Other Related Services

Aether also provides other services related to the planning process:

  • Air quality diffusion tube monitoring
  • Air quality neutral assessments
  • Low emission strategy and damage cost assessments
  • Advice on mitigating the impacts of the construction phase
  • Acoustics and noise assessments 

Air quality monitoring

Where air quality modelling is inappropriate or inconclusive, Aether can conduct diffusion tube surveys. 

Diffusion tubes are a simple way of monitoring nitrogen dioxide concentrations that allow a number of sites to be monitored over 6 months or a longer time period.

This is beneficial compared to automatic monitors, which are expensive to set up and run. The results can then be used to evaluate exposure to air pollution at relevant locations and appropriate mitigation put in place if required. 

Air quality neutral assessments

New major developments within Greater London are required to be at least ‘air quality neutral’ and not lead to further deterioration of existing poor air quality. Building and transport emission benchmarks have been developed and developments must meet these benchmarks or implement mitigation measures to reduce emissions either on or off site.

Aether can undertake air quality neutral assessments either as stand-alone reports or as part of an air quality assessment.

Low emission strategy assessments

LES assessments are an alternative or addition to conducting a traditional air quality assessment and they assess the air quality pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions arising from buildings and vehicles both pre and post development.

Aether has undertaken LES assessments for a wide variety of customers and clients.

Advice on mitigating the impacts of the construction phase

Emissions and dust from the construction phase of a development can have a significant impact on local air quality. Guidance has been developed to determine the significance of the impact. In addition, the Mayor of London has introduced standards to reduce emissions of pollutants from construction and demolition activity and associated equipment. Aether can provide construction dust impact advice as part of an air quality assessment report. 

Noise assessments

Aether works with associates that can provide acoustics and noise assessments in the area surrounding your site. Noise measurements are taken over a 24 hours period using a calibrated sound meter. The acoustic consultants are Members of the Institute of Acoustics (IOA), and can undertake environmental noise assessments for planning purposes. This includes liaising with both the client and local authority officers in order to determine the assessment requirements, enabling a fast turnaround of reports that adhere to best practice guidance.

Case studies

Residential Air Quality Assessment, Dartford

A case study of the Air Quality Assessments Aether delivers for residential developments, here for a proposed development in Dartford.

Air quality monitoring

Aether was commissioned by Berkeley Homes to undertake an air quality assessment for the proposed installation of gas fired boilers at 250 City Road.

Testimonials

Don't just take our word for it...

“Aether's approach to couple innovative visualisation with high expertise manpower delivered valuable insights for our inventory work.”

Umweltbundesamt (Germany)

“Aether is a great partner for work in the area of European Air Emissions. The team was committed, reliable, well organised and had a deep technical understanding and motivated other partners with their good spirit.”

Umweltbundesamt: Environment Agency Austria

“Both the face-to-face training and the online version have been of high quality, with dynamic methods and a practical orientation that have allowed students to reach a solid knowledge base. The products have been delivered within the stipulated deadlines with an excellent quality and the team has always shown willingness to make adjustments according to the requirements of CONAF. We are very satisfied with the work. ”

Javier Cano Martín, Professional Unit for Climate Change and Environmental Services, CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), Chile

“A heartfelt thank you to all the Aether team for this very comprehensive review – this is certainly turning out to be one of the most beneficial capacity building projects I have ever been involved in.”

Saviour Vassallo, Senior Environment Protection Officer, Malta Resources Authority

“Aether was a great asset in involving/engaging with Member States experts on highly technical subjects regarding GHG reporting. Very clear communication of issues and results.”

Andreas Pilzecker, DG CLIMA

“It is always an absolute pleasure working with Aether. I always know what is expected of me. Their work ethic is of a very high standard and projects are always handled in a very professional manner. I have learnt many skills in terms of project management, quality control and workshop training styles from Aether and I hope to carry these principles forward in my own work. I look forward to collaborating with Aether more in the future.”

Luanne Stevens, Gondwana

“It has been a pleasure to work with Chris Dore and Richard Claxton from Aether: they did their job in a very professional and timely manner. The workshop was organized and carried out in a cooperative spirit; the information provided to the workshop participants was complete and clear.”

Alina Novikova, UN/ECE Secretariat

“We have been collaborating with Aether for several years, and our projects have greatly benefited from it. Aether staff are very knowledgeable, professional and flexible - and last but not least, very friendly and a pleasure to work with.”

Umhverfisstofnun, Environment Agency of Iceland

“The team at Aether works very professionally and communicates very well which makes working with them a pleasure. Outputs are delivered on time to high quality. The team brings the rigour of technical knowledge and expertise and finds innovative ways of communicating complex messages. I would be happy to recommend the Aether team to organisations working on analysing and presenting emissions information in the public domain.”

Fiona Glover, States of Jersey

“The support provided by Aether for this project was especially remarkable considering the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tools and methods used in order to engage local stakeholders really added value to the capacity building of the national team.”

Shanna Emmanuel, Saint Lucia BUR Project Coordinator

Contact us

Get in touch

Call us on +44 1865 261 466, complete the short form below, or go to the Contact page

 Security code