Impact of urban planning alternatives on air quality: URBAIR model application

Abstract

In the last decades, the study of the urban structure impacts on the quality of life and on the environment became a key issue for urban sustainability. Nowadays the relevance of urban planning for the improvement of the interactions between different land uses and economic activities, and also towards a more sustainable urban metabolism, is consensually accepted. A major interest relies on understanding the role of planning on induced mobility patterns and thereafter on air quality, particularly related with the increasing use of private cars. This is one of the main objectives of BRIDGE, a research project funding by the European Commission under the 7 th Framework Programme and focused on "SustainaBle uRban plannIng Decision support accountinG for urban mEtabolism".