The science of the total environment

openair is an R package primarily developed for the analysis of air pollution measurement data but which is also of more general use in the atmospheric sciences. The package consists of many tools for importing and manipulating data, and undertaking a wide range of analyses to enhance understanding of air pollution data. In this paper we consider the development of the package with the purpose of showing how air pollution data can be analysed in more insightful ways. Examples are provided of importing data from UK air pollution networks, source identification and characterisation using bivariate polar plots, quantitative trend estimates and the use of functions for model evaluation purposes. We demonstrate how air pollution data can be analysed quickly and efficiently and in an interactive way, freeing time to consider the problem at hand. One of the central themes of openair is the use of conditioning plots and analyses, which greatly enhance inference possibilities. Finally, some consideration is given to future developments.

openair - An R package for air quality data analysis

Evaluation of waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and the conicity index as screening tools for high trunk fat mass, as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, in children aged 3–19 y

The development of models to assess air pollution exposures within cities for assignment to subjects in health studies has been identified as a priority area for future research. This paper reviews models for assessing intraurban exposure under six classes, including: (i) proximity-based assessments, (ii) statistical interpolation, (iii) land use regression models, (iv) line dispersion models, (v) integrated emission-meteorological models, and (vi) hybrid models combining personal or household exposure monitoring with one of the preceding methods. We enrich this review of the modelling procedures and results with applied examples from Hamilton, Canada. In addition, we qualitatively evaluate the models based on key criteria important to health effects assessment research. Hybrid models appear well suited to overcoming the problem of achieving population representative samples while understanding the role of exposure variation at the individual level. Remote sensing and activity-space analysis will complement refinements in pre-existing methods, and with expected advances, the field of exposure assessment may help to reduce scientific uncertainties that now impede policy intervention aimed at protecting public health.

A review and evaluation of intraurban air pollution exposure models

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are typically highlighted for their potential application in gas storage, separations and catalysis. In contrast, the unique prospects these porous and crystalline materials offer for application in electronic devices, although actively developed, are often underexposed. This review highlights the research aimed at the implementation of MOFs as an integral part of solid-state microelectronics. Manufacturing these devices will critically depend on the compatibility of MOFs with existing fabrication protocols and predominant standards. Therefore, it is important to focus in parallel on a fundamental understanding of the distinguishing properties of MOFs and eliminating fabrication-related obstacles for integration. The latter implies a shift from the microcrystalline powder synthesis in chemistry labs, towards film deposition and processing in a cleanroom environment. Both the fundamental and applied aspects of this two-pronged approach are discussed. Critical directions for future research are proposed in an updated high-level roadmap to stimulate the next steps towards MOF-based microelectronics within the community.

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An updated roadmap for the integration of metal–organic frameworks with electronic devices and chemical sensors

This paper discusses work undertaken in the FUTURES programme; a multi-partner, multi-disciplinary UK-based research activity exploring the role of technology in enhancing the sustainability of urban mobility. A key future challenge will be to use technology to support mobility and access whilst managing traffic levels in a sustainable way. The FUTURES consortium brings together leading UK academics in the field of transport and transport-related technologies and applies an innovative methodological approach to develop new understandings regarding the role of technologies in supporting urban sustainability. This paper explains the FUTURES methodology and discusses some of the early findings from the research. For the covering abstract see E134653.

Futures, future urban technologies – undertaking research to enhance sustainability

Air quality at roadside and urban centre locations in Leicester

This paper describes the on-going research at Newcastle University in the Mobile Environmental Sensing System Across Grid Environments (MESSAGE) project, a major environmental monitoring project funded jointly by the United Kingdom Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for Transport (DfT). The MESSAGE project investigates the use of low cost wireless sensors and their deployment to create a dense, pervasive, ad-hoc network for monitoring traffic pollution in a road environment. Each of the wireless devices carries one or more sensor payloads which will capture one or more of the pollutants directly associated with road vehicle emissions. This paper will provide an overview of the deployment of a MOTES network in Gateshead, United Kingdom, to measure a variety of pollutants and also explore whether other pervasive sensors, such as vehicle detectors can be included in the overall monitoring package. The key enabling technology to achieve these objectives is a sensor device or ‘mote’ capable of measuring multiple parameters and relaying data via wireless communications. The paper covers three distinct areas: the network development; the applications developed for monitoring pollutants; and an investigation as to how the data collected could be used to validate and calibrate emissions and dispersions models. A final step will be to explore how this vast array of real-time data could be used to modify and influence real traffic control schemes, to give environmental measurements a clear, policy-sensitive role in future traffic management and control schemes. The authors conclude that these low cost sensor packages will never provide the same level of sensing accuracy as the traditional AQM (Air Quality Monitoring) stations that local authorities currently deploy. However, one must consider how accuracy in sensing can be traded off against the breadth achieved from the deployment of hundreds of low-cost sensors, providing an area-wide real-time view of an area.

An Environmental Sensor System For Road Networks: Message Project

The paper begins by describing the role traffic detection systems play in enabling an expert system to define remedial control strategies for congestion management. It highlights the need for algorithms to infer the traffic conditions and route patterns in a city network and justifies the need to study the origin and destinations of all vehicles entering, leaving and travelling within subarea of a SCOOT system, whilst simultaneously monitoring traffic with SCOOT detectors. Finally, the design and results of a number plate survey is described.<
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Margaret Bell

Papers

Futures, future urban technologies – undertaking research to enhance sustainability

Air quality at roadside and urban centre locations in Leicester

An Environmental Sensor System For Road Networks: Message Project

Use of detector data for traffic control strategies

Robust surrogate measurement correction using generalised additive model