The ISHTAR Suite: A decision support tool for urban planning and air quality management

Abstract

The ISHTAR Suite is an innovative software tool that integrates several models for the simulation of the effects of transport and land use policies on the urban environment, population health and artistic heritage. Starting from the simulation of the effects of the postulated measure on the citizens behaviour in terms of daily movements, the suite calculation path goes through the modelling of transport, vehicles safety and emissions of pollutants and noise, pollutants dispersion and noise propagation, exposure to pollutants, noise and accidents and related risk assessment, monuments degradation, ending up with a specific tool for the overall comparison of the alternative scenarios in terms of cost-benefit or multi criteria analysis. The high spatial and temporal flexibility maximises the Suite applicability, from local short-term actions to widespread long-term policies. The software modules are integrated by a Suite Manager that controls the tools execution by means of dedicated software 'connectors', and is linked to a User Interface, a suite Database and a commercial Geographic Information System. The ISHTAR Suite and its specific modules are being tested in the seven cities involved in the FP5 EESD Programme ISHTAR Project: Athens, Bologna, Brussels, Graz, Grenoble, Paris and Rome, with the analysis of very different measures and policies.