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.