Abstract
Two emission validation methods are presented. The first method focuses on the precision of the emission factors and the accuracy of modelled traffic flows. Emission factors derived from the COPERT II methodology are compared with on-board emission measurements and modelled traffic flow rates are compared with observations. The second validation method focuses on the completeness of the inventory, i.e. coverage of all sources. The method compares measured pollutant fluxes in the urban plume with the downwind transported and dispersed emissions integrated over plume width and mixing height. Both methods seem to indicate that traffic emission factors used in the urban emission inventories show large uncertainties. Besides the lack of measurement precision this is mainly induced by external influence factors like driving behaviour and vehicle maintenance.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahlvik P., Eggleston E., Gorissen N., Hassel D., Hickman A.-J., Joumard R., Ntziachristos L., Rijkeboer R., Samaras Z. and Zierock K.-H.: 1997, COPERT II Computer Programme to Calculate Emissions from Road Transport, Methodology and emission factors, 2nd edition, European Environmental Agency, European Topic Center on Air Emissions.
Antwerp Traffic Police: 1998, Yearly report 1996, Antwerp (in Dutch).
De Vlieger I.: 1997, On-board emission and fuel consumption measurement campaign on petrol-driven passenger cars, Atmospheric Environment 31(22), 3753–3761.
Institut Wallon: 1995, Bilan energetique de la région de Bruxelles-capitale 1994 (Energy balance of the Brussels capital region), Namur (in French).
Mc Innes G. (ed.): 1996, Atmospheric emission inventory guide book, A joint EMEP/CORINAIR Production, EEA, B710/9-11, Copenhagen.
Mensink C., Van Rensbergen J., Viaene P., De Vlieger I., Beirens, F.: 1999, Temporal and spatial emission modelling for urban environments using emission measurement data, in: Borell, P.M. and Borell, P. (eds.) Proceedings of EUROTRAC Symposium '98, Vol 2, p. 711–714, WIT Press, Southampton, 1999
Mensink, C. and Debruyn, W.: 1998, Transboundary flux measurements for photochemical model validation in Flanders, Annales Geophysicae IV, 16, C 1158 (abstract).
Ministry of the Flemish Community: 1997, Traffic counts 1996, Report no. 196. Department of Roads and Traffic, Brussels (in Dutch).
Nys J.: 1995, Computer program Urban Traffic Planning, City of Antwerp, Antwerp (in Dutch).
Sturm, P., Blank, P., Böhler, T., Lopes, M., Mensink, C., Volta, M. and Winiwater, W.: 1998, Harmonised method for the compilation of urban emission inventories for urban air modelling, SATURN/GENEMIS Workshop on Urban Emission Inventories, Graz, February 10-11.
Van Langenhove, H., Moortgat M., Geukens, M. and Kerremans, W.: 1996, Volatile hydrocarbons in the urban air of Antwerp, Measurement campaign September 1994-June 1996, Report G96/CLW/072, University of Ghent and Centre for Air and Water pollution, Antwerp (in Dutch).
Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij (VMM): 1998, Lozingen in de lucht (Air emission report) 1996-1997, Flemish Environmental Agency, Aalst (in Dutch).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mensink, C. Validation of Urban Emission Inventories. Environ Monit Assess 65, 31–39 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006410713915
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006410713915