Modelling Regional Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions: An Information and Scenario Tool for Practitioners

Abstract

Road traffic is a major source for air- and noise pollution in urban areas. The implementation of already existing and forthcoming EU- regulations on the assessment and management of air quality concentrations and noise levels in urban areas calls for innovative tools supporting the decision makers in the identification of strategies suitable to reduce the environmental burden an improving the quality of life for the population in urban agglomerations. The HEAVEN3 project addresses a common environmental problem — increasing traffic levels in large urban areas and the resulting adverse environmental impacts. In the framework of this project a Decision Support System (DSS) able to evaluate the environmental effects (air quality and noise quality — both emissions and dispersion forecasting) of near real-time traffic flows and Transportation Demand Management Strategies (TDMS) in large urban areas is under development. This system will be able to evaluate the environmental impacts for actual traffic situations and for planned TDMS and is composed of a number of modelling modules and operator interfaces. The application and demonstration sites are situated in 6 European cities participating to the project (Berlin, Rome, Paris, Prague, Rotterdam and Leicester).