Impact of green infrastructure on PM10 in port-adjacent residential complexes: A finite volume method-based computational fluid dynamics study

Abstract

This study examines the effects of PM₁₀ reduction by introducing green infrastructure (GI) in residential areas adjacent to ports, where significant pollutant emissions from ships are prevalent. Using finite volume method (FVM)-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, we evaluated 30 scenarios based on various GI types and spacings and validated these simulations using observational data. The assessed GI types included trees and shrubs (hedges). Planting configurations were categorized into single (T for trees, H for hedges) and mixed (TH for both trees and hedges) plantings, with one or two rows and spacings of trees from 6 m to 14 m at 2 m intervals. We also considered both aerodynamic and depositional effects as mechanisms for PM₁₀ reduction by GI. Our results revealed the following: 1) Plant spacing significantly influenced PM₁₀ reduction, with both excessively narrow and wide spacings being suboptimal. (2) Trees proved to be more effective, whereas combining them with shrubs offers limited advantages. 3) Among the shrubs, the adsorption effect was more influential on PM₁₀ reduction than the aerodynamic effects. These insights are not limited to port regions but also offer foundational knowledge for enhancing urban air quality, setting the groundwork for subsequent studies.