Non-exhaust vehicle emissions are caused by wear to roads, tyres and brakes and have been associated with conditions including respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease and dementia-related disorders.
Now, research lead by Birmingham University has targeted the sources of non-exhaust vehicle emissions by providing easy, accessible guidance to the public, policymakers, and city planners, through immersive VR experiences.
Detailed computational fluid dynamics models were used to simulate the release and dispersion of these particles from vehicles to educate the public about when they are most pervasive and the ways in which they can navigate their urban spaces more mindfully and safely.
The VR models were put to the test with members of the public in Birmingham, which is the second largest contributor to UK PM2.5 emissions from brake and tyre wear, based on data from the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI).
In a statement, principal investigator Dr Jason Stafford said: “Air quality plays a key role in the health and wellbeing of society. Despite the electric vehicle transition, harmful emissions persist through the release of small particles from brakes, tyres and roads, into the air we breathe. Computational models can help us to understand the pollution pathways and identify those key moments in people’s daily journeys where exposure risk is highest.
“By making these non-exhaust pollutants visible within a virtual urban environment using our models, people were able to actually see the dangers with their own eyes and act accordingly in order to reduce or avoid exposure wherever possible.”
The research also outlines how the implementation of VR could lead to a rethink in town and city planning to encourage cleaner air.
Dr Stafford said: “Early analysis revealed that exposure risk to these pollutants was highest at the end of braking events. Unfortunately, this means that most bus stops, pedestrian crossings, and cycle lanes are within these danger zones due to them often being located at the braking zones of cars where the largest pollution dispersion distances are found.
“These outcomes highlight the air quality issues with current layouts, while also supporting the re-design and navigation of urban spaces for cleaner air, particularly situations where vehicle traffic is unavoidably close to pedestrians and cyclists.”
The researcher was supported by Rosetrees Trust and Research England QR funding. The team’s paper can be found here.
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