Air Quality Management Case Study
Project: Air Quality Management
Client: Carlisle City Council
The Challenge
Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 places a statutory duty on all local authorities to review and assess the current and likely future quality of air in their area against air quality objectives laid down in the National Air Quality Strategy. During the review and assessment procedure, where a local authority identifies an area where air quality objectives may be exceeded, the authority may designate an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA).
In order to assist Carlisle City Council in the designation of an AQMA, Westlakes Scientific Consulting (WSC) Ltd carried out advanced atmospheric dispersion modelling of NO2 from industrial and road transport sources as part of a Stage 3 Review and Assessment.
Carlisle City Map
The Solution
- The Air Quality Management software Airviro, designed specifically for local authorities, provided an ideal solution to the needs of the client.
- Traffic flow and fleet composition along 68 road links throughout the city, along with industrial sources was used to create an Emissions Database (EDB) for Carlisle and surrounding areas
- Gaussian and Street Canyon Model simulations were carried out using meteorological data from 2000 to 2004.
- Model simulations identified that NO2 concentrations exceeded the annual objective along the A7 to the north of the city
The Benefits
- The client was able to declare a designated AQMA within the City of Carlisle along the A7 between Hardwick Circus and Junction 44 of the M6 motorway.
- The client has an established comprehensive EDB for future Stage 4 Review and Assessment exercises and for the evaluation of proposed Air Quality Action Plans (AQAPs)