LAQM support
Aether is part of a consortium of consultancies providing Local Air Quality Management support services to Defra. Under the Environment Act 1995 and subsequent regulations, Local Authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their area from time to time. The role of the Local Authority Review and Assessment process is to identify all of those areas where the air quality objectives are being exceeded. The four year contract, which commenced in December 2010 covers:
-Appraisal of all of the Local Authority Review and Assessment reports
-Appraisal of Local Authority Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) Action Plans
-Tracking progress of Local Authorities Review and Assessment report submissions
Link to Defra guidance on Local Air Quality Managementhttp://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/air/air-quality/laqm/guidance/
Birmingham Box emissions and air quality assessment
Aether worked with TRL on the emissions and air quality assessment for the Birmingham Box Managed Motorway scheme. ADMS-Roads was used to assess the nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter concentrations at more than 160,000 properties in the local area with and without the scheme in operation. A WebTAG assessment was also completed.
Canada Water air quality assessment
Aether was commissioned to undertake an air quality assessment for a proposed development of 360 dwellings in Canada Water in London. The development lies in the London Borough of Southwark and their Review and Assessment process has highlighted elevated concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, arising primarily from large amounts of road traffic. The purpose of the assessment was to ascertain whether there would be an exceedence of the air quality objectives both with and without development and then asvise what action is required (if any) to reduce the resident's exposure to air pollution. The dispersion models: Breeze-Roads and AERMOD were used.
RBH multi-storey car park air quality assessment
Aether undertook an air quality assessment for a proposed multi-storey car park at the Royal Berkshire Hospital site in Reading. The study used the air quality dispersion model AERMOD to assess whether there were likely to be exceedences of the air quality objectives at the facade of properties nearby with and without the proposed changes in parking arrangements.
Industrial air quality assessment
Aether was commissioned to undertake an air quality assessment for a proposed energy centre at a major holiday village in the east of England. The energy centre will comprise of gas, CHP and biomass boilers. The purpose of the assessment was to ascertain the optimum height of the chimneys in order to ensure the adequate dispersal of pollutants, so that there was not a significant worsening of air quality. The project used the atmospheric dispersion model AERMOD, to assess the resulting air pollutant concentrations.