Without technology, addressing air pollution and planning interventions can be difficult to manage and measuring success accurately can be problematic. Additionally, a lack of awareness around the impact of poor air quality in vulnerable places can hinder progress towards clean air targets.
At EMISSIONS & AIR QUALITY Smart Class 2023, Ella Patel’s presentation on behalf of Vortex, part of Marston Holdings, explained how air quality monitoring can help to address these challenges and emphasised the importance of monitoring pre and post project delivery to validate environmental outcomes.
Talking through recent use cases, Ella demonstrated how local governments and businesses can harness real-time data to inform clean air strategies and support the implementation of policies and regulations aimed at improving air quality for people’s health and the environment. Nick Ruxton-Boyle accompanied Ella for the subsequent roundtable discussions to contribute his expert knowledge.
Presentation highlights:
- Why now is the time to implement a clean air project? Public Health England insights into how air pollution affects people throughout their lifetime – During pregnancy, as children, through adulthood and in old age;
- Step-by-Step Guide:
- Step 1: Deciding on your Goal: Local Authority – School Street, Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), Clean Air Zone (CAZ), Low Emission Zone (LEZ), Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN); Private – Community Outreach, Legislative Compliance, Carbon Neutrality, Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG);
- Step 2: Defining your Evaluation Method – e.g. specific requirements, community engagement, traffic numbers, road user types, public/active travel uptake, road traffic violations, air quality;
- Step 3: Pre-Implementation Data – Pollutant levels before intervention;
- Step 4: Implementing your Project – 2-Phased Approach: 1) Engagement 2) Implementation;
- Step 5: Post-Implementation Data – Pollutant levels/PM 2.5, PM10, NO2 and O3 Data; Defra index; before and after air quality data; weather data; traffic data; events data;
- Case Study 1: Cardiff Council – Enhanced hyperlocal air quality monitoring network;
- Case Study 2: Unnamed British Steel Manufacturer – Personal tracking, vibration monitoring, noise monitoring etc.
- Support: From hyperlocal air quality monitoring, asset monitoring, traffic monitoring and intrusion recognition alerts to engagement, data analysis and evaluation.
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in London on April 26th for the live in-person event at Greencoat Place Conference Centre, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Ella’s initial presentation).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, environmental managers, programme managers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public and private transport operators/service providers; sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; freight and logistics operators; airports and port operators; vehicle manufacturers; energy providers; potential partners from industry (e.g. retail, construction, manufacturing and waste management sectors) and healthcare; DfT, Defra, EA, BEIS, DHSC and supporting national agencies; prime contractors etc.
