Concept and Spatial Analysis Method of Urban Environmental Traffic Capacity

Abstract

A method to determine the intensity of traffic is a key issue for the control of air pollution from urban transport in order to meet air quality requirements. In this study, by combining the definitions of environmental capacity and traffic capacity, the concepts of traffic-related environmental capacity and environmental traffic capacity are discussed. A mesh analysis method for environmental traffic capacity in urban areas has been developed by integrating the spatial segmentation method applied for the analysis of urban traffic system with the environmental spatial segmentation method. To calculate the spatial transfer coefficients of air pollutants between grids, a method of backing virtual point sources was established and applied to this case. The linear optimization model of traffic-related environmental capacity was established on a basis of the diffusion and transmission theories for air pollutants. Taking peak hours as an analytical period, we have established an urban environmental traffic capacity analysis model aimed at controlling various air pollutants emitted by vehicles. A case study shows that the model can analyze and calculate vehicle traffic volumes, which satisfy air quality requirements within specified temporal and spatial ranges.