PROMOTE: yourAir air quality forecasts
PROMOTE: yourAir air quality forecasts |
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yourAir provides very high resolution air quality forecasts on the world-wide web, and broadcasts air quality alerts by SMS text message, voicemail, and email. The forecasting system combines local data on traffic patterns, weather forecasts and PROMOTE's European regional forecasts of atmospheric composition. These data are input to the ADMS-Urban pollution dispersion modelling system, which gives concentrations at a high degree of spatial resolution across a city.
The yourAir forecasting and alerting service has been implemented for four cities: London, Beijing, Vienna and Liverpool.
In the Greater London area plus Slough, the system is implemented as airTEXT, www.airtext.info. airTEXT, launched on 28th March 2007, provides street-level forecasts for London. Pollution alerts are provided free to members of the public by SMS text message, voicemail, and email. airTEXT is operated by CERC in partnership with 25 London agencies and authorities.
At October 2009 there are 5805 people registered who receive alerts if the air quality index for PM10, NO2 or ozone is predicted to be Moderate or higher according to the UK COMEAP banding. The service is aimed at citizens with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), angina and heart disease. It is provided to the airTEXT Consortium, a body comprising currently 25 London Boroughs, the Greater London Authority, the London branch of the Environment Agency and Health Protection Agency.
The service was set up, installed and run for Beijing in 2008. This service was for a limited period covering the pre-Games, Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, July – September 2008. The system was installed at the offices of Beijing Environmental Monitoring System and at Beijing Capital Normal University. A full report on the service and the validation undertaken can be found here.
The ViennAir system for Vienna was installed in May 2009 in the offices of UBA (Umweltbundesamt GmbH) the Austrian Environment Agency. Validation is ongoing and CERC and UBA are working with City of Vienna to integrate the forecast maps with background maps from the City of Vienna map server rather than the current, fixed but zoomable background image.
In Liverpool, England, forecasts started validation in September 2009. 140 participants have been signed up so far through health partners with the intention of the system going live in April 2010 with 250 participants.
| Overview of a forecast ozone episode | Detailed view of a forecast PM10 episode | |
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| airTEXT | Archived forecast maps are available for Greater London and Slough online at www.airTEXT.info for the period from 1 November 2008 to the present and on request from the start of the service on 28 March 2007. |
| viennAir | Following the validation period the archived forecast maps for Vienna will be available online. |
| Liverpool | Following the validation period the archived forecast maps for Liverpool will be available online. |
The following are further material on yourAir and associated services:
Here is a list of documentation for the ADMS-Urban model:
Core users for airTEXT: the airTEXT Consortium is currently chaired by Islington Council and administered by Croydon Council.
For further information on air quality and health visit:
Service provider : Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants Ltd.
Contact person : Dr. Christine McHugh
How to contact : Email or complete the contact form
Last modified: October 2009