Investigating the Impact of Vehicle Emissions on Urban Air Quality and Mitigation Strategies (Ref: AACME-24-024)

Vehicular emissions are one of the leading sources of air pollution, particularly in urban areas. With rapid urbanization and increasing vehicular use, cities around the world face deteriorating air quality, contributing to adverse health effects and environmental degradation.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), poor air quality is responsible for millions of premature deaths annually, with transportation accounting for a significant portion of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The proposed research seeks to examine the extent of vehicle emissions’ impact on air quality and evaluate mitigation strategies, including policy measures and technological innovations.

Problem statement:

The increasing number of vehicles on roads, particularly in urban areas, has led to a substantial rise in air pollutants, which negatively impacts both environmental quality and public health. Current mitigation strategies, such as emission regulations and vehicle technology improvements, have been implemented, but air quality in many cities continues to deteriorate.

Understanding the contribution of vehicle emissions to overall air pollution, particularly in densely populated areas, is crucial to formulating more effective mitigation strategies. This research aims to quantify the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality and explore innovative solutions to minimize their contribution.

Research questions:

1. What is the contribution of vehicular emissions to the degradation of urban air quality in the selected study area?
2. Which specific pollutants from vehicle emissions have the most significant impact on air quality?
3. What are the most effective technological and policy interventions that can mitigate the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality?
4. How does the use of electric vehicles (EVs) and cleaner fuels compare to conventional vehicles in improving air quality?

Objectives:

1. Analyse the impact of vehicle emissions on urban air quality in the selected study area.
2. Identify the specific pollutants from vehicle emissions that most significantly affect air quality.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing emission control policies.
4. Assess the potential of electric vehicles (EVs) and alternative fuel sources as solutions for reducing air pollution.
5. Propose recommendations for improving urban air quality through better transportation policies and practices.

The research will focus on a number of case studies, (urban areas with significant vehicle density and known air quality issues).

• Data Collection: The study will use both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data will include on-site air quality monitoring (e.g., NOx, PM2.5 levels) at key traffic locations using traffic data, and emission inventories from government and non-governmental agencies.
• Emission Modelling: Develop emission modelling tool that will be used to simulate the contribution of vehicle emissions to air pollution.
• Analysis: The data will be analysed to determine the correlation between vehicular activity and pollutant concentrations. Statistical analysis will help in determining the significance of these correlations.
• Comparative Assessment: Emission levels from conventional vehicles will be compared with electric vehicles and alternative fuel technologies to assess the potential reduction in air pollutants.
• Policy Evaluation: A review of current vehicle emission policies in the study area will be conducted, with recommendations for improvement.

94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021

Supervisors

• Primary supervisor: Andrew Watson
• Secondary supervisor: Kambiz Ebrahimi

Entry requirements

• For UK applicants a 2.1 degree in a relevant subject.
• For International applicants – degree equivalent to UK standards.

English language requirements

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Fees and funding

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

How to apply

All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select *AACME/ AAE*. Please quote the advertised reference number: * AACME-24-024 * in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.

The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.

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