Effects of Green Network Management of Urban Street Trees on Airborne Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) Concentration

Na-Ra Jeong (), Seung-Won Han and Baul Ko
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Na-Ra Jeong: Urban Agriculture Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
Seung-Won Han: Urban Agriculture Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea
Baul Ko: Urban Agriculture Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Wanju 55365, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Street trees are crucial for air pollutant reduction in urban areas. Herein, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to identify changes in airborne particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) concentration based on wind characteristics (direction and velocity) and the green network of street trees. The green network was assessed based on composition of the green area of street trees in the central reserve area and between the motor and pedestrian roads. The PM 2.5 concentration varied according to the presence or absence of major reserve planting and the planting structure of the street trees, but not according to the wind direction or velocity. The concentration was lower when the wind direction was 45° (than when the wind direction was 0°), whereas it showed a more significant decrease as the wind velocity increased. Despite variation at each measurement site, the PM 2.5 reduction was generally higher when the central reserve and street trees had a multi-planting structure. Hence, to ensure an effective reduction in the PM 2.5 concentration on motor roads and reduce its negative impact on pedestrians, both arbors and shrubs should be planted in the central reserve area. The study results will serve as reference for managing the green area network and linear green infrastructure in terms of improving the atmospheric environment.

Keywords: urban green infrastructure; vegetation management; air quality; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); PM 2.5 concentration; central reserve; street trees; wind characteristics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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