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
Air pollution constitutes the greatest environmental risk to human health, with 90% of the world's urban population living in cities exceeding the World Health Organization's air quality (AQ) guidelines and outdoor air pollution claiming approximately 3 million lives each year. In the UK alone, outdoor air pollution is linked to 50,000 deaths annually, and road transport has been identified as the main culprit in urban areas. Roadside air quality (RAQ) often exceeds AQ objectives and has been the subject of litigation against the UK government, but the government devolves responsibility for AQ to local authorities (LAs). RAQ is therefore a particular concern to LAs. Whilst multiple recent studies have highlighted the potential for strategic green infrastructure (GI) to improve RAQ, there is currently a lack of appropriate platform to quantitatively predict the highly location-specific impacts of GI interventions at the planning stage; the requisite quantitative research has been carried out, but not translated into practice. The purpose of this Pathfinder is to plan the full development to market of an easily-adopted 'GI4RAQ' platform (TRL 2 to 5) through a process of co-design with target end-users and informed market assessment.
The Pathfinder Project Objectives are listed below; please see 'Objectives' section for more details and directly-mapped Milestones and Outputs.
1. Confirm target end-users and secure early-adopters
2. Engage with early-adopters to determine precise form of platform required
3. Commission independent market assessment
4. Plan development of GI4RAQ platform to market (TRL 2 to 5)
The University of Birmingham's (UoB's) Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) will develop the platform. BIFoR, and colleagues from the UoB's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, has expertise in: computer modelling of AQ, including RAQ specifically and effects of vegetation; in-situ measurements of RAQ and their use in validating model predictions of RAQ impacts; and engagement with built environment practitioners via the Trees and Design Action Group, Woodland Trust and Forest and Woodlands Advisory Committees' Urban Network.
BIFoR researchers used the CiTTyCAT computer model to carry out a first exploration of the potential of GI to improve RAQ, and have since added ultrafine particle multicomponent microphysics to a closely-related model, CiTTy-Street-UFP. They have also recently made conceptual advances in the parsimonious description of streetscapes, enabling tractable diagnosis of their effect on RAQ. The likely route of GI4RAQ platform development comprises: consolidation of these models and recent advances to produce a single open-source, freely-available CiTTyCAT-Street model; and the co-design with target end-users of a simple and intuitive graphical user interface, linked to 'pre-validated parameter sets' and 'results look-up tables' derived from CiTTyCAT-Street, for rapid design decision-making in the planning process. The UoB could, alternatively, seek to add proprietorial code to a commercial industry-standard urban AQ model. The preferred route of model development will depend on the expected uptake of the platform, relative speed of development and implications for intellectual property rights and revenue to be determined during the Pathfinder via end-user engagement, market assessment and further exploration with the aid of the UoB Technology Transfer Office (TTO), respectively.
Keywords: BIFoR; natural environment; built environment; green infrastructure; air quality; human health; natural capital; ecosystem services; urban forestry; planning; research; academic, public and private sectors.
Stakeholders: BIFoR Director; BIFoR Steering Committee members; UoB; UoB School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences; UoB TTO; NERC; Greater London Authority; Birmingham City Council; Cambridge City Council; other local authorities; DEFRA; and DCLG.
The Pathfinder Project Objectives are listed below; please see 'Objectives' section for more details and directly-mapped Milestones and Outputs.
1. Confirm target end-users and secure early-adopters
2. Engage with early-adopters to determine precise form of platform required
3. Commission independent market assessment
4. Plan development of GI4RAQ platform to market (TRL 2 to 5)
The University of Birmingham's (UoB's) Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) will develop the platform. BIFoR, and colleagues from the UoB's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, has expertise in: computer modelling of AQ, including RAQ specifically and effects of vegetation; in-situ measurements of RAQ and their use in validating model predictions of RAQ impacts; and engagement with built environment practitioners via the Trees and Design Action Group, Woodland Trust and Forest and Woodlands Advisory Committees' Urban Network.
BIFoR researchers used the CiTTyCAT computer model to carry out a first exploration of the potential of GI to improve RAQ, and have since added ultrafine particle multicomponent microphysics to a closely-related model, CiTTy-Street-UFP. They have also recently made conceptual advances in the parsimonious description of streetscapes, enabling tractable diagnosis of their effect on RAQ. The likely route of GI4RAQ platform development comprises: consolidation of these models and recent advances to produce a single open-source, freely-available CiTTyCAT-Street model; and the co-design with target end-users of a simple and intuitive graphical user interface, linked to 'pre-validated parameter sets' and 'results look-up tables' derived from CiTTyCAT-Street, for rapid design decision-making in the planning process. The UoB could, alternatively, seek to add proprietorial code to a commercial industry-standard urban AQ model. The preferred route of model development will depend on the expected uptake of the platform, relative speed of development and implications for intellectual property rights and revenue to be determined during the Pathfinder via end-user engagement, market assessment and further exploration with the aid of the UoB Technology Transfer Office (TTO), respectively.
Keywords: BIFoR; natural environment; built environment; green infrastructure; air quality; human health; natural capital; ecosystem services; urban forestry; planning; research; academic, public and private sectors.
Stakeholders: BIFoR Director; BIFoR Steering Committee members; UoB; UoB School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences; UoB TTO; NERC; Greater London Authority; Birmingham City Council; Cambridge City Council; other local authorities; DEFRA; and DCLG.
Planned Impact
Impact will flow through an application for NERC Innovation Follow-on funding to bring the GI4RAQ platform fully to market. On successful completion of the follow-on funding, the impact will be manifested in verifiable changes to behaviour in planning, making a material difference to: local authority capability; developer and architect costs; and the quality of life of citizens.
Local authority capability
Roadside air quality (RAQ) often exceeds national AQ objectives and has been the subject of litigation against the UK government. However, the UK government devolves AQ responsibility to local authorities. AQ is therefore of concern to local authorities, and RAQ poses a particular concern. Whilst a large number of recent studies have highlighted the potential for strategic green infrastructure (GI) to improve RAQ, there is a lack of appropriate platform to predict quantitatively the highly location-specific impacts of GI interventions at the planning stage. Enhancing local authority capabilities with the GI4RAQ platform will strengthen local planning governance, and improve taxpayers' value for money, in the delivery of cost-effective improvements in RAQ and, thereby, public health in the built environment.
Developer and architect costs
Developers and architects will benefit through access to a transparent platform to assess GI options at an early stage of the design process, thereby saving time and costs by improving their chances of securing planning permission on first application.
The quality of life of citizens
Through enhanced local authority capabilities and reduced developer and architect costs, the quality of life of urban citizens will be enhanced. GI will be chosen as an AQ, and specifically RAQ, mitigation option more frequently, and with better chances of success, to provide cost-effective interventions that deliver improved public health.
Local authority capability
Roadside air quality (RAQ) often exceeds national AQ objectives and has been the subject of litigation against the UK government. However, the UK government devolves AQ responsibility to local authorities. AQ is therefore of concern to local authorities, and RAQ poses a particular concern. Whilst a large number of recent studies have highlighted the potential for strategic green infrastructure (GI) to improve RAQ, there is a lack of appropriate platform to predict quantitatively the highly location-specific impacts of GI interventions at the planning stage. Enhancing local authority capabilities with the GI4RAQ platform will strengthen local planning governance, and improve taxpayers' value for money, in the delivery of cost-effective improvements in RAQ and, thereby, public health in the built environment.
Developer and architect costs
Developers and architects will benefit through access to a transparent platform to assess GI options at an early stage of the design process, thereby saving time and costs by improving their chances of securing planning permission on first application.
The quality of life of citizens
Through enhanced local authority capabilities and reduced developer and architect costs, the quality of life of urban citizens will be enhanced. GI will be chosen as an AQ, and specifically RAQ, mitigation option more frequently, and with better chances of success, to provide cost-effective interventions that deliver improved public health.
Publications
Churchman Thornhill Finch
(2022)
Feasibility Study Report, 'Eastville Junction: A Green Place - A Cool Place'
Dai Y
(2022)
Chemistry, street canyon geometry, and emissions effects on NO2 "hotspots" and regulatory "wiggle room"
in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
MacKenzie A
(2019)
Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations
in Environmental Research Letters
| Description | The award has developed an online tool to assess quantitatively the impact of green infrastructure on roadside air quality. The code has been co-designed with prospective users from public and private sectors. A beta-version is currently under test ahead of general release in summer 2020. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes are designed to be used and further developed by others. The code will be open. |
| Sectors | Environment Transport Other |
| Description | Researcher investigator, James Levine, has made impact through an innovation placement with Transport for London, and through conversations with practitioners. The GI4RAQ tool is online and attracting users. The tool is being hosted by Trees for Cities as help in-kind. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Environment,Transport,Other |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Advisory Group Member for The Mersey Forest Plan 2025 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/news/revisiting-the-mersey-forest-plan/ |
| Description | Advisory Group, PHE review of interventions to improve outdoor AQ |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7840... |
| Description | FWAC Urban |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Guidance documents for public and practitioners. |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/urban-forestry |
| Description | FWACWM |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/forestry-and-woodlands-advisory-committees |
| Description | Interviewed for, and reviewed, POSTnote on 'Urban Outdoor Air Quality' |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0691/ |
| Description | "UK" Green Infrastructure for roadside air quality mitigation: unblocking a UK policy impasse |
| Amount | £120,675 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/S013814/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Establishing Transport for London's first evidence-based approach to strategic green infrastructure for improved roadside air quality & public health |
| Amount | £37,861 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/S00940X/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2018 |
| End | 08/2019 |
| Description | NERC Discipline Hopping Block Grant: 'Proof-of-concept Urban Forest Digital Twin for improved Air Quality and Public Health (for a NERC KE Fellowship proposal)' |
| Amount | £3,600 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NERC DH-Levine |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2022 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | NERC Future of UK Treescapes Fellowship awarded to James Levine: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes (AFFORE3ST) |
| Amount | £39,846 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/V009664/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Renewed Sponsorship (hosting only) of the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform by Trees for Cities - 4th December 2022 |
| Organisation | Trees For Cities |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | James Levine continues to provide light-touch support for Trees for Cities' teams using the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform; Trees for Cities' logo continues to be displayed on the software's landing page (www.GI4RAQ.ac.uk) in recognition of their sponsorship of its hosting on Cloudflare servers for a further 12 months. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Trees for Cities have kindly renewed their sponsorship of the GI4RAQ Platform's hosting on Cloudflare servers via Wild Ilk Ltd (developer of the software's web user interface) for a period of 12 months starting 4th December 2022. |
| Impact | Trees for Cities partnership on a NERC Future of UK Treescapes Fellowship (funded and currently in progress), AFFORE3ST: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Sponsorship (hosting only) of the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform by Trees for Cities - 4th December 2021 |
| Organisation | Trees For Cities |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | James Levine is training the relevant teams at Trees for Cities in the use of the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform (1 day preparation; 0.5 day workshop; 0.5 day subsequent support). He has also organised the display of Trees for Cities' logo on the software's landing page (www.GI4RAQ.ac.uk) in recognition of their sponsorship of the software's hosting on Cloudflare servers for 12 months. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Trees for Cities are kindly sponsoring the GI4RAQ Platform's hosting on Cloudflare servers via Wild Ilk Ltd (developer of the software's web user interface) for a period of 12 months starting 4th December 2021. |
| Impact | 'GI4RAQ Training Workshop' produced and delivered by James Levine for Trees for Cities (14th March 2022). Trees for Cities partnership on a NERC Discipline Hopping Block Grant (NERC ref. NERC DH-Levine) - funded and currently in progress: 'Proof-of-concept Urban Forest Digital Twin for improved Air Quality and Public Health (for a NERC KE Fellowship proposal)'. Trees for Cities partnership on said NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform - Officially Launched |
| Description | The GI4RAQ Platform was officially launched via a University of Birmingham press release on 8th July 2021 (https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/07/open-source-software-to-help-cities-plant-in-pursuit-of-clean-air.aspx) following publication of a peer-reviewed paper documenting the software and presenting first tests of its performance (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/769). Co-designed with urban practitioners, this is the first software enabling a wide variety of urban stakeholders (i.e., not only air quality specialists) to estimate quantitatively the site-specific impacts of roadside vegetation barriers on local exposure to proximate vehicular pollution via changes in pollutant dispersion close to source. The GI4RAQ Platform is freely accessible at: www.GI4RAQ.ac.uk It draws on bespoke, open-source air quality code: https://github.com/GI4RAQ/GI4RAQ-open . It is fully documented by Pearce et al. (2021) in the open-access journal, Forests: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/769 |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | At time of writing, the GI4RAQ Platform has over 240 registered users. Amongst these, it is currently in use by: - Transport for London, in partnership with the Greater London Authority, on a public-realm improvement scheme in a London borough - Liverpool City Council, in partnership with The Mersey Forest and Liverpool ONE (Grosvenor Group) on a scheme in central Liverpool It has already been used for GI4RAQ feasibility studies commissioned in relation to: - 2x West Midlands Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) - A 1.2km long road improvement scheme in the West of England It has attracted two successive years' sponsorship (limited to web hosting) by Trees for Cities. |
| URL | http://www.GI4RAQ.ac.uk |
| Title | Prototype Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform - Revised and now live |
| Description | This prototype web-based software is now live, freely available and the underlying air quality code (cf. the web-based user interface) is open source. Web-based user interface accessed here: http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk Open-source air quality code available here: https://github.com/GI4RAQ/GI4RAQ-open It is the first software - co-designed with urban practitioners - to enable its users to estimate quantitatively the site-specific impacts of green infrastructure on exposure to road transport pollution via changes in pollutant dispersion close to source: i.e., subject to local conditions of wind and urban form, what green infrastructure, where with a street, will be of roughly how much benefit (or disbenefit) to who in different parts of that street's cross section. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | Due to furloughing of the developers responsible for the web-based user interface, as a result of COVID-19, the prototype GI4RAQ Platform was not live until late 2020. We will add evidence of impact in due course. |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | 'Digital Twins and Big Data [in Urban Forestry]' Scoping Event hosted by The Mersey Forest - 26th January 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scoping event hosted by The Mersey Forest to explore the use of digital twins and big data in urban forestry - horizon scanning with representatives from a range of organisations (e.g., Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University and Myerscough College). James Levine was invited to join the event and advise on the potential to embed (academic) numerical models of ecosystem services in digital twins (i.e., based on BIM or GIS) and thereby bring mechanistic/'bottom-up' understanding to complement 'top-down' insights from big data. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Allometry media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media coverage for MacKenzie et al. 2019, 'Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations", Environ. Res. Lett. Reach statistic by 15th Feb 2020 = 27 million, with a value to the funders calculated by the UoB press office as £502,000. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51268918 |
| Description | Clean Air Day 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Day 2020. An evening panel discussion organised by ST, chaired by ARMK, and including WJB on the panel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Design Team Meeting with Liverpool City Council, The Mersey Forest and Liverpool ONE - 6th October 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Design team meeting with Liverpool City Council, The Mersey Forest and Liverpool ONE (Grosvenor Group) regarding a public realm improvement scheme in central Liverpool employing 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) to reduce local exposure to proximate vehicular pollution. James Levine was invited to join the design team to advise on GI4RAQ: he was able to influence the design of a vegetation barrier, later being asked to modify the drawings produced by a landscape architect, within the sites constraints, to maximise the partial protection from pollution afforded to people in the wake of the barrier. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | EnvironmentalHealth 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Chair and Keynote, Environmental Health 2019, A.R. MacKenzie: Not falling over: strategies for the three-legged race to better urban futures |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | FAPESP 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk, UoB-FAPESP workshop, Sao Paulo, Brazil, 9th December 2019. A. R. MacKenzie: "The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | First presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Phil Christensen (Bentley - Digital Cities) (9/6/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | First presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Phil Christensen (Bentley - Digital Cities), exploring potential Digital Twins collaboration (9/6/2020) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Follow-up presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Forest (20/5/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Follow-up presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Forest, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | FutureBuild 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote by A.R. MacKenzie: Reduce, Extend, Protect: Practical and evidenced steps to reduce public exposure to air pollution |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/speakers/rob-mackenzie |
| Description | FutureBuild2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | "Reduce, Extend, Protect: Practical and evidenced steps to reduce public exposure to air pollution". Invited keynote, FutureBuild, London, 5 March 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Invited talk at University of Birmingham 'Building and Managing Interdisciplinary Teams' workshop - 25th February 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine gave an invited talk (10 mins) + Q&A (15 mins) at this workshop focussed on building and managing interdisciplinary research teams. James has since met with one of the attendees, taking a similar approach to building external collaborations and sharing interests in combining technological developments (e.g. software innovation) with discursive activities (e.g. consensus building amongst varied stakeholders), to scope an outline grant proposal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Led a Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Training Workshop for Trees for Cities - 14th March 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | GI4RAQ Training Workshop for Trees for Cities' Planning, Implementation and Press/Public Relations teams: training to use the software and apply it to a real-world scheme (Sunnyhill Primary School, London SW16 2UW) in exchange for their sponsorship of the software's hosting for 12 months. Future plans* made include: - Delivering strategic, evidence-based street tree planting schemes in partnership with local authorities - Building organisational capacity within Trees for Cities and across its local authority partner network (currently Harrow, Haringey, Tower Hamlets and Croydon) - Working with three local authority partners (one per year) to monitor the air quality impacts of planting interventions and co-developing a street tree planting strategy: i.e., a replicable and evidenced approach *Pending funding of a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meeting with Churchman Thornhill Finch Landscape Architects to scope a Highways England Road Improvement Feasibility Study - 16th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Scoping meeting with Churchman Thornhill Finch Landscape Architects regarding the inclusion of 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) in a major road improvement scheme by Highways England. -> James Levine has recently been appointed to an 11-day GI4RAQ feasibility study - led by Churchman Thornhill Finch, for Keir on behalf of Highways England - via the University of Birmingham's Academic Consultancy Service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Create Streets to develop a collaborative proposal, 'Deep Green' (21/1/2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine (Innovation Network Manager for TRANSITION) met with David Milner, Projects Director at Create Streets, to develop a collaborative proposal, 'Deep Green', re the development of low-carbon and clean air residential developments - linkages to GI4RAQ and WM-Air projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Meeting with Create Streets to discuss the prototype GI4RAQ Platform, StreetScore and Deep Green (18/11/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with David Milner, Projects Director at Create Streets, to present the prototype Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform and explore potential linkages to their StreetScore tool (to estimate the 'value' of streets) and Deep Green proposal (to develop a design guide for low-carbon, clean air developments). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Meeting with Greater Manchester Combined Authority to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 15th December 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with Greater Manchester Combined Authority's Head of Natural Environment, Sam Evans, to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Highways England re Roadside Barriers - 21st October 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with Highways England's Principal Air Quality Advisor, Andrew Bean, to discuss the efficacy of roadside barriers in reducing local exposure to air pollution from proximate vehicles; Stephen had seen James' presentation at the UKHSA Annual UK Research Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research (14th Oct 2021). -> James has been invited by Highways England to review a measurement study of the impacts of roadside barriers on local air quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Manchester City of Trees to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 16th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with Manchester City of Trees' Green Infrastructure Resilience Manager, Pete Stringer, to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with The Greater London Authority to discuss 'GI4RAQ' and their Air Quality Positive Policy - 2nd November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with The Greater London Authority's Stella Yeung regarding the contribution 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) can make to Air Quality Positive initiatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with The Mersey Forest to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 10th August 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with The Mersey Forest's Director, Paul Nolan OBE, to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with The Woodland Trust to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 29th November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with The Woodland Trust's Urban Forestry Programme Lead, Sarah Shorley, and her colleagues to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Transport for London to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 9th June 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with Transport for London's Green Infrastructure Principal Policy Advisory, Charles Snead, and his colleagues to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with Trees for Cities to scope Next Steps for 'GI4RAQ' and Equitable Ecosystem Services - 18th November 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine met with Trees for Cities' Deputy Chief Executive / Development Director, Kate Sheldon, to scope Next Steps for 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) and James' increasing focus on equitable provision of ecosystem services. -> James subsequently secured their partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with West Midlands local authority representatives re air quality and the planning process (27/1/2021) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine joined Emma Ferranti and Joe Acton in a meeting with approximately a dozen West Midlands local authority representatives to discuss opportunities to embed air quality policy in the planning process. The meeting was organised, and held, under the umbrella of the WM-Air project, with potential linkages to the GI4RAQ project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with two West Midlands Business Improvement Districts to scope an Urban Greening Feasibility Study - 14th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Scoping meeting with two West Midlands Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) regarding the inclusion of 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality' (GI4RAQ) in a proposed programme of urban greening. -> James Levine subsequently undertook a four day GI4RAQ feasibility study for the BIDs through the University of Birmingham's Academic Consultancy Service. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | PHE AQ review |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Public Health England (PHE) Air Quality Review, Advisory Group - Planning / Spatial. Public Health England (PHE) has been requested by government to review the evidence for effective air quality interventions and provide practical recommendations for actions to supplement those identified in the air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide in UK (2017), by August 2018. The recommendations must stratify interventions by their health and economic impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Panama - Urban Green Infrastructure and Urban Air Quality |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Opening speaker and panel member, session on "Nature Based Solutions for the mitigation of air pollution and climate change adaptation in Cities", Sustainability Research & Innovation, Panama 26th June 2023 (online attendance) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Participation in Belmont Forum's scoping of Collaborative Research Action for UKRI, 'Unlocking the Benefits of Urban Green and Blue Spaces' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine participated in a 4-hour international workshop, led by the Belmont Forum, to scope a Collaborative Research Action (CRA) for UKRI, 'Unlocking the Benefits of Urban Green and Blue Spaces'. This included drafting priority research challenges and questions which could potentially form the basis of a CRA (incl. Co-production; Culture; Inclusion; Sustainability; Policy; Trade-offs; Biodiversity; Scale; Co-benefits; Connectivity; and Monitoring, quality and technology) and suggestions of effective delivery mechanisms of a CRA in this research space (incl. Type and duration of funding; and Eligibility for funding). The Belmont Forum has since produced an independent 'Scoping Workshops Report' for UKRI, available at: https://www.ukri.org/publications/unlocking-the-benefits-of-urban-green-and-blue-spaces/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ukri.org/publications/unlocking-the-benefits-of-urban-green-and-blue-spaces/ |
| Description | Participation in The Mersey Forest's URBAN GreenUP Data Day (11th April 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine participated in The Mersey Forest's URBAN GreenUP Data Day, reviewing measurements and modelling data generated in the £3.5 million Horizon 2020 project, URBAN GreenUP, and looking at how these data may be used to inform future green infrastructure planning (e.g., IoT in Digital Twinning). Participants included project partners, e.g., Liverpool City Council, University of Liverpool and their counterparts in Valladolid (Spain) and Izmir (Turkey). The aggregate data, and supporting data science, inform for instance the Liverpool City Region Green Infrastructure Framework. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/our-work/green-infrastructure/liverpool-city-region-green-infrastruc... |
| Description | People, place, and Nature podcast interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A 30-minute interview with Niall Williams for his "People, Place, and Nature" podcast. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcO9CSozt7E |
| Description | Presentation at UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Annual UK Research Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution Research - 14th October 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation - 'Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality in the context of the Climate Emergency: The need for selective and strategic urban tree planting'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.phe-events.org.uk/hpa/frontend/reg/absViewDocumentFE.csp?documentID=17697&eventID=961 |
| Description | Presentation of developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Region and Cheshire regional air quality group (16/7/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Region and Cheshire regional air quality group, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Greater Manchester Combined Authority & Transport for Greater Manchester (17/3/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Greater Manchester Combined Authority & Transport for Greater Manchester, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to James Richer & David Deakin (AECOM) (3/7/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to James Richer & David Deakin (AECOM), exploring potential Digital Twins collaboration (3/7/2020) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Julie Smith (Myerscough College) (2/6/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Julie Smith (Myerscough College), garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Kirklees Council (15/4/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Kirklees Council, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Forest (5/5/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Forest, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Mehrdad Borna (University of Westminster) (15/5/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Mehrdad Borna (University of Westminster) with a view to aligning common research interests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Sabina Mohideen (Design Council) (4/6/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Sabina Mohideen (Design Council), garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Transport for London (22/4/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Transport for London, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and five local authorities in the Combined Authority region (2/4/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and five local authorities in the Combined Authority region, garnering support for a bid to UKRI to: - Use the prototype GI4RAQ Platform to advise on the implementation of GI4RAQ in 12 road/public realm improvement schemes (across four regional combined authorities); - Deploy extensive instrumentation in said schemes to make robust measurements of the local air quality impacts of those GI4RAQ interventions; and - Use these measurements, in combination with computational fluid dynamics studies, to rigorously test and systematically improve the Platform's air quality code. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Wild Streets (25/5/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Wild Streets, exploring potential synergies between our software and theirs - and the development of a joint mobile app. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to the Greater London Authority's APRIL Group (23/4/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to the Greater London Authority's Air Pollution Research in London Group (Health and Exposure Sub-Group). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | Presentation to Branching Out (NERC Future of UK Treescapes) Project Team (13th March 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | James Levine gave a 10-min presentation to the Branching Out project team on his Fellowship (also funded through the NERC Future of UK Treescapes programme), AFFORE3ST: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes. He will now be joining a number of Branching Out 'story-telling' workshops in Cardiff and Milton Keynes, to learn from them new approaches to public engagement - gleaning the value of trees capes to UK citizens through voluntary narratives - applicable to his fellowship. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.uktreescapes.org/projects/branching-out/ |
| Description | Presentation to Forest Research's Urban Forestry Group (17th January 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | James Levine gave a 10-min presentation to Forest Research's Urban Forestry Group on his NERC Future of UK Treescapes Fellowship, AFFORE3ST: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes. He has since met three times with group members, Phillip Handley and Madalena Vaz-Monteiro, to discuss, scope and start writing a joint follow-on proposal. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.uktreescapes.org/projects/dr-james-levine/ |
| Description | Presentation to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council's Air Quality Team (1st March 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | James Levine gave a 10-min presentation to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council's Air Quality Team on his NERC Future of UK Treescapes fellowship, AFFORE3ST: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes. The council's Principal Air Quality Officer, Nicoletta Vianello, is now engaged in his air-quality focussed contribution to a Strategic Planting Plan for the borough - led overall by Suzanne Littlewood, Senior Partnerships and Development Coordinator for Trees for Cities (AFFORE3ST partner). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.uktreescapes.org/projects/dr-james-levine/ |
| Description | Presentation to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council's Arboricultural Team (25th January 2023) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | James Levine gave a 10-min presentation to Tower Hamlets London Borough Council's Arboricultural Team on his NERC Future of UK Treescapes fellowship, AFFORE3ST: Advancing a planning Framework FOr Regionally Enhanced & Equitable Ecosystem Services from urban Treescapes. The council's Senior Arboricultural Officer, Adam Armstrong, and Biodiversity Officer, John Archer, are now engaged in his air-quality focussed contribution to a Strategic Planting Plan for the borough - led overall by Suzanne Littlewood, Senior Partnerships and Development Coordinator for Trees for Cities (AFFORE3ST partner). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.uktreescapes.org/projects/dr-james-levine/ |
| Description | Press Release (University of Birmingham) officially launching the Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) Platform - 8th July 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The GI4RAQ Platform was officially launched via this University of Birmingham press release following publication of a peer-reviewed paper documenting the software and presenting first tests of its performance (https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/12/6/769). This is the first software enabling a wide variety of urban stakeholders (i.e., not only air quality specialists) to estimate quantitatively the site-specific impacts of roadside vegetation barriers on local exposure to proximate vehicular pollution via changes in pollutant dispersion close to source. At time of writing - 9 months after launch - the GI4RAQ Platform has over 170 registered users. It is, for example, currently in use by: - Transport for London, in partnership with the Greater London Authority, on a public-realm improvement scheme in a London borough - Liverpool City Council, in partnership with The Mersey Forest and Liverpool ONE (Grosvenor Group) on a scheme in central Liverpool It has already been used for GI4RAQ feasibility studies commissioned in relation to: - 2x West Midlands Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) - A 1.2km long road improvement scheme in the West of England It has attracted 12 months' sponsorship (limited to web hosting) by Trees for Cities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/latest/2021/07/open-source-software-to-help-cities-plant-in-pursui... |
| Description | Reasons to be cheerful 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Podcast: Ed Milliband and Geoff Lloyd interview A.R. MacKenzie: "reasons to be cheerful", released 28/7/2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://play.acast.com/s/reasonstobecheerful/9dac8b6b-545d-4c3e-84ab-f2c05db7ca15 |
| Description | Scoping Meeting with UKCEH the potential extend their City Explorer Toolkit to include 'GI4RAQ' - 9th December 2021 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Prof Laurence Jones, Principal Scientific Officer and Group Lead at the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) to scope the potential to integrate Green Infrastructure for Roadside Air Quality (GI4RAQ) into their City Explorer Toolkit; James Levine and his colleagues at the University of Birmingham have developed the GI4RAQ Platform, offering quantitative estimates of the site-specific impacts of roadside vegetation barriers on local exposure to proximate vehicular pollution via changes in dispersion. James Levine secured Prof Laurence Jones' partnership on a NERC KE Fellowship proposal (NERC ref. NE/X001857/1) - submitted 18th January 2022: 'NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellowship: QUantifiable and Equitable Services from Street Trees (QUESST) via Digital Twins'. Pending funding, they will together trial the integration of the GI4RAQ code in the GIS-based City Explorer Toolkit in a Birmingham Case Study - linking to existing UKCEH projects, REGREEN and DeSCIPHER. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Second presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Phil Christensen (Bentley - Digital Cities) (22/6/2020) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Second presentation of the developing GI4RAQ Platform to Phil Christensen (Bentley - Digital Cities), exploring potential Digital Twins collaboration (22/6/2020) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | http://www.gi4raq.ac.uk |
| Description | TEDx talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Rob MacKenzie gave a TEDx lecture: Are we making a better future for forests? Part of themed day "Humans: for better or worse?", University of Birmingham, 16/2/2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/30430 |
| Description | The Air We Breathe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The University of Birmingham has opened a major new public engagement venue called The Exchange. The inaugural exhibition, called "The Air We Breathe", drew on many of the grants being reported here, both for air quality and for forests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange/index.aspx |
| Description | iLEAPS Global Interview |
| 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 | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | "Green Infrastructure for air quality benefits and Nature-based solutions for Clean Air and Climate". 90-minute interview as part of the iLEAPS Global Interview Series 2023 "Drive with iLEAPS on the Wheels of Science", 27th Sept. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |