The Environmental Group of the Automotive, Fuel, and Environment Research Institute is a section that integrates engineering sciences with environmental issues. This section has completed numerous projects using modern engineering sciences, meteorology, geophysics, and economics.
In the past 100 years, environmental pollution has been one of the unwanted consequences of technology, and air pollution is also one of the main problems of large industrial cities like Tehran. Most of these cities are geographically situated in such a way that polluted air cannot be discharged from the surroundings due to phenomena such as inversion and other factors. Air pollution, and especially reducing it to an acceptable level, is a very important environmental issue. Air pollution is not only a significant problem in the areas where pollution sources are located but also affects adjacent and even distant regions, as pollutants spread through the atmosphere with weather systems to different areas.
Given the projects completed in this section and the gained experiences, along with the reliance on the scientific knowledge of academic and industrial experts collaborating in this department, this section has the necessary capabilities to undertake research and practical projects in the following areas:
- Conducting environmental assessments for industries and other activities
- Conducting air pollution modeling studies for various industries
- Conducting air pollution modeling studies for cities
- Conducting studies on emission sources and air pollutant control
- Monitoring and measuring air pollutants in urban and industrial environments
- Providing research studies on comprehensive air pollution reduction plans in megacities
- Conducting meteorological studies for industrial projects
- Conducting numerical weather prediction for industrial and environmental applications
- Conducting particulate pollutant modeling for dust simulation
- Conducting and studying vehicle emission tests
- Developing standards and regulations related to air pollution.
The Automotive, Fuel, and Environment Research Institute has one of the reputable internal combustion engine laboratories at the University of Tehran and across the country. This center’s capability can be very beneficial in advancing the environmental section’s goals for emission tests and research on various internal combustion engines. It should also be noted that the engine laboratory of this center is continually adding to its capabilities to advance environmental goals, in order to meet not only the university’s research needs but also to fulfill some of the country’s research needs at an international level.
The main projects completed by the Environmental Group of the Research Institute can be summarized as follows:
- Comprehensive air pollution reduction management plan for the metropolis of Tehran
- Data analysis to extract information from air quality monitoring stations in Greater Tehran
- Supervision of vehicle engine decarbonization in Greater Tehran
- Development of comprehensive numerical weather prediction software
- Feasibility study of air pollution modeling in the Mahshahr Special Economic Zone (case study of Bouali Petrochemical)
- Noise pollution reduction in Bouali Petrochemical Complex
Given the above points and in line with the general goals of the section, the Environmental Department pursues the following objectives:
- Conducting necessary research and participation in comprehensive air pollution reduction plans for the megacities of Iran
- Modeling and simulating air pollution phenomena on industrial, urban, and regional scales
- Providing novel methods and technologies in vehicle fuel consumption and emission testing
- Researching vehicle emissions through laboratory studies, simulations, and field studies
- Conducting necessary studies and research in numerical weather prediction (novel methods, high-order methods, and fast methods)
- Economic and environmental evaluation of industrial projects, guiding, and consulting in formulating environmental policies.