Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Roadside Transportation-Related Air Quality 2025: Research Portal

The San Joaquin Valley experiences some of the worst air quality in the U.S., primarily due to traffic and freight movement. This disproportionately affects low-income and minority communities living near busy transportation corridors. Previous research (StarTraq 2024) has shown that pollutants such as PM2.5 and black carbon are significantly elevated near highways. The new project builds on this work by integrating recent health data to better understand how pollution affects people at a molecular level. This project aims to enhance public health in California's San Joaquin Valley by analyzing the effects of transportation-related air pollution and making this information accessible through a user-friendly research database. The research focuses on how pollution from vehicles—particularly near roads and highways—affects air quality and, ultimately, community health. StarTraq database development will update the existing StarTraq geospatial database with newly analyzed epigenetic data from the CHAPS-SJV study, which examines the biological impacts of air pollution exposure. Spatio-temporal patterns in air pollution and associated health risks will be visualized and statistically modeled. The research portal will provide an online platform that allows researchers and stakeholders to access, analyze, and interpret transportation, pollution, and health data.