Simplified CFD Modeling of Air Pollution Reduction by Means of Greenery in Urban Canyons

S. Lazzari [1], K. Perini [1], E. R. di Schio [2], E. Roccotiello [3],
[1] University of Genova, Dept. of Sciences for Architecture, Genova, Italy
[2] University of Bologna, Dept. of Industrial Engineering, Bologna, Italy
[3] University of Genova, Dept. of Sciences of Earth, Environment and Life, Genova, Italy
Published in 2016

As known, air quality in urban areas is dramatically affected in particular by the noteworthy presence of respirable suspended particulate matter (such as PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HC), which are mainly due to traffic-induced emissions. On the other hand, it is also known that vegetation can help restoring the environmental quality of dense urban areas by reducing the “heat island effect”, improving energy performance of buildings, managing storm-water and realizing a trap effect on air pollutants. In the present paper, the first part of a wider study concerning air quality enhancement in dense urban areas by means of greenery is presented.