Modeling the Impact of Pedestrianization on Urban Air Quality

Exposure to Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution is associated with negative health effects. NO2 is mainly attributable to road traffic and as such, high concentrations are observed in urban areas. Currently, 55% of the world’s population resides in urban areas and with urban growth set to continue, it is essential to minimize population exposure to harmful air pollutants such as NO2. As such, this research explores the impact of implementing pedestrianization on NO2 concentrations across an urban domain. Implementing pedestrianization on three streets within the city center saw reductions of up to 6µg/m³ in NO2 concentrations. Moreover, the population exposure to NO2 decreased, with a 15% reduction in the number of people exposed to concentrations over 20µg/m³. This research highlights the potential for traffic control interventions, such as the pedestrianization of streets, to enhance local air quality, reduce exposure to harmful air pollutants and as a result mitigate the negative health implications associated with exposure to poor air quality.