Valuing traffic emissions' effect on historic buildings: environmental assessment to promote historic buildings’ sustainability
Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
ISSN: 2044-1266
Article publication date: 22 October 2021
Issue publication date: 23 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
With increased populations and movement of people worldwide, traffic emissions will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, which is one of the greenhouse gases. This will increase outdoor air pollution and other environmental risks that will impact people's health and livelihood, crops, as well as the built environment such as architecture, buildings and other structures. Few studies have been devoted to addressing the effect of air pollution on historic buildings. However, there is no specific study on the impact of traffic-related emissions.
Design/methodology/approach
A thorough analysis has been conducted in selecting eight historic districts (HDs) among all of 31 located within the city of San Antonio. Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) software has been utilized to process the data collected from the average annual daily traffic (AADT) and vehicle operational speeds and evaluate the amounts of emissions for each HD.
Findings
MOVES outcomes showed that HDs are under the threat of deterioration caused by traffic emissions. Therefore, transportation and environmental planners need to implement sustainable solutions to reduce the impact of CO2 emissions on HDs and, ultimately, historic buildings.
Originality/value
This study will help policymakers plan a better course of action for the future conditions associated with the increased traffic volumes. It is also beneficial for the developers, preservationists, architects and all other stakeholders willing to preserve the history of a country.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Declaration of interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Citation
Sagheb, A., Alrashydah, E. and Vafaeihosseini, E. (2023), "Valuing traffic emissions' effect on historic buildings: environmental assessment to promote historic buildings’ sustainability", Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Vol. 13 No. 4, pp. 625-641. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-02-2021-0032
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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