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Sustainable management of urban pollution: An integrated approach

Jefferies, Stephan; Pettit, Carol; Chung, Winson; Sharifi, Vida; Chalabi, Zaid; Fletcher, Tony; Cleall, Peter; Thomas, Hywel; De Munck, Cecile; Sinnett, Danielle; Jones, Martyn; Azapagic, Adisa

Authors

Stephan Jefferies

Carol Pettit

Winson Chung

Vida Sharifi

Zaid Chalabi

Tony Fletcher

Peter Cleall

Hywel Thomas

Cecile De Munck

Martyn Jones

Adisa Azapagic



Abstract

This paper presents a new decision-support framework and software platform for an integrated assessment of options for sustainable management of urban pollution. The framework involves three steps: (1) mapping the flow of pollutants associated with human activities in the urban environment; (2) modelling the fate and transport of pollutants; and (3) quantifying the environmental, health and socio-economic impacts of urban pollution. It comprises a suite of different models and tools to support sustainability appraisals including life cycle assessment, substance flow analysis, source and pollutants characterisation, pollutant fate and transport modelling, health impact analysis, ecological impact assessment, and multi-criteria decision analysis. The framework can be used at different levels, from simple screening studies to more detailed assessments. The paper describes the decision-support framework and outlines several case studies to demonstrate its application. The software tool is available free of charge at www.pureframework.org. Practical applications: The PUrE framework and software platform can be applied to assess and compare the sustainability of different technologies, products, human activities or policies. Example applications of the framework have so far included sustainability comparisons of technologies for thermal treatment of municipal solid waste; generation of electricity from coal and biomass; environmental and health impacts of a mixture of pollutants in Sheffield; the role of urban green space in reducing the levels of particulate matter in London and the impacts of environmental policy on legacy pollution in Avenmouth. © The Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers 2011.

Citation

Jefferies, S., Pettit, C., Chung, W., Sharifi, V., Chalabi, Z., Fletcher, T., …Azapagic, A. (2011). Sustainable management of urban pollution: An integrated approach. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 32(1), 21-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624410394528

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Feb 1, 2011
Journal Building Services Engineering Research and Technology
Print ISSN 0143-6244
Electronic ISSN 1477-0849
Publisher SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 32
Issue 1
Pages 21-34
DOI https://doi.org/10.1177/0143624410394528
Keywords sustainable management, urban, pollution, integrated approach
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/971000
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0143624410394528