The impact of street canyon morphology and traffic volume on NO2 values in the street canyons of Antwerp

Voordeckers, Dimitri; Meysman, Filip J. R.; Billen, Pieter; Tytgat, Tom; Acker, Maarten Van

doi:10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107825

Cited by 36 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…This anti-correlation was evident when comparing results for Pod 2 in Figure 5A,B, which show that NO2 levels declined in June-August 2021 while ground-level ozone values rose. Elevated NO2 has also been linked to traffic emissions as shown in the publication by Voordeckers et al [36], which highlighted the statistically significant correlation between traffic counts and NO2. However, this observation is not clearly evident for all whisker plots shown in Figure 5, specifically for the January-March 2021 period.…”

Section: Analysis Of Pod Network Outlier Points Using the Long-distan...mentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Percentage mismatch values during the winter periods in Figure 4 are lower than the three seasons studied as they might have been influenced by the lockdown restrictions put in place between 23 December 2020 to 26 January 2021. Lingering restrictions over the following six weeks as shown in reference [36] and Supplementary Table S1 might also have contributed to this trend. This lockdown severely impacted the daily traffic counts which have reduced emissions during this period [23,37].…”

Section: Impacts Of Pollutant Emissions On the Local Air Qualitymentioning

confidence: 95%

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Air Quality Measurements in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Using Multisensor Mini Monitoring Stations

et al. 2022

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The Region of Waterloo is the third fastest growing region in Southern Ontario in Canada with a population of 619,000 as of 2019. However, only one air quality monitoring station, located in a city park in Kitchener, Ontario, is currently being used to assess the air quality of the region. In September 2020, a network of AQMesh Multisensor Mini Monitoring Stations (pods) were installed near elementary schools in Kitchener located near different types of emission source. Data analysis using a custom-made long-distance scaling software showed that the levels of nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), ground level ozone (O3), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were traffic related. These pollutants were used to calculate the Air Quality Health Index-Plus (AQHI+) at each location, highlighting the inability of the provincial air quality monitoring station to detect hotspot areas in the city. The case study presented here quantified the impact of the 2021 summer wildfires on the local air quality at a high time resolution (15-min). The findings in this article show that these multisensor pods are a viable alternative to expensive research-grade equipment. The results highlight the need for networks of local scale air quality measurements, particularly in fast-growing cities in Canada.

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Section: Analysis Of Pod Network Outlier Points Using the Long-distan...mentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Impacts Of Pollutant Emissions On the Local Air Qualitymentioning

confidence: 95%

Air Quality Measurements in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Using Multisensor Mini Monitoring Stations

et al. 2022

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“…Different canyon orientations relative to the sun's trajectory can render a solar path in canyons and a change in radiation exposure for microclimatic factors such as air temperature and relative humidity. However, air pollution in canyons is affected by a large number of variables and uncertainties [30]. Considering this, there are several limitations to this study.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…For example, Miao et al (2020a) conducted a city-wide investigation in Shenyang (China) and found that narrow street canyons were more conducive to particle dispersion than wide canyons [15]. Voordeckers et al (2021) evaluated NO 2 distribution in 321 street canyons in Antwerp and found that aspect ratio and maximum hourly traffic volume were two of the most important predictors for NO 2 concentrations [30].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Ozone Distribution Vertically and Horizontally in Urban Street Canyons Based on Field Investigation and ENVI-met Modelling

Miao

Chen

2022

Buildings

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High concentrations of ozone (O3) is a major air problem in urban areas, which creates a serious threat to human health. Urban street canyon morphology plays a key role in air pollutant dispersion and photochemical reaction rate. In this study, a one-year observation at three height levels was performed to investigate the O3 distribution vertically in a street canyon of Shenyang. Then, field investigation and ENVI-met modelling were conducted to quantify the influence of street canyon morphology and microclimatic factors on O3 distribution at the pedestrian level. All O3 concentrations at the three height levels were high from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Both O3 concentrations at pedestrian level and the middle level in the canyon were 40% higher than at roof level. O3 accumulated in the canyons rather than spread out. The in-canyon O3 concentrations had significantly positive correlations with building height, aspect ratio, sky view factor, air temperature, and wind speed. Both field investigation and ENVI-met modelling found high O3 concentrations in medium canyons. Photochemical reaction intensity played a more important role in in-canyon O3 distribution than dispersion. Wide canyons were favorable for removing O3.

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“…Subsequently, the obtained data were calibrated with measurements at reference air quality monitoring stations operated by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM).From the planning perspective, two main problem areas in Antwerp related to air quality can be named. The first is the very dense urban fabric of the historic centre of Antwerp, with a high proportion of street canyon geometries (compact, high streets flanked by buildings on both sides), which negatively affects the dispersion of pollutants and, therefore, limits them from escaping the increased human exposure areas[24,64]. Moreover, the network of busy roads in Antwerp constitutes a problem[23].…”

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confidence: 99%

Exploring the Institutional and Bottom-Up Actions for Urban Air Quality Improvement: Case Studies in Antwerp and Gdańsk

et al. 2021

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The article presents the results of qualitative studies concerning the presence of air quality management in the process of urban planning and in the public discourse in Antwerp, Belgium, and Gdańsk, Poland. We focused on the way urban planners, environmental experts, and stakeholders perceive the problem of air pollution, especially with respect to urban development policy, and whether they consider it one of the major factors determining the quality of the urban built environment. The analysis was empirically based on free, partially structured interviews with experts. With that aim, we referred to certain assumptions of the multidimensional concept of environmental protection and integrated urban planning, highlighting the knowledge gained through interview analysis, literature review, and comparative case study research. The approach brings to light the difference between the perceived and measured air quality and to what extent it is affected by the spatial conditions. The research reveals how the range of perceptions of air pollution is embedded in several sociological, urban planning, and cultural perspectives and how these perceptions differ between the different profiles of the stakeholders and experts.

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The impact of street canyon morphology and traffic volume on NO2 values in the street canyons of Antwerp

Cited by 36 publications

References 57 publications

Air Quality Measurements in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Using Multisensor Mini Monitoring Stations

Air Quality Measurements in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Using Multisensor Mini Monitoring Stations

Assessing Ozone Distribution Vertically and Horizontally in Urban Street Canyons Based on Field Investigation and ENVI-met Modelling

Exploring the Institutional and Bottom-Up Actions for Urban Air Quality Improvement: Case Studies in Antwerp and Gdańsk

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