A team from the Instituto ITACA de la Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), in collaboration with the Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), located in the scientific-academic area of the Science Park University of Valencia (PCUV) and joint centre of the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the University of Valencia (UV), has developed a methodology to calculate the emissions of polluting gases generated by traffic on each street in the city of Valencia, hour by hour. The system combines information collected by traffic sensors already installed in the city with standardized and internationally recognized emission models.
This work has made it possible to identify the areas most affected by traffic pollution. Thus, the most contaminated areas are the north (Av. of Catalunya, Av. Hermanos Machado) and west (Av. of Cid, entrance by Tres Forques) of the city. Other high-traffic roads such as the Pérez Galdós and Giorgeta avenues also stand out for their high levels of emissions.
The study shows a gradual reduction in emissions between 2016 and 2021 in the city of Valencia. In that period, pollutants such as carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds decreased by more than 30 per cent. This decline is associated with a lower presence of diesel vehicles and the still limited but growing increase in hybrid and electric vehicles
According to the study, in 2021 road traffic generated more than 600,000 tons of greenhouse gases in Valencia, as well as pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and suspended particles.
The method developed by the ITACA Institute team of the UPV and the IFIC makes it possible to evaluate the impact of the implementation of new sustainable urban mobility measures. As an example, the ITACA Institute team analysed the effect of transforming a traffic lane into a bicycle lane on Av. Reino de València. Following the intervention, emissions in that segment were reduced by more than 45 per cent during peak hours.
"The model makes it possible to estimate directly the impact of specific measures, with a level of detail that was not possible until now. This makes it possible to simulate which measures would have the greatest impact on reducing emissions and thus invest the available resources in the most efficient way possible", says Edgar Lorenzo Sáez, a researcher at ITACA.
In addition, the study by the UPV and IFIC team notes a progressive reduction of emissions between 2016 and 2021 in the city of Valencia. In that period, pollutants such as carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds decreased by more than 30 per cent. This decline is associated, according to the study, with a reduced presence of diesel vehicles and an increase, still limited but growing, in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Until now, air quality monitoring in Valencia has been based on data from nine fixed stations throughout the city. "These stations do not provide a complete picture of the city. Our system allows us to cover the entire city, even streets and neighborhoods where there are no direct measuring stations," says Jose Vicente Oliver, professor at UPV and researcher at ITACA.
"This detailed analysis capability is particularly useful for planning low-emission zones, prioritising interventions in sensitive areas (such as schools or health care) and checking whether certain measures shift pollution to other areas or time slots. This ensures that a measure does not shift emissions from one area of the city to another, causing environmental injustices", adds Javier Urchueguía, professor at UPV and researcher at the ITACA institute.
"Current data analysis techniques have been key to debugging, validating and structuring the enormous amount of information generated by the traffic management system. Thanks to this, it has been possible to study the impact of traffic on urban pollution with an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, precisely identifying critical emission points", Miguel García Folgado, IFIC researcher
The IFIC has collaborated in the processing of data collected by more than 3,500 electromagnetic coils distributed by the city to measure the intensity of passage of cars, bicycles and scooters. "Current data analysis techniques have been key to debug, validate and structure the huge amount of information generated by the traffic management system," explains Miguel García Folgado, a researcher at the Institute of Corpuscular Physics. "This has made it possible to study the impact of traffic on urban pollution with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, accurately identifying critical emission points".
To carry out this study, the UPV and IFIC team had the collaboration of the City Council of Valencia, which provided access to traffic management system data, and the funding of the Valencian Agency for Innovation (AVI) within the framework of the AVI AirLuisa project.
Source: IFIC