GPS based dynamic monitoring of air pollutants in Zuerich (Switzerland) and comparison with the model GRAL

Despite the decrease in road traffic emissions, air pollutant concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulates and ozone (O3) often exceed the limiting values at urban sites in Switzerland. This research project aimed at improving the understanding of the interaction between road traffic emissions and urban air quality. A tram was equipped with air pollutant (NO/NO2, O3 and particulates) and satellite positioning (GPS) sensors. Two measurement campaigns were conducted in 2005-2006 in the city of Zuerich, Switzerland on three different tram tracks. They represent the various characteristics of an urban environment, such as busy places and parts of the city without private road traffic. The feasibility of dynamic and real-time measurements and their limitations are demonstrated. Techniques were developed to provide precise and reliable positioning information in an urban environment and discuss the approach used to process the raw measurement data. It is shown that a single measurement system on a dynamic platform provides ambient air concentration measurements with a high temporal and spatial resolution and coverage. Results from a photochemical smog period in summer 2005 and a smog period in winter 2006 are presented and discussed in comparison with modelling results. A dispersion modelling study using the NEMO, GRAMM and GRAL models of the Graz University of Technology was carried out for a 3.3 km2 area in Zuerich down town. NEMO was used to calculate the traffic exhaust emissions on the road network. GRAMM is a nonhydrostatic prognostic mesoscale wind field model used to calculate steady-state flow fields, which served as input to the Lagrangian dispersion model GRAL. The results are compared with those from dispersion simulations. For the covering abstract see ITRD E141518.

• Corporate Authors:

  Technical University Graz

  Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Thermodynamics, Inffeldgrasse 25
  A-8010 Graz,   Austria 
• Authors:
  • KEHL, P
  • STAEHELIN, J
  • KAHLE, H G
  • GEIGER, A
  • OETTL, D
  • VOGELSANG, S
  • STURN, P
• Conference:
  • 16th International Transport and Air Pollution Congress
  • Location: Graz , Austria
  • Date: 2008-6-0
• Publication Date: 2008

Language

• English

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air; Conferences; Global Positioning System; Mathematical models; Pollutants; Pollution; Urban areas
• ITRD Terms: 6714: Air; 8525: Conference; 2442: Emission; 9126: Global positioning system; 6473: Mathematical model; 2453: Pollution; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Environment; I15: Environment; I90: Vehicles;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01323202
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: TRL
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 22 2010 8:42AM