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BARCELONA : IMPROVE LIFE PROJECT, A GLOBAL AUDIT TO BUILD A SMART CITY AND ACHIEVE CLEANER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

 

In 2014, the Improve (Implementing Methodologies and Practices to Reduce Air Pollution of the Subway Environment) Life Project was launched, in partnership with AXA Research funds. The aim is to build a collaboration between researchers and government authorities in order to tackle the issue of air pollution. It was one of the most important programs launched : more than 30 stations were studied in Barcelona, all with different shapes and designs.

 

One of the goals is to organize an audit and understand what drives the air pollution. They analyze the level of particles in the different stations. They set up captors and sensors in stations to discover what is hidden in the air that breathes travelers.

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The level of particles depends on several factors:

 

• The ventilating systems and air conditioning systems.

• The type of brake used (chemistry of brake pads used) and wheel materials. The friction between the wheels and the rails releases particles.

• The depth of the station

• The train frequency

• The access to contaminated streets (sense of communication between the quality of air outside and inside the subway)

 

As a conclusion, they understand that in order to improve air quality, few solutions could be implemented.

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• Automatic lines are able to reduce air pollution.

• When inside trains windows are closed and there is a permanent filtration of air through the air conditioning system

• application of a dry polymer to the ballast prevent dust generation during rail works

• the importance of brakes: use of electric brakes (like today in Paris on the lines 1 or 2)

• barriers between the platform and tracks
   

However each station has its own design and tackling air pollution also means adapt to those particularities.

 

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VEGETATION : WHY DON’T WE PUT GREEN SPACES INSIDE THE SUBWAY ?

 

It has been done in New York, Shanghai and even in Paris, in Gare de Lyon !

Implementing those plants is actually a true challenge : it costs time and money to take care of the plants. They need an atomizer to provide water and skylights.

The plants need to be chosen carefully : all the plants are not useful to tackle air pollution. Today, no scientific prove allows to conclude to a potential effectiveness of the plants on the elimination of pollutants studied.

 

In New York, an underground revegetation experiment has been successfully implemented, thanks to skylights: the Lowline on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RATP actually plans to implement this solution. In November 2016, they launched a citizen consultation in order to improve the qualify of life in the subway. The most successful project was the vegetation project proposed by Susanna F (more than 6000 votes). It takes shape next month in three Parisian stations : Denfert Rochereau, Bel Air and Jaurès. A real example of collaboration : RATP signed a partnership with a school of horticulture to take care of those plants.

 

“We realize a strong demand expressed by our travelers during the call for ideas launched in 2016. We are delighted to offer several plant works that will fit perfectly into the world of our network.”

Franck Avice, RATP

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In Gare de Lyon …

 

 

CANADA: conduct a global audit at Health Canada Initiative : involvement of public authorities and recognition as an issue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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At Health Canada initiative, a study was led in Montreal and Toronto subways. The level of particles measured is similar to that of a day in Beijing.

Differences have also been observed between the Toronto and Montreal subways: it can be explained by the presence of tire brakes in the Montréal metro. Pollutants are also much less concentrated on air stations. These studies have highlighted the importance of ventilation systems.

The Transport Commission has taken this issue very seriously to measure and monitor the evolution of air quality: "We will continue to work with Health Canada to measure the impact of the initiatives we are taking to improve the quality of our air quality. air quality, says the TTC. This task will begin this summer. And thus have a more detailed study of the quality of its network”. A real audit will be conducted soon to make a situational analysis.