The use of GIS to evaluate traffic-related pollution

Abstract

One of the major challenges in epidemiological research is to devise appropriate metrics and methods for exposure assessment. In the context of traffic-related air pollution, this is particularly problematic because of continuing uncertainty about the causal agents, the likelihood of important interactive and cumulative effects from different pollutants, high levels of both spatial and temporal variability in pollutant concentrations and a dearth of monitoring data. Against this background, models that can estimate at unsampled locations are clearly needed. The paper by Morgensten et al¹(see page 8) in this issue presents an example of how geographic information system (GIS) techniques can be used to develop such models for urban-scale analysis, on the basis of readily available data.