Analysis of air pollution caused by mass transportation design changes

¹ Civil Engineering Department, Diponegoro University, Indonesia
² Civil Engineering Department, Diponegoro University, Indonesia.
³ Civil Engineering Department, Semarang University, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: ismiyati_hs@yahoo.com

Abstract

Traffic jams are a common phenomenon in Indonesia’s big cities due to the proliferation of private vehicles. The resulting air pollution directly threatens public health and urban quality of life. This research is to identify and analyze air pollution levels and forecast the potential to improve air quality by developing mass public transportation. This research employs the dust sampler method to measure the air pollution levels and calculate traffic volume, while the simulation method is used to analyze the data. The results show that the air pollution levels detected exceed the air quality thresholds established by regulations in the Decision by the Minister of Health and Environment. Traffic jam levels indicated by the Degree of Saturation (SD) were determined to be, on average, > 0.75. The simulation results show that by changing modes of transportation traffic jam levels decrease, ranging from 0.2201 to 0.291(DS), and air pollution decreases. Specifically, nitrogen oxides (NOx) are reduced by 48.19 %; sulfur dioxide (SO2) is reduced by 51.77 %; particulate matter (PM) is reduced by 29.86%; lead (Pb) is reduced by 52.22%; and carbon monoxide (CO) is reduced by 52.15%. This research suggests the mass public transportation planning should be implemented.