Ten questions concerning modeling of near-field pollutant dispersion in the built environment

Outdoor air pollution is a major current environmental problem. The precise prediction of pollutant concentration distributions in the built environment is necessary for building design and urban environmental assessment. Near-field pollutant dispersion, involving the interaction of a plume and the flow field perturbed by building obstacles, is an element of outdoor air pollution that is particularly complex to predict. Modeling methodologies have been discussed in a wide range of research fields for many years. The modeling approaches are categorized into field measurements, laboratory (wind and water tunnel) experiments, (semi-) empirical models, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. Each of these approaches has advantages and disadvantages. It is therefore important to use due consideration for the underlying theory and limitations when applying these modeling approaches. This paper considers some of the most common questions confronting researchers and practitioners in the modeling of near-field pollutant dispersion in the built environment. •Common questions in the modeling of pollutant dispersion around buildings are considered.•Near-field pollutant dispersion involves the interaction of plumes and wind flows.•Modeling approaches include field and laboratory experiments, empirical and CFD models.•It is important to consider the underlying theory and limitations prior to modeling.