GIS

A GIS based surveillance and planning tool

AirQUIS is a GIS based air quality planning system. Based on a Geographical Information System (GIS) platform the Environmental Surveillance and Information System (ENSIS) have been developed to handle air pollution and water pollution problems. AirQUIS is the air pollution related module of this system.

The main objective of a modern environmental surveillance platform of this kind is to enable direct data and information transfer and obtain a remote quality control of the data collection.

The system combine monitoring, data presentation and modelling in one package, which enable the user not only to present and evaluate the present situation, but also to undertake environmental planning for a sustainable future.

The GIS platform, on which the system is operated, provides easy access to the data and gives a perfect and easily understandable data presentation tool.

The AirQUIS components
AirQUIS consists of six components and makes use of an Oracle database. The system has integrated forms and maps developed in VisualBasic and MapObject (GIS):

• A manual data entering application,
• An on line monitoring system,
• A module for online data acquisition and quality control,
• A measurement data base for meteorology and air quality,
• A modern emission inventory data base with emission models,
• Numerical models for transport and dispersion in air of pollutants,
• A module for exposure estimates and population exposure assessment,
• Statistical treatment and graphical presentation of measurements and modelling results.

All objects described above are integrated in a map and menu oriented user-friendly interface with direct link to the databases for measurements, emissions, modelling results and presentation tools. Advanced import/export wizards allow the user to transfer data easily to and from the AirQUIS system.

The GIS Functionality
The GIS (Geographical Information System) functionality of the AirQUIS system is designed to offer several possibilities for understanding the problems of air pollution.

• The GIS makes it easier to place the air pollution sources at the correct location, for example by making it easy to display and edit the total network of road links in a city.
• GIS presentation of area-distributed consumption of fossil fuels and direct emissions gives a good overview of where to expect high impact of air pollution.
• Viewing the measurement stations on a map with the pollution sources will give an idea of what concentrations one may expect to find at the stations for a given wind direction.
• The GIS makes it possible to search for geographically linked data in the database.

Information on all map related data such as area use, traffic density and emissions can be accessed through the map by selecting an area.

Displaying results of model calculations as a map can be used for public information on pollution levels at different parts of a city.