Estimation of spatially resolved road transport emissions for air quality management applications in the North West region of England

Abstract

Spatially resolved estimates of combustion and non-combustion related emissions of CO, NO x, VOCs and PM from road transport sources have been made for the North West region of England in 1994. These have been generated using detailed emissions models for combustion related emissions of CO, NO x, VOCs and PM which take into account the different emissions profiles associated with particular vehicle groups, different road types and journeys under cold start conditions. Emissions estimates have been generated for a 1×1 km grid covering the region’s urban and industrial zones and a 5×5 km grid for the whole study area. Emissions models have been generated and applied within a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. Areas of uncertainty in the estimation procedure have been examined and the results compared with alternative data sources. Although the work centres upon the North West region of England, as far as possible the methods and data sources used are intended to be generic, particularly in respect to other administrative areas of the UK. In this way, this work can be considered to be of wider interest than at the local level alone.