Estimation of spatially resolved road transport emissions for air quality management applications in the North West region of England

Spatially resolved estimates of combustion and non-combustion related emiss ions of CO, NOx, VOCs and PM from road transport sources have been made for the North West region of England in 1994. These have been generated using detailed emissions models for combustion related emissions of CO, NOx, VOCs and PM which take into account the different emissions profiles associated with particular vehicle groups, different road types and journeys under co ld start conditions. Emissions estimates have been generated for a 1x1 km g rid covering the region's urban and industrial zones and a 5 x 5 km grid fo r the whole study area. Emissions models have been generated and applied wi thin a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment. Areas of uncertai nty in the estimation procedure have been examined and the results compared with alternative data sources. Although the work centres upon the North We st region of England, as far as possible the methods and data sources used are intended to be generic, particularly in respect to other administrative areas of the UK. In this way, this work can be considered to be of wider i nterest than at the local lever alone. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.