Institute for Transport Studies - LANTERN Project

<body> <h2 align="center">PROJECT LANTERN</h2> <h2><u>L</u>eeds health <u>A</u>ir Quality, <u>N</u>oise, <u>T</u>raffic, <u>E</u>nvironment <u>R</u>esearch <u>N</u>etwork</h2> <p>Road traffic is the largest source of most atmospheric pollutants and of urban noise. Many pollutants can cause serious health problems and the UK National Air Quality Strategy aims to reduce these problems by 2005. Local authorities are required to tackle hot spots through transport, traffic management and emission reduction plans in their Local Transport Plans. There is an urgent need for improved methods for monitoring, predicting and managing air quality problems and understanding their health implications. The LANTERN National Integrated Research Facility will enable research to be conducted into all aspects of the process from transport policy and traffic management through to the generation and dispersion of pollutants and their impact on peoples health. Moreover, it will allow those working on each element of the research programme to interact fully, benefiting from each others\rquote results and data, and conducting truly collaborative multi-disciplinary research. LANTERN Research Areas include:</p> <p><img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Enhanced microscopic traffic modelling;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Improved emissions modelling;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Traffic characteristics and instrumented vehicle monitoring;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Emissions measurement;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Emissions sensor testing and development;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Pollutant measurement;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Meteorological conditions monitoring;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Exposure monitoring and modelling;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Health effects measurement.</p> <p>Clearly, a wealth of static and dynamic, spatial and temporal data will be produced. All this information will be stored centrally in a sophisticated and comprehensive database. The research will be conducted by seven nationally and internationally leading departments at the University of Leeds. The LANTERN research programme needed the refurbishment of existing laboratory facilities and considerable investment in new technologies. This infrastructure is being provided by the EPSRC JIF award of up to £4.2 million. The equipment includes:</p> <p><img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Instrumented Vehicle PLUS enhanced sensor on 2 others;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Traffic Monitoring systems (CCTV, temporary detectors etc);<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Emissions engine test bed and monitoring systems;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Laboratory Emissions Sensor development equipment;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Portable Air Quality monitoring systems;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Noise monitoring systems;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Facilities to monitor health effects;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Computers with supporting software;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> GIS database;<br> <img src="../../images/bluespot.gif" alt="* " width="10" height="10"> Specialised Air Pollution Dispersion Modelling Software.</p> <p>Approximately half of the JIF award is devoted specifically to invest in the <a href="http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/facilities/icity/index.html">Instrumented City Facility</a> (<em>iC</em>). The <em>iC</em> is unique being the only facility where traffic data has been captured and archived for a decade, and since 1997 simultaneously with roadside and background pollutant concentrations and meteorological data. The <em>iC</em> has provided data for over 150 research projects carried out across 15 Universities.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center">.</p> <p align="center"> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href="http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/projects/lantern/contact.htm"><img src="images/contact2.gif" alt="LANTERN Contact point" border="0" width="103" height="23"></a> <a href="http://www.its.leeds.ac.uk/projects/lantern/projsumm.htm"><img src="images/projsumm.gif" alt="LANTERN Project Summary" border="0" width="123" height="23"></a> </p> </body>