Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation

This study presents a framework for integrating traffic simulation with high-resolution air pollution modeling to design adaptive traffic management policies aimed at reducing urban air pollution. Building on prior work that establishes the coupling of the MATSim traffic model with the PALM-4U urban...

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Main Authors: Janek Laudan, Sabine Banzhaf, Basit Khan, Kai Nagel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/128
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author Janek Laudan
Sabine Banzhaf
Basit Khan
Kai Nagel
author_facet Janek Laudan
Sabine Banzhaf
Basit Khan
Kai Nagel
author_sort Janek Laudan
collection DOAJ
description This study presents a framework for integrating traffic simulation with high-resolution air pollution modeling to design adaptive traffic management policies aimed at reducing urban air pollution. Building on prior work that establishes the coupling of the MATSim traffic model with the PALM-4U urban climate model, this second part focuses on implementing a feedback loop to inform traffic management decisions based on simulated air pollution concentration levels. The research explores how traffic volumes and atmospheric conditions, such as boundary layer dynamics, influence air quality throughout the day. In an artificial case study of Berlin, a time-based toll is introduced, aimed at mitigating concentration peaks in the morning hours. The toll scheme is tested in two simulation scenarios and evaluated regarding the effectiveness of reducing air pollution levels, particularly NO<sub>2</sub> during the morning hours. The case study results serve to illustrate the framework’s capabilities and highlight the potential of integrating traffic and environmental models for adaptive policy design. The presented approach provides a model for responsive urban traffic management, effectively aligning transportation policies with environmental goals to improve air quality in urban settings.
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spelling doaj-art-29acedf0f5fa49cfaa5b366e80724cef2025-08-20T02:44:47ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-01-0116212810.3390/atmos16020128Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic SimulationJanek Laudan0Sabine Banzhaf1Basit Khan2Kai Nagel3Institute of Land and Sea Transport Systems, Transport Systems Planning and Transport Telematics, Technische Universität Berlin, Kaiserin-Augusta-Allee 104-106, 10365 Berlin, GermanyInstitute of Meteorology, Tropospheric Environmental Research, Freie Universität Berlin, Carl-Heinrich Becker-Weg 6-10, 12165 Berlin, GermanyMubadala Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab EmiratesInstitute of Land and Sea Transport Systems, Transport Systems Planning and Transport Telematics, Technische Universität Berlin, Kaiserin-Augusta-Allee 104-106, 10365 Berlin, GermanyThis study presents a framework for integrating traffic simulation with high-resolution air pollution modeling to design adaptive traffic management policies aimed at reducing urban air pollution. Building on prior work that establishes the coupling of the MATSim traffic model with the PALM-4U urban climate model, this second part focuses on implementing a feedback loop to inform traffic management decisions based on simulated air pollution concentration levels. The research explores how traffic volumes and atmospheric conditions, such as boundary layer dynamics, influence air quality throughout the day. In an artificial case study of Berlin, a time-based toll is introduced, aimed at mitigating concentration peaks in the morning hours. The toll scheme is tested in two simulation scenarios and evaluated regarding the effectiveness of reducing air pollution levels, particularly NO<sub>2</sub> during the morning hours. The case study results serve to illustrate the framework’s capabilities and highlight the potential of integrating traffic and environmental models for adaptive policy design. The presented approach provides a model for responsive urban traffic management, effectively aligning transportation policies with environmental goals to improve air quality in urban settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/128emission modelingair pollutionpollution hotspotCFDtraffic simulation
spellingShingle Janek Laudan
Sabine Banzhaf
Basit Khan
Kai Nagel
Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
Atmosphere
emission modeling
air pollution
pollution hotspot
CFD
traffic simulation
title Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
title_full Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
title_fullStr Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
title_full_unstemmed Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
title_short Air Quality-Driven Traffic Management Using High-Resolution Urban Climate Modeling Coupled with a Large Traffic Simulation
title_sort air quality driven traffic management using high resolution urban climate modeling coupled with a large traffic simulation
topic emission modeling
air pollution
pollution hotspot
CFD
traffic simulation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/128
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AT sabinebanzhaf airqualitydriventrafficmanagementusinghighresolutionurbanclimatemodelingcoupledwithalargetrafficsimulation
AT basitkhan airqualitydriventrafficmanagementusinghighresolutionurbanclimatemodelingcoupledwithalargetrafficsimulation
AT kainagel airqualitydriventrafficmanagementusinghighresolutionurbanclimatemodelingcoupledwithalargetrafficsimulation