1-712 Air Quality Data Mining and Analysis

The initial air quality assessment for the M1 Jn28-31 and 32-35a smart motorways identified a significant air quality effect when the smart motorway became operational. A measure of 60mph weekday 7-9AM and 3-6PM speed limits was introduced to mitigate the significant air quality effect. The purpose of the speed limit was to manage the increase in traffic flows during the peak periods.

The M1 was opened at the end of March 2017 and the majority of the 10 automatic air quality monitoring stations installed between junctions 28 and 35a have been operational for at least 12 months.

With the introduction of the mitigation measure Highways England made a commitment to periodically review the effectiveness of the mitigation measures on measured traffic flows and air quality concentrations. The purpose of the review is to determine whether the current 60mph speed limit can be removed without triggering a significant air quality effect.

It is recognised that advanced data mining techniques will be required to understand the impacts of the speed limits on the measured concentrations taking into account seasonality, changes in traffic conditions and local meteorological conditions over the last 12 to 18 months.

This work will support the overall review process.