Numerical modelling of pollutant dispersion at the urban scale

Annual average concentration of NO2 in the streets of Turin (2014).
To identify the areas that are more vulnerable to air pollution and to plan targeted interventions to decrease the pollution level, it is fundamental to have information on the concentration of air pollutants in every single street of the urban canopy.

The DIATI air quality research group has realised a digital model of the city of Turin capable of forecasting the street-scale pollution, by considering three primary sources of pollutants: industries, vehicular traffic, and heating from buildings in the whole municipal area.

This result was made possible thanks to the collaboration with the Ecole Centrale de Lyon, that has been developing the SIRANE model for the forecast of city air pollution for over 20 years.

Researchers: Sofia Fellini, Luca Ridolfi, Pietro Salizzoni, Francesco Laio, Marina Clerico

References: Bo, M., Charvolin-Volta, P., Clerico, M., Nguyen, C. V., Pognant, F., Soulhac, L., & Salizzoni, P. (2020). Urban air quality and meteorology on opposite sides of the Alps: The Lyon and Torino case studies. Urban Climate, 34, 100698.