AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN URBAN AREAS: EFFECTS OF INTRODUCING HYBRID CARS IN MADRID AND BARCELONA METROPOLITAN AREAS (SPAIN)

On-road traffic represents the largest source of pollutants’ emissions in urban areas. In southern Mediterranean countries exceedances of the NO2 and PM10 European air quality targets are observed in urban environments. Moreover the budget of urban emissions contributes to the emissions of O3 precursors (mainly NOx) in a region where the concentration of photochemical pollutants still remains a problem especially during summertime. Air quality modeling, used as a management tool, permits to test abatement emissions strategies in advance. Nowadays, the substitution of vehicles by introducing new technologies (e.g. cleaner fuels, hybrid vehicles, fuel cells) or alternative fuels (e.g. biofuels, natural gas or hydrogen) is a common practice in conurbations around Europe. This work focuses on the assessment of the impacts on air quality due to the introduction of hybrid cars in the largest urban areas of Spain: Madrid (within a more continental environment), and the urban coastal city of Barcelona. The WRFARW/ HERMES/CMAQ modeling system has been implemented and validated with a high resolution (1 km2 and 1 hr) thanks to the calculation power of the MareNostrum supercomputer (94.21 TFlops peak). Due to the complex topography and climatic particularities of the study areas it becomes necessary to use high spatial and temporal resolution and to have a highly-disaggregated emission inventory of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter (HERMES model developed specifically for Spain). The model was applied during a representative summertime polluted episode. The introduction of a 10% or a 30% of hybrid cars in substitution of the oldest petrol and diesel cars of both cities proved to be effective to reduce NO2, SO2 and PM10 concentrations in the conurbations (i.e. a 37% reduction in NO2 24-hr average concentration occurs in Madrid and a 18% in Barcelona when introducing a 30% of hybrid vehicles; moreover 24-hr average PM10 decreases up to 12% and 14% in Madrid and Barcelona, respectively). Nevertheless the O3 concentrations slightly arise (being the 8-hr average concentration a 3% higher in Madrid and a 24% in Barcelona respect to the base case). The selected domains present a similar behavior with respect to their impacts, with a noticeable reduction of ground-level NOx in downtown areas and an increase in the tropospheric ozone concentration in the VOC-limited areas. In downwind locations the precursors’ emissions control causes a reduction of O3 levels. The air quality modeling system proves to be a suitable and useful tool to manage urban air quality, especially when applied with this high resolution

Priorities, policies and (time)scales : the delivery of emissions reductions in the UK transport sector

Peer reviewedPreprin

City flight migration patterns in the East Midlands

This paper investigates migration to and from the Three Cities of Derby, Leicester and Nottingham. It investigates whether these cities lose more migrants than they gain from more rural parts of the city-regions and the extent to which these flows impact on the demographic profiles of the Three Cities

Urban Transport in France : Moving to a Sustainable Policy

The organisation of urban public transport in France has some specificity in comparison to other European countries, even if problems are similar and the creation of the European Union leads progressively to an harmonisation. To understand these differences, it is first necessary to focus on historical and institutional aspects, including the 1982 Transport Law. This paper describes the evolution of the urban transport policy, giving illustration through the case of Lyon's conurbation; it highlights the reason for an unsuccessful attempt to reduce car use for urban trips, and discusses the main stakes for implementing new sustainable transport policies in French cities.Institutional Aspect ; Public Transport ; Sustainable Transport Policy ; Transport Law ; Urban Transport Policy ; Lyon (France)

Future “greener” urban transport: accessible, mobile and resilient cities?

Geographers, amongst others, have been considering urban futures for some time now. They all try to conceptually understand what a “sustainable city” in Europe / the UK / globally might look like. oncepts such as liveable, “green”, sustainable and resilient are being discussed, with carbon emissions and transitions, including from transport. Mobility (or what some authors call motility) is one strand, with lifecycle assessment of vehicles and fuels being applied . This article reviews visions and policies for more resilient urban transport

Review of low emission zones in Europe: Case of London and German cities

Over 72% of population in Europe lives in cities nowadays, using a variety of different transportation vehicles for their intercity mobility. A high density of transportation vehicles in cities is a substantial problem in urban areas, since these vehicles are almost exclusively powered by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have an impact on human health and emit harmful emissions to the environment when burned. Nevertheless, modern lifestyle is highly dependent on fossil fuels and therefore also highly vulnerable in the case of supply shortfalls. Nowadays, environmental problems and the impact of concentrated transport on human health, especially in cities, gained importance and lead to the detection and greater implementation of alternative technologies and advanced sustainable solutions in the field of environmental protection in cities. Since the EU is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and has very small oil reserves and a high share of urban population affected by transport pollutants, it is particularly important for the EU to reduce their impact as efficiently as possible and to implement new solutions for a more sustainable future. One such solution is represented with Green zones - areas where we try to minimize harmful transport related environmental and social impacts such as emissions, noise, smog, particle matter, etc. Therefore, this paper consists of an identification and examination of green zones in the selected EU member states (including UK) with special emphasis on German cities and London and analysis of their pros and cons

Review of low emission zones in Europe: Case of London and German cities

Over 72% of population in Europe lives in cities nowadays, using a variety of different transportation vehicles for their intercity mobility. A high density of transportation vehicles in cities is a substantial problem in urban areas, since these vehicles are almost exclusively powered by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels have an impact on human health and emit harmful emissions to the environment when burned. Nevertheless, modern lifestyle is highly dependent on fossil fuels and therefore also highly vulnerable in the case of supply shortfalls. Nowadays, environmental problems and the impact of concentrated transport on human health, especially in cities, gained importance and lead to the detection and greater implementation of alternative technologies and advanced sustainable solutions in the field of environmental protection in cities. Since the EU is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and has very small oil reserves and a high share of urban population affected by transport pollutants, it is particularly important for the EU to reduce their impact as efficiently as possible and to implement new solutions for a more sustainable future. One such solution is represented with Green zones - areas where we try to minimize harmful transport related environmental and social impacts such as emissions, noise, smog, particle matter, etc. Therefore, this paper consists of an identification and examination of green zones in the selected EU member states (including UK) with special emphasis on German cities and London and analysis of their pros and cons

How to Increase Stakeholders’ Involvement while Developing New Governance Model for Urban Logistic: Turin Best Practice

AbstractThis paper reports and describes the desirable effects obtained by the definition, acceptance and deployment of an innovative governance model introduced in Turin (Italy) where an original and well performing stakeholders’ engagement format was developed. A specific pilot has been implemented in order to stimulate – in vivo – the effects of the proposed new governance model. Pilot results did demonstrate that applying the new governance model, based on operational incentives rather than restrictions (pull rather than push measures), it was possible to achieve relevant and sound benefits for the community and an economic saving for each single logistic operator joining to the Recognition Scheme. On the base of such evidence, the City of Turin and Piedmont Region are considering to extend the governance model developed to neighbouring Municipalities. This will provide a fundamental base to build a homogeneous regional bottom-up Logistic Masterplan

Transport in the Trans-Pennine Corridor: Present Conditions and Future Options. Interregional Study Working Paper 3.

This paper reports on a desk study carried out by the Institute for Transport Studies as part of a wider study of opportunities for inter-regional working in the trans-Pennine corridor, considering economic, environmental and transport issues. It draws together available information on transport and movement flows in the trans-Pennine corridor. These patterns of movement are examined from a broad perspective which considers intra-regional, inter- regional and international movements within and across the study area. The report proposes a regional package approach to transport, based on demand management and modal transfer