An integrated simulation system for traffic induced air pollution

Abstract

In recent years the growing traffic demand combined with an increase in exhaust gas emissions is the main reason for a permanent decrease in air quality in urban areas. Especially during hot summer days, mainly traffic emissions are responsible for providing precursor substances for the ozone reaction. They account for approximately 70% of all emissions. In order to facilitate investigations analysing this situation, local authorities in environmental protection and urban planning agencies are interested in performing emission and air pollution simulation as well as scenario analysis by means of model based simulation systems. Therefore a realistic modelling of the physical behaviour of the atmosphere as well as the exact description of the emissions is necessary. Up to now mainly traffic countings combined with different statistical methods have been used to calculate these emissions. The obtained results are often incorrect and do not reflect the dynamic behaviour of the traffic flow. Traffic flow models provide a more promising approach. Currently, in the European Community funded SIMTRAP project, an integrated system for traffic flow information, air pollution modelling and decision support will be developed in a distributed High Perfomance Computing Network (HPCN), and subsequently tested in a number of European sites. SIMTRAP centres around two well-established core components: the air pollution model DYMOS and the mesoscopic dynamic traffic simulation tool DYNEMO. The project aims to integrate both modules in a remote HPCN environment in order to enable the detailed simulation of an area of sufficient geographical extent. Interpretation and visualization of results will take place in a local 3D GIS system. Communication will take place using existing computer networks and protocols.