Air Quality in Transit Oriented Developments

The objectives of the research program are to 1) develop a semi-empirical model to describe the impacts of building morphology and the associated micrometeorology on air quality within transit oriented developments (TOD), and 2) use the model to suggest TOD designs that minimize the exposure of TOD residents to emissions from cars and buses traveling along transit corridors. Our current understanding of the effects of urban structures on the air quality impact of these emissions is poor. We will improve this understanding by conducting field studies in selected TODs under a variety of meteorological conditions to develop a data base that will be used to develop the semi-empirical model. This research, the results of which can be used to help protect public health through better design of transit corridors, fits well into University of California Transportation Center's (UCTC's) research topics: livability and environmental sustainability. The research will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team with the expertise required to achieve the objectives. Akula Venkatram (UCR), principal investigator, will lead activities related to modeling dispersion in urban canopies, Suzanne Paulson (UCLA) will be responsible for air quality measurements, and J.R. DeShazo (UCLA) will provide expertise in urban planning and policy analysis.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $130598.00
• Contract Numbers:

  8084

• Sponsor Organizations:

  California Department of Transportation

  1227 O Street
  Sacramento, CA  United States  95843
• Performing Organizations:

  University of California, Los Angeles

  Los Angeles, CA  United States 

  University of California, Riverside

  Center for Environmental Research and Technology
  900 University Avenue
  Riverside, CA  United States  92521-0425
• Principal Investigators:

  Venkatram, Akula

• Start Date: 20120801
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• Source Data: RiP Project 33514

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality; Environmental protection; Meteorology; Pollutants; Transit oriented development; Transportation corridors
• Subject Areas: Environment; Geotechnology; Public Transportation; Terminals and Facilities; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01471019
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University of California Transportation Center
• Contract Numbers: 8084
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Jan 31 2013 1:01AM