How to Visualize the Invisible Simulating Air Pollution Dispersions in a 3D City Model

Paper in proceeding, 2013

This is a work in progress on how to visualize air pollution dispersion in 3D from a street perspective. Invisible environmental factors, such as air pollution, are hard to present in a comprehensible way, and thus difficult to grasp. Consequently these questions often get low priority in urban planning processes. In order to create a better understanding for e.g. air pollution at street level, a visual concept for 3D-city models needs to be developed, where a walk through perspective at street level with pollution levels is included. An urban area in central Gothenburg (Fig 1A,B) is studied regarding the quality of air following changes in the built environment. The project explores different ways to represent environmental factors in 3D-city models. Spreading calculations for particles are carried out, based on the plan for new buildings in the area. For comparison, a scenario of the current situation are produced, based on existing calculations for emissions from traffic and harbour activities. Finally, the air pollution visualization will be integrated in the 3D city model of Gothenburg.