Valuing traffic emissions' effect on historic buildings: environmental assessment to promote historic buildings’ sustainability

Purpose With increased populations and movement of people worldwide, traffic emissions will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, which is one of the greenhouse gases. This will increase outdoor air pollution and other environmental risks that will impact people's health and livelihood, crops, as well as the built environment such as architecture, buildings and other structures. Few studies have been devoted to addressing the effect of air pollution on historic buildings. However, there is no specific study on the impact of traffic-related emissions. Design/methodology/approach A thorough analysis has been conducted in selecting eight historic districts (HDs) among all of 31 located within the city of San Antonio. Motor Vehicle Emission Simulator (MOVES) software has been utilized to process the data collected from the average annual daily traffic (AADT) and vehicle operational speeds and evaluate the amounts of emissions for each HD. Findings MOVES outcomes showed that HDs are under the threat of deterioration caused by traffic emissions. Therefore, transportation and environmental planners need to implement sustainable solutions to reduce the impact of CO 2 emissions on HDs and, ultimately, historic buildings. Originality/value This study will help policymakers plan a better course of action for the future conditions associated with the increased traffic volumes. It is also beneficial for the developers, preservationists, architects and all other stakeholders willing to preserve the history of a country.