Pollution Free Cities: Collecting and Distributing Air Quality Data in Europe in Near Real-Time

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Collecting and Distributing Air Quality Data in Europe in Near Real-Time

Map of the Member States of the European Union (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Reporting and exchanging air quality information using e-Reporting (62 page pdf, European Environment Agency, EEA Technical report No 5/2012)

Also discussed here: EIONET – the Ambient Air Quality Portal

And here: EIONET- Reporting Obligations Database (ROD)

Today we review a report concerned with the more timely reporting, processing and distribution of air quality data in Europe via an E-Reporting system to come online on January 1, 2014. It makes a number of recommendations concerning data formats, standardized procedures and making the data more easily absorbed into air quality models. What is most interesting to this observer who comes from a country with the same challenges involved in different (provincial) jurisdictions where similar agreements and coordination is needed to ensure timely delivery of air quality information and warnings.

Key Quotes:

“This report discusses the options available for this new system in the area of air quality. It describes functional algorithms, routines, procedures and concepts that are required or beneficial within the e-Reporting system”

“The near-real time (NRT) data flow has evolved over time on a voluntary basis with Eionet members. Data providers are invited to exchange provisional/preliminary hourly average concentrations of O3, NO2, NOX, PM10, PM2.5, SO2 and CO”

“Earlier deliveries of, for example, automatic measurements, would greatly expedite some assessment activities…the only means to speed up the data flow in this respect is by quick processing of provisional and validated data, during and after the data has reached the data repository. There is also a need to agree on the timing of the data made available”

“A range of models on several scales are available throughout Europe. EEA sees an important role for FAIRMODE (Forum for Air quality Modelling) and its user communities in developing and harmonising practicable modelling guidance in order to promote comparability of modelling, quality of modelled data, uncertainty estimation and interoperability in representation of modelled data”