New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) A report released at the University of Birmingham in the UK on Wednesday states that virtual reality (VR) models will play a vital role in protecting pedestrians and cyclists from a number of diseases, including respiratory and cardio metabolic ones.
The study, led by the University of Birmingham in the UK, aims to focus on the issue of diseases caused by exposure to dust from roads and tyres.
He argued that immersive VR could provide easily accessible guidance to the public, policymakers, and city planners.
The research paper, published in the Royal Society Open Science journal, used detailed computational fluid dynamics models to observe particles that are normally invisible to the naked eye.
The VR model was tested with the general public in the city of Birmingham. The test looked at the PM2.5 (PM2.5 is a form of particulate matter (PM) present in the atmosphere) generated by vehicle brakes and tyre wear.
Principal investigator Dr Jason Stafford, from the University of Birmingham, said: “Air quality plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of society. Despite the electric vehicle transition, harmful emissions continue through tiny particles released from brakes, tyres and roads into the air we breathe.”
These models have helped people to see pollution particles that could not be seen with naked eyes. Also, now this will also help in avoiding diseases.
“Computational models can help us understand pollution’s pathways and identify key moments in people’s daily travels where the risk is highest,” Stafford said.
The findings also suggest how the implementation of virtual reality could inspire reconsideration of town and city planning to promote clean air, the researchers said.
-IANS
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