Modelling traffic-related air pollution : integrating urban morphology and meteorology using GIS and ADMS-Roads
Bianchini, Maria Florencia (2025)
2025
All rights reserved. This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025102326326
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025102326326
Tiivistelmä
Urban morphology significantly influences the dispersion and concentration of air pollutants in cities, affecting human exposure and shaping environmental health outcomes. This study investigates how variations in street geometry, building form, and spatial density affect traffic-related air pollution in Glasgow, Scotland. Eight morphologically distinct neighbourhoods were selected, from the compact City Centre to low-density regeneration areas, allowing for a comparative analysis of pollution dynamics under different urban forms. Key morphological indicators, including mean building height (H), sky view factor (SVF), aspect ratio (AR), building surface fraction (BSF), and plan area index (λp), were computed using GIS tools and the UMEP plugin in QGIS.
To simulate pollutant dispersion, the ADMS-Roads model was applied across the selected sites. Hourly concentrations of NO₂, PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅ were estimated for each study area using receptor-based modelling, covering major intersections, street canyons, and open spaces. Seasonal and diurnal variations were evaluated, and results were interpreted in relation to the WHO’s 2021 air quality guidelines. High-resolution morphological and pollution data were compared across areas to determine the relationship between urban form and pollutant retention or dispersion potential.
The results reveal a clear association between compact morphologies and elevated concentrations of NO₂, particularly in areas such as the City Centre and Glasgow Caledonian University, where high BSF, AR, and λp values correlate with pollutant accumulation. On the contrary, open areas like Commonwealth Village and Sighthill show lower concentrations and greater dispersion potential. Seasonal trends are evident, with winter showing significantly higher concentrations due to lower atmospheric boundary layer heights and increased combustion activities. Diurnal profiles reveal morning and evening peaks in NO₂ aligned with traffic flow, while PM concentrations show more diffuse temporal patterns, likely influenced by secondary sources and meteorological factors.
This study underscores the value of integrating urban morphology into air quality assessments and planning. The findings validate the use of detailed spatial indicators as alternatives for pollution exposure risk and offer a replicable modelling framework that extends beyond Glasgow. By estimating pollutant concentrations in microenvironments where official monitoring is absent, the outputs support policy efforts to address exposure inequalities and protect sensitive populations.
Future research should enhance the accuracy of the modelling approach by incorporating mean traffic flow data, integrating street typology classification based on traffic flow categories, such as arterial roads, collectors, and local streets, to improve spatial resolution, and refining surface roughness length estimates. Overall, this thesis contributes both scientific evidence and practical tools for improving air quality management in morphologically complex urban areas.
To simulate pollutant dispersion, the ADMS-Roads model was applied across the selected sites. Hourly concentrations of NO₂, PM₁₀, and PM₂.₅ were estimated for each study area using receptor-based modelling, covering major intersections, street canyons, and open spaces. Seasonal and diurnal variations were evaluated, and results were interpreted in relation to the WHO’s 2021 air quality guidelines. High-resolution morphological and pollution data were compared across areas to determine the relationship between urban form and pollutant retention or dispersion potential.
The results reveal a clear association between compact morphologies and elevated concentrations of NO₂, particularly in areas such as the City Centre and Glasgow Caledonian University, where high BSF, AR, and λp values correlate with pollutant accumulation. On the contrary, open areas like Commonwealth Village and Sighthill show lower concentrations and greater dispersion potential. Seasonal trends are evident, with winter showing significantly higher concentrations due to lower atmospheric boundary layer heights and increased combustion activities. Diurnal profiles reveal morning and evening peaks in NO₂ aligned with traffic flow, while PM concentrations show more diffuse temporal patterns, likely influenced by secondary sources and meteorological factors.
This study underscores the value of integrating urban morphology into air quality assessments and planning. The findings validate the use of detailed spatial indicators as alternatives for pollution exposure risk and offer a replicable modelling framework that extends beyond Glasgow. By estimating pollutant concentrations in microenvironments where official monitoring is absent, the outputs support policy efforts to address exposure inequalities and protect sensitive populations.
Future research should enhance the accuracy of the modelling approach by incorporating mean traffic flow data, integrating street typology classification based on traffic flow categories, such as arterial roads, collectors, and local streets, to improve spatial resolution, and refining surface roughness length estimates. Overall, this thesis contributes both scientific evidence and practical tools for improving air quality management in morphologically complex urban areas.