The urban street as a pollution hot-spot : simulations and measurements for model evaluation

Abstract

Epidemiological studies carried out in different parts of the world have indicated a correlation between morbidity and daily mortality, and concentration of fine particulate matter. A major urban source of the latter is motor vehicles. This is particularly true at air pollution hot-spots within the city road network, which include signalised street intersections and street canyons. In this paper, the latter are emphasised, and the experimental outcome of a brief air pollution monitoring campaign undertaken in a street canyon as well as the associated modelling/simulation are briefly discussed. Modelled data and measurements are compared as a means of evaluating a model developed (and further refined) by the author, and hence test its applicability in air quality review and management, in connection with the siting of urban air quality monitoring stations and the adherence to air quality standards.