Air quality suitability map of Çanakkale urban area (CBS based): ımportance of green spaces

Abstract

Çanakkale is a city with increasing population linked to uncontrolled internal and external migration due to its historical structure and geopolitical situation. Developments in the physical and social structure of the city kept the design of a suspension bridge, which was considered necessary to be built across the Çanakkale Straits (Dardanelles) since the 1990s, alive until 1917. The traffic, industrialization, uncontrolled housing and inadequate environmental planning expected with the opening of the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, with construction beginning in 2017 and planned for completion in 2022, have recently led to Çanakkale being investigated in terms of air pollution, especially. In this study, emerging as unique at this point, the atmospheric component potential was researched within the scope of 4 counties in Çanakkale province. Air quality maps were obtained for Çanakkale by analyzing the atmospheric component (CO, SO₂, NO₂, NO_X and particulate matter) amounts for July and August of 2021 with GIS modelling. According to the suitability mapping, the Central, Lapseki and Çan regions, with nearly 653.41 km² area, had suitable air quality, while Biga region with 1043.8 km² area was not suitable. In conclusion, the study includes strategy development, action plans and recommendations like tax implementations and green space planning for priority preservation and optimization of air quality with the aim of sustainable urban development.