John Gallagher

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Verified

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• Doctor of Engineering
• Professor (Associate) at Trinity College Dublin

For an organization to become a low‐carbon community, delivering a range of sustainability initiatives is necessary. Renewable energy (RE) initiatives, offering a source of low‐carbon electricity to offset an organization's energy needs, fit with this objective. This paper examines the role of innovation in achieving low‐carbon energy in the Nation...

Renewable energy (RE) technologies are looked upon favorably to provide for future energy demands and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the installation of these technologies requires large quantities of finite material resources. We apply life cycle assessment to 100 years of electricity generation from three stand-alone RE technolog...

Green-blue-grey infrastructure (GBGI) offers environmental benefits in urban areas, yet its impact on air pollution is under-researched, and the literature fragmented. This review evaluates quantitative studies on GBGI's capability to mitigate air pollution, compares their specific pollutant removal processes, and identifies areas for further inves...

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools significantly impacts occupant health and academic performance, especially in naturally ventilated (NV) classrooms, where CO2 levels are often elevated. This systematic review synthesises findings from 125 studies, examining CO2 as an indicator of ventilation rates (VRs) and its impact on IAQ, health, and academi...

This study examined the influence of different wastewater treatment processes on the physicochemical properties of Alginate-Like Exopolymers (ALE) extracted from waste sludge. Sludge samples were collected from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) processing both combined industrial and domestic wastewater, as well as domestic wastewater alone. Amon...

The relationship between green and grey urban infrastructure, local meteorological conditions, and traffic-related air pollution is complex and dynamic. This case study examined the effect of evolving morphologies around a city square park in Dublin and explores the twin impacts of local urban development (grey) and maturing parks (green) on partic...

In near-road neighborhoods, residents are more frequently exposed to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), and they are increasingly aware of pollution levels. Given this consideration, this study adopted portable air pollutant sensors to conduct a mobile monitoring campaign in two near-road neighborhoods, one in an urban area and one in a suburban...

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often hailed as one of the most promising solutions to the current climate crisis since they produce much lower exhaust emissions than petrol and diesel equivalents. However, non-exhaust emissions, consisting of particulate matter (PM) typically resulting from tyre and brake wear, are influenced by the vehicle’s weight a...

This paper presents a model for optimizing the life cycle economic and environmental impacts of a hybrid renewable energy and battery storage system – as energy supply technologies (EST) for off-grid farms. Micro-hydropower and photovoltaics represent the primary renewable energy (RE) sources, with batteries and a diesel generator considered as pos...

Research involving multistakeholder collaborative partnerships is growing, as both academia and funding agencies align their objectives with societal challenges and undertake research in the context of application. In particular, the UN sustainable development goals mandate green process innovation research that transcends disciplinary boundaries....

Background: The GoGreenRoutes project aims to introduce co-created nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance environmental quality in six medium-sized cities (Burgas, Lahti, Limerick, Tallinn, Umeå, and Versailles). We estimated the mortality and economic impacts attributed to suboptimal exposure to green space and air pollution, economic impacts, a...

Interpreting an collecting packaging waste statistics. Understanding producer motovations with regard to packaging adn consumer behaviour (including surveys)

A reliable comparison of European Union (EU) Member States’ reporting of statistics on plastic packaging waste generation, recycling and recovery is necessary if there is to be a fair transition to a circular economy across the EU. It is a priority for there to be an improvement in the quality and validity of these statistics to assess each Member...

Localised vehicular fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions in an urban canyon can influence the energy performance of a building ventilation system at roof level. This paper examines the energy demands of air filtration through an air handling unit (AHU) located in different positions and orientations on a building rooftop. A series of 3D numeri...

As a Nature-Based Solution, roadside green infrastructure (also known as roadside barriers) can potentially mitigate traffic-related air pollution by increasing dispersion and promoting pollutant deposition. For new and existing roadside barriers, the vegetation’s physical and ecological attributes (dimensions and density) are dynamic in nature, an...

Urban green spaces have economic, social, and environmental value in the built environment. The case study evaluates the relationship between urban form and nature-based solutions (NbS) – in the form of dense vegetation and lawn areas - on local air quality from traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) sources, specifically particulate matter (PM). A c...

The GoGreenRoutes project (Horizon 2020/869764) aims to introduce co-created nature-based solutions (NBS) as interventions to enhance access to green space in six medium-sized European cities (Burgas, Lahti, Limerick, Tallinn, Umea, and Versailles). We analyzed the spatial distribution and health impacts associated with unequal exposure to air poll...

Micro hydropower (MHP) provides a viable renewable energy solution from which individuals, organisations and communities can also derive social value and benefits. Desk studies and literature reviews show limited studies that (a) quantify the social impact of MHPs in water networks and (b), establish evaluation methods for such analysis. To date, m...

The importance of selecting appropriate air pollution monitoring sites in a city is vital for accurately reporting air quality, enhancing the quality of high-resolution modelling and informing policy to implement measures to deliver cleaner air in the urban environment. COVID-19 restrictions impacted air quality in urban centres worldwide as reduce...

In the original publication [...]

This paper examines and outlines the development of a novel inlet for an air handling unit (AHU) which controls PM concentration entering mechanically ventilated buildings. The aspiration efficiency reducer (AER), can reduce the ambient PM concentrations drawn into a building ventilation system. The AER device incorporates an array of cylindrical t...

This paper employed a socio-technical approach to assess the feasibility of solar PV installations by independent Group Water Schemes in Ireland, examining the complex relationship between water and energy demands in conjunction with stakeholder perspectives in these communities. The temporal resolution of energy data and the unique characteristics...

There is little knowledge regarding the environmental sustainability of domestic on-site or decentralised wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS). This study evaluated six unique life cycle environmental impacts for different DWTTS configurations of five conventional septic tank systems, four packaged treatment units, and a willow evapotranspiration s...

Delivering sustainability in the buildings and construction sector requires innovation in the materials used and tools adopted to help promote low-carbon, zero-energy and resource-efficient buildings. This study has proposed an integrated building energy simulation (BES) and life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to inform the selection of sustainab...

Most renewable energy (RE) studies focus on technology readiness, environmental benefits and/or cost savings. The market permeation, viability and adoption of RE technologies such as micro hydropower (MHP), however, require the alignment of other interrelated factors, such as the socio-technical, institutional and political dimensions. This is part...

The provision of fundamental services by water and sewage companies (WaSCs) requires substantial energy and material inputs. A sustainability assessment of these companies requires a holistic evaluation of both performance and efficiency. The Hicks-Moorsteen productivity index was applied to 12 WaSCs in the United Kingdom (UK) over a 6-year period...

The transportation of ambient particulate matter (PM) from outdoor air into the inlet of a mechanical building ventilation system is poorly understood. No studies have examined the effect commonly used commercial air handling unit (AHU) inlet designs have upon the migration of PM from the ambient environment into the building ventilation system, an...

A comparative environmental and economic impact analysis between a hybrid pump-as-turbine/solar pilot system (PAT-PV) and a traditional diesel generator, with the innovation of the seasonal energy supply preconditions in an off-grid farm in Southern Spain was conducted. The results show lower climate change, fossil fuels, and dissipated water burde...

To evaluate the impact of traffic on urban air quality, the chemical composition of submicron aerosols (PM1) and sources of organic aerosol (OA) were simultaneously investigated at a kerbside site in the Dublin city center and a residential site in suburban Dublin (∼ 5 km apart) from 4 September to 9 November in 2018. Through the detailed compariso...

Ground level concentrations of nitrogen oxide (NOx) can act as an indicator of air quality in the urban environment. In cities with relatively good air quality, and where NOx concentrations rarely exceed legal limits, adverse health effects on the population may still occur. Therefore, detecting small deviations in air quality and deriving methods...

Abstract. To evaluate the impact of traffic on urban air quality, the chemical composition and sources of submicron aerosols (PM₁) were simultaneously investigated at a kerbside site in Dublin city centre and a residential site in sub-urban Dublin (~ 5 km apart) from 4 September to 9 November in 2018. Through the detailed comparison of o...

Cities are constantly evolving and so are the living conditions within and between them. Rapid urbanization and the ever-growing need for housing have turned large areas of many cities into concrete landscapes that lack greenery. Green infrastructure can support human health, provide socio-economic and environmental benefits, and bring color to an...

The rapid deployment of renewable energy technologies continues, yet the environmental impacts associated with their construction is accepted without sustainable design considerations. This life cycle assessment study quantifies the embodied burdens in the construction phase of eleven micro-hydropower installations, ranging from 70–100 kW in size....

This study quantifies the environmental and economic life cycle impacts of solar photovoltaics (PV), grid electricity and a diesel generator as power sources for pumping water in an irrigation network in Spain. It compares these energy sources in the context of on-grid or off-grid scenarios, where the PV energy is consumed solely by the irrigation...

Overview, Programme and Contributors. For more details and to register visit: https://www.tcd.ie/civileng/air-pollution-webinar-series/

Evidence of associations between ambient concentrations of NO2 and a range of effects on health has strengthened in recent years. On average, transport is responsible for 40% of NOx emissions influencing ambient NO2 concentrations at the road side. Diesel engines emit a higher percentage of NO2 and their recent popularity in the context of emission...

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a recognised modelling tool for simulating pollutant dispersion in urban street canyons. These studies require accurate street geometry, sufficient modelling experience and access to software to provide reliable outputs. Parked cars are known to act as a passive barrier and affects pollutant dispersion in an ur...

The EU funded Interreg project REDAWN is presented, setting a new operational framework for efficiently foster micro-hydropower in water distribution.

The agricultural sector is one of the most significant users of water resources worldwide. Irrigation infrastructure has been modernized in recent years in many regions dedicated to agriculture, transitioning from traditional open channels to more efficient on-demand pressurized irrigation networks. Despite improvements in water efficiency, the mod...

The concept of using an aspiration efficiency reducer (AER) in building heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to control particulate air pollution concentrations was previously demonstrated using a 1:4 scale experimental device. The AER acted as a passive form of air pollution control and reduced the particulate loading rate on fi...

Intensifying the proportion of urban green infrastructure has been considered as one of the remedies for air pollution levels in cities, yet the impact of numerous vegetation types deployed in different built environments has to be fully synthesised and quantified. This review examined published literature on neighbourhood air quality modifications...

Air pollution continues to be a problem in the urban environment. A range of different pollutant mitigation strategies that promote dispersion and deposition exist, but there is little evidence with respect to their comparative performance from both an environmental and economic perspective. This paper focuses on examining different NO2 mitigation...

Incorporating microhydropower (MHP) turbines within water supply networks has the potential to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector. However, long-term flow and head variations in water networks are key risk factors that increase turbine performance uncertainty in the medium-to-long term, potentially impacting the inv...

Incorporating microhydropower (MHP) turbines within water supply networks has the potential to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of the sector. However, long-term flow and head variations in water networks are key risk factors that increase turbine performance uncertainty in the medium-to-long term, potentially impacting the inv...

Personal measurement studies and modelling investigations are used to examine pollutant exposure for pedestrians in the urban environment: each presenting various strengths and weaknesses in relation to labour and equipment costs, a sufficient sampling period and the accuracy of results. This modelling exercise considers the potential benefits of m...

Purpose This paper explores the potential to simplify the life cycle assessment (LCA) process for a hydropower (HP) system, without significantly compromising the accurate representation of environmental burdens. Taking five HP case studies, two questions were addressed: (i) Does a 1 % materiality threshold capture at least 95 % of the key environm...

Renewable energy systems reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy generation. However, we live in a world with depleting reserves of natural resources, and significant quantities of raw materials are often embodied within renewable energy infrastructure. This paper examines the potential for ecodesign measures to improve the...

Energy recovery using micro-hydropower (MHP) technology can enhance the sustainability of the water industry. This paper presents a structured four-step methodology for assessing potential energy recovery sites in water and wastewater infrastructure in regions of the UK and Ireland; at service reservoirs (SRVs), pressure reducing valves (PRVs) and...

Protecting the health of growing urban populations from air pollution remains a challenge for planners and requires detailed understanding of air flow and pollutant transport in the built environment. In recent years, the work undertaken on passive methods of reducing air pollution has been examined to address the question: “how can the built envir...

Globally, the hydropower (HP) sector has significant potential to increase its capacity by 2050. This study quantifies the energy and resource demands of small-scale HP projects and presents methods to reduce associated environmental impacts based on potential growth in the sector. The environmental burdens of three (50-650 kW) run-of-river HP proj...

Micro-hydropower (MHP) presents new opportunities to generate electricity from within existing water infrastructure. This paper quantifies the environmental impacts of electricity generation from three MHP case studies (15-140 kW) in the water industry, using a life cycle assessment approach. Environmental burdens were calculated per kWh electricit...

The water industry as a whole consumes a considerable amount of energy in the treatment and distribution of water and wastewater. Like all sectors of society today, the industry is focusing efforts on reducing its CO 2 emis-sions and improving the sustainability of its systems and practices. One way of achieving this is through the use of micro-hyd...

This study investigates the potential real world application of passive control systems to reduce personal pollutant exposure in an urban street canyon in Dublin, Ireland. The implementation of parked cars and/or low boundary walls as a passive control system has been shown to minimise personal exposure to pollutants on footpaths in previous invest...

This study evaluates the potential of passive controls in asymmetrical street canyons to reduce personal exposure to air pollutants on footpaths. A passive control in the form of a low boundary wall (LBW) may act as a baffle within a street canyon, producing modified airflow patterns and increase pollutant dispersion at street level. This numerical...

An investigation was carried out to establish the effectiveness of parked cars in urban street canyons as passive controls on pedestrian pollutant exposure. A numerical model of a generic street canyon was developed using a large eddy simulation (LES) model to compare personal exposure on the footpath with and without the presence of parked cars. T...