Air Pollution in Urban Areas

Urban areas are one of the biggest challenges in understanding air pollution. They are densely populated and contain many different pollution sources.

Complex urban environments make it difficult to predict how much pollution we breathe in on a day-to-day basis. Our exposure to air pollution can vary based on something as simple as which route we take to work.

We can measure the source of emissions, but we also consider how air pollution moves around the environments we live in. Buildings, trees, and open spaces can all affect the air flow.

We are working to improve estimates of how air pollution is distributed in cities by combining our new emissions studies with high-resolution computer models.

Our research will support local authority action by highlighting areas that are most affected by air pollution. Better urban-scale modelling could help policy-makers weigh-up the value of green spaces, or understand how new transport policies might impact local air quality.