Urban greenery – How can trees and shrubs improve air quality?

Leaves and needles purify the air by absorbing pollutants, but at the same time, they can affect air circulation, potentially leading to a local increase in pollutant concentrations.

To understand how vegetation impacts air quality, we need to understand how various obstacles, such as buildings or trees, influence airflow. At the same time, we need more information on the vegetation's ability to absorb pollutants, as different species have varying capacities to purify the air.

Determining which of these factors has the greatest impact is crucial for smart urban planning. This project aims to explore how the placement and management of vegetation in urban areas can be optimized, as well as assess its large-scale impact on air quality. The project will examine species-specific deposition of pollutants and focus on species relevant to Scandinavia, with a particular emphasis on coniferous trees.

By utilizing newly developed modeling tools and measurements, this project will study how urban greenery can promote cleaner air and sustainable urban planning.

Read the projects latest article: Well-planned greenery improves air urban quality - Modelling the effect of altered airflow and pollutant deposition External link.