Real-Time Monitoring and Mapping of Air Pollutants on Montreal Bike FacilitiesGraeme Pickett, Hussam Dugum
Supervisor: Marianne HatzopoulouDepartment of Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics, McGill University
Abstract
Background
This research was supported by the McGill Department
of Engineering S.U.R.E Program and Health Canada
Conclusions and Future Research
Results
Equipment
Every day thousands of people cycle on the streets of Montreal.
Aside from the physical risk posed by cars and pedestrians, there
are major health risks posed from air pollution. Due to the physical
expenditure of biking, cyclists breath in many times the amount of
pollutants as pedestrians, and are therefore more susceptible to
their negative health effects. This project aims to aid cyclists by
mapping air quality trends on Montreal’s bike facilities.
The Purpose of this pilot study was to demonstrate the feasibility of
real time data collection methods in mapping air quality in varying
traffic and weather conditions. GPS data was used to link real time
position with second by second air quality data collected by pollution
monitoring equipment mounted on the back of four bicycles. This
study proved it was feasible to map pollution levels in real time, with
preliminary findings showing a correlation between pollution levels
and traffic levels. Future research will expand on this project,
acquiring more data from a larger range of Montreal streets. In the
future this data will hopefully be used to help cyclists plan their trips
according to overall air quality they would be exposed to during their
trip.
Equip Bike
Cycle and Record Data
Match Using GPS Data
Map Data Using ArcGIS
Methods
1. Ultra Fine
Particles
<=0.1 μm
2. Alcohol Tube
3. Particulate
matter 2.5 μm
4. Black Carbon
5. Temperature
and Relative
Humidity
6. Carbon
Monoxide
7. GPS
2 6 5 7
1
43
Results
Pollutant Source Health Effect StandardsCarbon
Monoxide
Incomplete gas or diesel
combustion
Reduce bloods oxygen carrying capacity
1000 ppm
Black Carbon Coughing, decreased lung function with long
exposure
3.5 mg/m^3
Ultra Fine Particle
Same as PM 2.5, long termeffects are unknown.
No set standards
Particulate Matter 2.5 μm
Difficulty breathing, asthma, chronic bronchitis
0.15 mg/m^3
Table 1: Short and long term health effects of air pollutants (All standards taken from EPA, http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html)
Figure 1: Air pollutant monitoring equipment
Figure 2: Flow chart of data collection and mapping procedure
Study Objectives
Develop a methodology for acquiring real-time air quality data.
Use this data to locate areas with high levels of pollutants.
Use the results to demonstrate the feasibility of a similar, larger
scale project involving more cyclists and mapping a larger
percentage of Montreal’s bike network.
Figure 3: Mapped pollutants from afternoon ride on the SE high traffic route
Figure 3 displays all four measured pollutants for a single high
traffic route in the afternoon of June 28. The four pollutants are
all components of car exhaust so the larger the volume of traffic,
in particular trucks and buses, the higher concentration of each
pollutant. Determining the trends in air quality with respect to
time of day is key in aiding cyclists make informed decisions
about their route choice. Examples of varying air quality
conditions for the same day can be seen in figures 4 and 5.
Figure 4: Variation in black carbon from morning to afternoon
Figure 5: Black carbon concentration of low traffic compared to high traffic
The variation between morning and afternoon traffic for the same
route can be clearly seen in figure 4. The morning route has an
average of around 1200 ng/m^3 higher then the afternoon route.
Figure 5 shows the difference in black carbon levels between a
high traffic route and its low traffic alternative. The higher route has
around twice the average concentration of black carbon.