Developing a 'GI4RAQ' platform to predict quantitatively the potential of strategic green infrastructure to improve roadside air quality at planning

空气污染是对人类健康最大的环境风险，全球90%的城市人口生活在超过世界卫生组织空气质量(AQ)标准的城市，室外空气污染每年夺走约300万人的生命。仅在英国，室外空气污染每年就导致5万人死亡，而道路交通已被确定为城市地区的主要罪魁祸首。路边空气质量(RAQ)经常超过AQ目标，一直是针对英国政府的诉讼对象，但政府将AQ的责任移交给地方当局(LAS)。因此，RAQ是LAS特别关注的问题。虽然最近的多项研究强调了战略绿色基础设施(GI)改善RAQ的潜力，但目前缺乏适当的平台，在规划阶段定量预测GI干预措施的高度特定地点的影响；已经开展了必要的量化研究，但尚未转化为实践。本探路者的目的是通过与目标最终用户的共同设计和知情的市场评估过程，计划将一个易于采用的‘GI4RAQ’平台(TRL 2至5)的全面开发推向市场。探路者项目目标如下所列；有关更多详细信息和直接映射的里程碑和成果，请参阅“目标”部分。确认目标终端用户并保护早期采用者2.与早期采用者接洽，以确定所需平台的确切形式3。委托独立的市场评估4.计划将GI4RAQ平台推向市场(TRL 2至5)伯明翰大学(UOB)森林研究所(BIFoR)将开发该平台。BIFoR和来自UOB地理、地球和环境科学学院的同事们在以下方面拥有专业知识：AQ的计算机模拟，包括RAQ和植被的影响；RAQ的现场测量及其用于验证RAQ影响的模型预测；以及通过树木和设计行动小组、林地信托基金以及森林和林地咨询委员会的城市网络与建筑环境从业者接触。BIFoR的研究人员使用CiTTyCAT计算机模型对GI改善RAQ的潜力进行了第一次探索，并在与之密切相关的模型Citty-Street-UFP中添加了超细颗粒多组分微物理。他们最近还在对街道景观的简约描述方面取得了概念性进展，使其能够容易地诊断其对RAQ的影响。GI4RAQ平台开发的可能路线包括：整合这些模型和最新进展，以产生单一的开源、免费提供的CiTTyCAT-Street模型；与目标终端用户共同设计简单直观的图形用户界面，并链接到从CiTTyCAT-Street派生的“预先验证的参数集”和“结果查找表”，以便在规划过程中快速做出设计决策。或者，大华银行可以寻求将业主代码添加到商业行业标准的城市AQ模型中。模型开发的首选路线将取决于平台的预期接受度、开发的相对速度以及对知识产权和收入的影响，这些将分别在开拓者期间通过最终用户参与、市场评估和在大华大学技术转移办公室(TTO)的帮助下进行进一步探索来确定。关键词：BIFoR；自然环境；建成环境；绿色基础设施；空气质量；人类健康；自然资本；生态系统服务；城市林业；规划；研究；学术、公共和私营部门。股东：BIFoR主任；BIFoR指导委员会成员；大华大学；大华大学地理、地球和环境科学学院；UOB TTO；NERC；大伦敦管理局；伯明翰市议会；剑桥市议会；其他地方当局；DEFRA；和DCLG。

Air pollution constitutes the greatest environmental risk to human health, with 90% of the world's urban population living in cities exceeding the World Health Organization's air quality (AQ) guidelines and outdoor air pollution claiming approximately 3 million lives each year. In the UK alone, outdoor air pollution is linked to 50,000 deaths annually, and road transport has been identified as the main culprit in urban areas. Roadside air quality (RAQ) often exceeds AQ objectives and has been the subject of litigation against the UK government, but the government devolves responsibility for AQ to local authorities (LAs). RAQ is therefore a particular concern to LAs. Whilst multiple recent studies have highlighted the potential for strategic green infrastructure (GI) to improve RAQ, there is currently a lack of appropriate platform to quantitatively predict the highly location-specific impacts of GI interventions at the planning stage; the requisite quantitative research has been carried out, but not translated into practice. The purpose of this Pathfinder is to plan the full development to market of an easily-adopted 'GI4RAQ' platform (TRL 2 to 5) through a process of co-design with target end-users and informed market assessment.The Pathfinder Project Objectives are listed below; please see 'Objectives' section for more details and directly-mapped Milestones and Outputs.1. Confirm target end-users and secure early-adopters2. Engage with early-adopters to determine precise form of platform required3. Commission independent market assessment4. Plan development of GI4RAQ platform to market (TRL 2 to 5)The University of Birmingham's (UoB's) Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) will develop the platform. BIFoR, and colleagues from the UoB's School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, has expertise in: computer modelling of AQ, including RAQ specifically and effects of vegetation; in-situ measurements of RAQ and their use in validating model predictions of RAQ impacts; and engagement with built environment practitioners via the Trees and Design Action Group, Woodland Trust and Forest and Woodlands Advisory Committees' Urban Network.BIFoR researchers used the CiTTyCAT computer model to carry out a first exploration of the potential of GI to improve RAQ, and have since added ultrafine particle multicomponent microphysics to a closely-related model, CiTTy-Street-UFP. They have also recently made conceptual advances in the parsimonious description of streetscapes, enabling tractable diagnosis of their effect on RAQ. The likely route of GI4RAQ platform development comprises: consolidation of these models and recent advances to produce a single open-source, freely-available CiTTyCAT-Street model; and the co-design with target end-users of a simple and intuitive graphical user interface, linked to 'pre-validated parameter sets' and 'results look-up tables' derived from CiTTyCAT-Street, for rapid design decision-making in the planning process. The UoB could, alternatively, seek to add proprietorial code to a commercial industry-standard urban AQ model. The preferred route of model development will depend on the expected uptake of the platform, relative speed of development and implications for intellectual property rights and revenue to be determined during the Pathfinder via end-user engagement, market assessment and further exploration with the aid of the UoB Technology Transfer Office (TTO), respectively.Keywords: BIFoR; natural environment; built environment; green infrastructure; air quality; human health; natural capital; ecosystem services; urban forestry; planning; research; academic, public and private sectors.Stakeholders: BIFoR Director; BIFoR Steering Committee members; UoB; UoB School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences; UoB TTO; NERC; Greater London Authority; Birmingham City Council; Cambridge City Council; other local authorities; DEFRA; and DCLG.