A Fine Scale Look at Urban Form in 22 Major U.S. Cities in Comparison with Urban Air Quality

Keywords: Air Quality, Fine Scale Land Cover, Urban Microclimates, Nitrogen Dioxide, Trace Gasses, Urban Air Quality
Abstract Type: Guided Poster Abstract

Abstract

Common pollutants present in cities, such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM) 2.5, can cause a variety of adverse human health outcomes. Urban form (e.g., land cover and its spatial patterns) is a crucial factor contributing to air quality. There have been efforts investigating the effects of urban form on air quality. However, urban form is typically quantified at coarse resolution (e.g., 30 m) that is too broad to capture the spatial patterns of land cover in highly heterogeneous urban environments. Moreover, most of the efforts are limited to one single or only a few cities, leading to inconsistent and contradictory findings among the studies. This project proposes utilizing 1-meter land cover maps to accurately capture fine-scale urban patterns in 22 major cities across the U.S., investigate their relationship with NO2, and analyze the relationship variation across seasons and urban neighborhoods, and broad geographic regions in the country. The study will likely bridge a gap in understanding the effects of highly heterogeneous urban forms on air quality and can help urban planners and practitioners make informed decisions.