Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, Volume 27, Issue 5 (September 2013).
El-Said M. Zahran, Martin J. Smith, Lloyd D. Bennett.

Dept. of Public Works, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams Univ., Cairo 11517, Egypt (corresponding author). E-mail: [email protected] and

Institute of Engineering Surveying and Space Geodesy, Univ. of Nottingham, Innovation Park, Nottingham NG7 2TU, UK. and

Nottingham Transportation Engineering Centre, Univ. of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.

 

Abstract

 

The negative impacts of urban traffic growth are well known, e.g., congestion, increased air pollution, and more traffic noise. Humans can readily see traffic congestion, and can hear traffic noise, but inevitably they are much less aware of odorless, invisible, silent air pollution. Therefore, quite naturally people, whether the general public or transport professionals, struggle to visualize air pollution from traffic, and will find it particularly difficult to visualize changes in air pollution levels resulting from changes in traffic conditions because of the implementation of various urban transport schemes. Hence, there is always a risk of the air quality impacts of potential urban transport schemes being underappreciated. Therefore, this paper contributes to the knowledge by devising a new three-dimensional (3D) visualization approach for modeled air quality before and after the implementation of potential urban transport schemes. Using the Dunkirk area of the City of Nottingham in the United Kingdom as a case study, research has been undertaken to integrate an air pollution dispersion model for the pollutant NO2 with a 3D digital city model. The modeled NO2 concentrations, before and after the implementation of an urban transport scheme, were represented in the 3D city model at various heights above the ground: first, as 3D point shapes; second, as 3D planar surfaces; and finally, as 3D volumetric clouds. The 3D volumetric clouds approach used the analogy of people’s perceptions of gray clouds in the sky as representing undesirable weather, and hence provided an intuitive 3D visualization of all the modeled NO2 concentrations, at and above the ground surface, in a single 3D virtual scene. Benefits have been identified in enhancing the level of understanding of the pollution dispersion using this new approach to visualization. This has allowed the visualization process to be used in the development of future traffic scenarios that could be used to alter the design of a proposed transport scheme to increase its air quality benefits. This 3D visualization approach was found to be applicable to other transport schemes in different parts of the City of Nottingham.

 

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Additional Information

 

About:

Dr. El-Said Mamdouh Mahmoud Zahran. Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

Education:

Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. Thesis Title: Modelling and Visualisation to Support Decision-making in Air Quality Related Transport Planning, University of Nottingham, UK, 2010.

M.Sc. in Civil Engineering. Thesis Title: Computer Modelling of Groundwater Rise Effects on Roadways in Reclaimed Areas, Cairo University, Egypt, 2005.

B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, Honour Degree, Cairo University, Egypt, 2000.

Research Interests:

Dr. Zahran’s research interests include: air pollution dispersion modelling, 3D digital city modelling and virtual reality, GIS and GPS applications in Transportation Engineering. Using computer programming in ArcGIS, Dr. Zahran devised a GIS-based approach to automating the collection of geospatial road network data for input to air pollution dispersion models. This enables the models to predict dispersion of, and human exposure to, traffic-emitted air pollution near the modelled road network. In 2011, the GIS approach was published in a research article at the Traffic Engineering and Control Magazine, UK. The following is a link to the paper: http://www.trafficresearch.co.uk/A-GIS-based-approach-to-automating-the-collection-of-geospatial-road-network-data/31548

Dr. Zahran devised a GIS-based 3D visualisation interface for traffic-induced air pollution impacts of urban transport schemes. The developed interface provides an intuitive 3D visualisation of complex and large output datasets of air pollution dispersion models at and above the ground surface in a single 3D virtual scene. In 2012, the 3D visualisation approach was published in a research article at the Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. The paper is the one featured above.

Dr. Zahran has introduced four new concepts to the science of air pollution dispersion modelling, namely macro-calibration, macro-validation, micro-calibration and micro-validation. The iterative application of the macro and micro calibration approaches to input background concentrations significantly improves the prediction accuracy of air pollution dispersion models. In 2013, the calibration and validation approaches were published in a research article at the International Journal of Environmental Research. Subsequently, this research article was identified by the Environment Progress team as being of special interest to the progress in the Environmental Sciences field. The paper is featured at the Environment Progress website:         http://environmentprogress.com/key-research-articles/a-novel-approach-to-improve-the-air-quality-predictions-of-air-pollution-dispersion-modelling-systems/

The transferability of the devised calibration and validation approaches to a study area different from the one that was used in the initial development of these approaches was investigated, and published in a research article at the Asian Journal of Science and Technology. The following is a link to the paper:       http://journalajst.com/transferability-approach-calibrate-background-air-pollution-concentrations