Assessment of Air Pollution Levels in Urban Area Under Heterogeneous Traffic Condition - A Case Study

Volume 8 Issue 1 December - February 2018

Case Study

Assessment of Air Pollution Levels in Urban Area Under Heterogeneous Traffic Condition - A Case Study

J. Rajesh Kumar*, A. Ramesh**, M. Kumar***

* PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

** Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

*** Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.

Kumar, R, J., Ramesh, A., and Kumar, M. (2018). Assessment of Air Pollution Levels in Urban Area Under Heterogeneous Traffic Condition - A Case Study. i-manager’s Journal on Civil Engineering, 8(1), 54-59. https://doi.org/10.26634/jce.8.1.14014

Abstract

Rapid urbanization with haphazard industrialization will lead to increase in motorized vehicular traffic and this increase will certainly affect the air quality levels. The gases released from vehicular exhaust should be monitored and assessed for understanding the present air quality. Air quality levels shall be monitored on regular basis in urban areas for maintaining the health of commuters. In this context, the authors have made an attempt to understand the present air quality levels in Hyderabad city of Telangana State. Ten locations were chosen which are scattered into three zones, such as industrial, commercial, and residential. Parameters, such as NO2, SO2, and PM10 were considered to access the quality of air levels in the study area. Variables like wind speed, temperature, humidity, traffic volume and its composition were considered for assessment of air quality parameters. These variables provide good correlation in predicting the air quality parameter. The model also provides closer results with the observed field data. Proper enforcement regulation and education to the commuters will help in improving the air quality standards.