PURPOSES : This study analyzes the characteristics of nitrogen oxide concentration by applying titanium dioxide to existing roads in urban areas, using correlation analysis and a generalized linear model.
METHODS : To analyze the characteristics of nitrogen oxide concentration with/without applying titanium dioxide to the urban road segment, data acquisition was conducted for nitrogen oxide concentration, weather information, and traffic information, etc., and a correlation analysis was conducted for each factor, with/without applying titanium dioxide to the roads. In addition, nitrogen oxide concentration generation models with/without the application of titanium dioxide to the roads were estimated using a generalized linear model.
RESULTS : The results demonstrate that relative humidity and temperature were found to be slightly correlated with the nitrogen oxide concentration, both with and without the application of titanium dioxide to the roads; however, wind speed, solar radiation, and traffic volume were found to have somewhat low correlation according to the results of a correlation analysis. Moreover, relative humidity, temperature, solar radiation, and traffic volume were significant when titanium dioxide was applied to the roads, based on the estimated model from a generalized linear model, and the wind speed, solar radiation, and traffic volume were significant for the absence of titanium dioxide on the roads.
CONCLUSIONS : Analytical results indicated that the characteristics of nitrogen oxide concentration vary depending on the application of titanium dioxide to the roads. In particular, when titanium dioxide was applied to the roads, the relative humidity and temperature were analyzed; according to both analyses, i.e., correlation analysis and a generalized linear model, the nitrogen oxide concentration was affected.