Urban Air Quality Modeling and Monitoring for Pollutant Exposure and Health Risk Assessments

While concentration measurements of atmospheric trace gas and particulate matter are essential to quantifying air pollution, numerical modeling research is imperative to understanding the mechanisms driving the formation of air pollution and further informing policy-making. Professor Huiting Mao of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF)’s Department of Chemistry, will introduce an air quality modeling system and its development and application in regional air quality research. Specifically, the impacts of regional transport, weathers, emissions and atmospheric chemistry on ozone exceedances and other air quality problems will be illustrated using past studies as examples. Syracuse will undergo major changes as the I-81 project unfolds, which will have numerous impacts on the city and its residents. A modeling system can be applied to assess air quality impacts of the I-81 project on urban neighborhood scales. One key component is the link between human-centric research to physical and chemical research, through producing emission datasets reflecting the impact of the changes in urban infrastructure. This will require transdisciplinary collaboration between research areas in atmospheric sciences, urban mobility, energy management, social science and beyond. This R&T forum will feature the regional and urban air quality modeling and simulation research conducted by Professor Huiting Mao and her research group at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF).

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