Analysis of pollutant dispersion in an urban street canyon

• Published in: Journal of wind engineering and industrial aerodynamics Vol. 82; no. 1; pp. 105 - 124
• Main Authors: Gerdes, F, Olivari, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-08-1999
• Subjects: Air pollution; Dispersions; Optical concentration measurement; Particle image velocimetry; Pollutant dispersal; Statistical methods; Street canyon; Turbulence; Turbulent flow; Velocity measurement; Wind tunnels; Street canyon; Particle image velocimetry; Pollutant dispersal; Turbulence; Optical concentration measurement
• ISSN: 0167-6105; 1872-8197
• DOI: 10.1016/S0167-6105(98)00216-5

Pollutant contamination of an urban street canyon was investigated in a wind tunnel. The urban street canyon was simulated by two walls parallel to each other and perpendicular to the wind. The influence of the following parameters was studied: the landscape upstream of the canyon, the ratio between the heights of the upstream and downstream canyon walls, and the spacing between the canyon walls. The global concentration field was investigated with a video camera and digital image processing. In order to obtain local statistical properties of the concentration a photo-diode sensor was used. The velocity field was measured by use of particle image velocimetry. A strong influence of the landscape on the pollutant dispersion about the street canyon was observed. Also the ratio of wall heights turned out to be important. On the other hand, the spacing between the walls was less important.