01. Research Questions - dataandcrowd/GlasgowLEZ_SUMO GitHub Wiki

Abstract

Title: Glasgow Low Emission Zone: Simulating the Change in Traffic Flow and the Following Health Outcomes

Glasgow, a major city in the UK, faces significant traffic congestion and high levels of air pollution. To address these issues, the Glasgow City Council plans to implement a low emission zone (LEZ) from June 2023. This article discusses the challenges and potential benefits associated with the introduction of the LEZ. While previous studies have focused on air quality changes, this research aims to bridge the gap by simulating traffic flow and individual health outcomes using an agent-based model. The work-in-progress study investigates the present traffic and emission levels in Glasgow City Centre, explores the impact of the LEZ on traffic patterns, mobility patterns, and exposure levels, and examines the potential health benefits resulting from reduced air pollution exposure and increased physical activity. The simulation framework utilizes the SUMO traffic simulator and incorporates human agents (pedestrians) and vehicular agents (passenger cars, trucks, buses) to capture the complexity of traffic dynamics and individual behaviours. The model's initial stage seeks feedback to develop a comprehensive and open-source traffic simulation framework. Additionally, the study aims to establish a case study linking traffic patterns to human health, considering the implications for policy scenarios. The findings from this research can inform effective LEZ policy design and implementation, aiding in the reduction of air pollution and improvement of public health in Glasgow and potentially other cities. As we are currently in the developing stage, We would like to reach out to the ESSA@Work experts for advice on how to determine the level of granularity for the traffic simulation (seconds, minutes, or hours), as well as the best simulation documentation framework (ODD+D is one option, but are there any others?). We'd also like to know the best practices for developing a mesoscale traffic simulation. Finally, we'd like to talk about what we should keep in mind when implementing policy scenarios.

Keywords: Low Emission Zone (LEZ), Glasgow, Traffic Simulation, SUMO, Air Pollution, Health, ESSA@Work

Questions

This study aims to bridge research gaps by developing an agent-based traffic simulation that takes into account changes in traffic flows, emission levels, and pedestrians’ exposure levels after Glasgow's low emission zone (LEZ) is implemented. Specific research questions include:

• What is the present status of traffic flow and emission levels in the vicinity of Glasgow City Centre?
• To what extent can agent-based modelling be utilised to simulate changes in traffic flow resulting from the implementation of the new LEZ scheme?
• How will individuals' mobility patterns and exposure levels differ once commercial and private vehicle traffic is reduced?
• How does individual health change as a result of less frequent exposure to air pollution and an increase in physical activity after the LEZ implementation?