Obstacles influence on existing urban canyon ventilation and air pollutant concentration: A review of potential measures.

Air pollution in cities, especially in existing urban canyons, poses a global significant long-term health risk to the urban population, and urban planners are faced with the challenge of increasing the transport of pollutants out of cities. In recent years, many research and review articles have explored passive methods of altering the urban canyon geometry using 'obstacles' that alter the dispersion of air flow in these canyons, thereby enhancing pollutant dispersion. These obstacles have been categorised (in previous review articles) into porous and non-porous barriers. Porous barriers include vegetated shrubs and trees, while non-porous barriers include parked cars, low boundary walls, roadside barriers, wind catchers and solar chimneys. This paper expands on previous reviews to highlight newer studies, their findings, and challenges in implementing these measures for existing urban canyons. In addition, it attempts to bring us one step closer to developing urban design guidelines that improve air quality in the urban environment. • Vast literature was obtained for porous obstacles, but fewer studies were done for non-porous obstacles. • Porous obstacles could enhance both dispersion and deposition effects if implemented well. • Non-porous obstacles can benefit from shape, configuration, and positioning to reduce pollutant exposure. • Concluding table sets a subjective starting point for urban planners to better relate obstacles with urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]