Title: A dataset for the validation of flow and dispersion models at an urban intersection

Authors: Marion Wichmann-Fiebig, Hans-Ulrich Pfeffer, Matthias Rau

Addresses: Northrhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency, Wallneyer Strasse 6, D-45133 Essen, Germany. ' Northrhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency, Wallneyer Strasse 6, D-45133 Essen, Germany. ' Wacker & Rau Consultant Company for Applied Fluid Mechanics, Grundstrasse 17, D-75217 Birkenfeld, Germany

Abstract: Dispersion modelling concerning air pollution caused by road traffic is reduced to a two-dimensional problem within street canyons. However, significant pollution loads are also to be expected at intersections. In this case, three-dimensional flow and dispersion structures have to be considered. For the validation of models claimed to be applicable to intersections, measurements of meteorological parameters and pollutant concentrations were performed at an urban intersection. Though those field observations are important to get information about the actual immission situation, they cannot render data to the extent necessary for model validation. Therefore, the same intersection was subjected to wind tunnel studies, whereby wind and pollution data were measured. Evaluation of results showed that, owing to the complex flow structure at an intersection, concentration distributions with a high confidence level can be gained only by a combination of field observations with wind tunnel studies and/or model runs.

Keywords: modelling; air pollution; environmental pollution; model validation; traffic pollution; urban intersections; wind tunnel studies; vehicle emissions; atmospheric dispersion models.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1997.028227

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1997 Vol.8 No.3/4/5/6, pp.747 - 760

Published online: 15 Sep 2009 *

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