Public engagement on urban air pollution: an exploratory study of two interventions

The use of portable sensors to measure air quality is a promising approach for the management of urban air quality given its potential to improve public participation in environmental issues and to promote healthy behaviors. However, not all the projects that use air quality mobile sensors consider the potential effects of their use on the attitudes and behaviors of non-expert individuals. This study explores the experiences, perceptions, attitudes, and behavioral intentions of 12 participants who used a real-time NO₂ sensor over a period of 7 days in the metropolitan area of Barcelona and compares them with 16 participants who did not have access to the device but rather to documentary information. The study design is based on recombined focus groups who met at the beginning and end of a 7-day activity. The results suggest that the experience with the sensors, in comparison with the traditional information, generates greater motivation among participants. Also, that the use of the sensor seems to support a more specific awareness of the problem of air pollution. In relation to risk perception, the textual and visual information seems to generate stronger beliefs of severity among participants. In both groups, beliefs of low controllability and self-efficacy are observed. Neither using the sensor nor reading the documentary information seems to contribute positively in this sense. The results of the study aim to contribute to the design of public involvement strategies in urban air pollution.     

美国加州南岸地区空气质量监测系统运行管理与借鉴

借鉴加州南岸空气质量监测管理经验（特别是运行管理模式）对于现阶段我国城市环境空气质量监测管理具有极高的参考价值。简要介绍了加州南岸空气质量管理局（ SCAQMD）的空气质量监测现状、监测网络布局、颗粒物采样方法和相关质量管理体系。对现行的环境空气质量指数、管理架构和PM2?5考核方法进行了综合比较，建议从4个方面借鉴SCAQMD经验：试行“空气质量管理区”模式；开展专项研究网络建设；逐步开展手工监测采样和颗粒物化学组分分析；提升数据挖掘水平，服务管理决策。     

典型高原山地城市环境空气质量预报预警平台设计

空气质量预报系统作为一种重要的工具用于为公众提供空气质量预报信息、评估城市空气质量,为污染控制战略、动态环境管理以及决策制定提供支持。研究对国内外环境空气质量预报现状进行了回顾,以云南省为例提出了高原山地城市环境空气质量预报预警体系建设的整体思路,针对系统建设现状,提出了环境空气质量预报预警系统建设所面临的问题以及对未来发展方向的建议。     

城市空气质量的管理

根据“城市空气质量管理，欧盟和中国的实践与经验”国际会专家的发言，整理出有关中国城市空气质量管理的１０条建议，城市空气质量管理工作要加强其有生的评估，环保立法 和标准工作要体现先进性，发挥引导作用，城市空气质量管理要有科学研究的支持增强科学性；城市空气质量管理要有区域性的观点，城市质量管理要有前瞻性；城市质量要贯彻可持续发展战略，环保部门负责做好；空气质量管理，积极参与空气的污染治理，深化空气质量     

Development of fuzzy air quality index using soft computing approach

Proper assessment of air quality status in an atmosphere based on limited observations is an essential task for meeting the goals of environmental management. A number of classification methods are available for estimating the changing status of air quality. However, a discrepancy frequently arises from the quality criteria of air employed and vagueness or fuzziness embedded in the decision making output values. Owing to inherent imprecision, difficulties always exist in some conventional methodologies like air quality index when describing integrated air quality conditions with respect to various pollutants parameters and time of exposure. In recent years, the fuzzy logic-based methods have demonstrated to be appropriated to address uncertainty and subjectivity in environmental issues. In the present study, a methodology based on fuzzy inference systems (FIS) to assess air quality is proposed. This paper presents a comparative study to assess status of air quality using fuzzy logic technique and that of conventional technique. The findings clearly indicate that the FIS may successfully harmonize inherent discrepancies and interpret complex conditions.     

空气自动监测网络数据审核自动化实现的创新与实践

阐述了在城市空气质量自动监测网络的质量保证管理中,使用计算机数据审核系统对监测数据进行自动审核的设计思想及其采取的创新手段;详细介绍了该系统在山东省的使用情况。     

Public perceptions of air quality and quality of life in urban and suburban areas of London

A comparative study was undertaken at two different sites (one urban, one suburban) in Greater London in order to examine whether there was a relationship between publicly available air quality data and the public's perception of air quality. Perceptions of air quality and its role as a potential quality of life indicator was also investigated. A total of 200 people were interviewed in Wood Green and Wimbledon in 1999 and air quality data were obtained simultaneously from the nearest appropriate monitoring station. The study has enabled a comparison between the public's perception of air quality and the actual monitored concentration values. The survey results reveal how seriously the public regards air pollution from road traffic in terms of their quality of life and identifies the attitudes of the public to nuisance from road traffic. The results reveal that the public's perception of air quality is not a reliable indicator of the actual levels of air pollution in their area. The results also revealed that air pollution issues generated as a result of road traffic are of high importance in terms of people's quality of life when compared to other aspects of their quality of life. The study revealed that residents in the urban area (Wood Green) were more disturbed by road traffic than residents in the suburban area (Wimbledon). Out of all the disturbances listed, it was found that residents were more disturbed by vehicle-derived fumes, dust and dirt than other aspects of road traffic related nuisance. The TELETEXT/CEEFAX service on air quality was little used by the public as a means of obtaining information on air pollution.     

基于GIS的珠三角区域空气质量实况发布平台介绍

地理信息系统是在计算机软件和硬件支持下，对整个或者部分地球表层空间中的各类地理信息数据进行采集、存储、管理、运算、分析、显示和描述的技术系统。根据中国发布的环境空气质量新标准，提出了基于地理信息系统的区域空气质量实况发布平台的总体设计思路，介绍了这一平台的开发与运行环境、主要功能模块设计和实现方法。该平台已成功应用于珠江三角洲区域。通过广东省环境保护公众网信息平台，实时更新各个站点最新的空气监测数据，为广东开展环境整治工作以及居民日常出行提供参考。     

乌鲁木齐市城市环境综合整治定量考核初步研究

城市环境综合整治定量考核是中国为保护和改善城市环境质量而实行的一种行政性管理制度。该项制度目前采用20项指标,综合衡量一个城市的环境质量等级,并进行城市间的相互比较。乌鲁木齐市自1989年参加城考以来,成绩一直不理想,特别是环境空气质量得分不理想。本文采用通常方案和减排方案对2008年城考结果进行预测。结果表明,只有采取减排方案,才能改变乌鲁木齐市在全国城考中排名落后的状况。     

马鞍山市城区主干道近地面空气质量调查

为调查马鞍山市城区主干道近地面空气质量状况,马鞍山市环境监测中心站于1999年1月19日～1月21日对城区3条主干道的5个监测点近地面空气质量进行了监测.结果表明,在城市整体环境空气质量良好的情况下,交通干道近地面空气污染较严重,主要污染源是机动车尾气,NOx、CO、TSP是特征性污染物,其中NOx平均分布浓度与车流量近似成正相关,从时间分布上看,NOx平均分布浓度早上最高,晚上次之,中午最低.指出,为改善城市的环境空气质量,必须加强对机动车尾气的监督管理.     

A software-aided workflow for precinct-scale residential redevelopment

Growing urban populations, combined with environmental challenges, have placed significant pressure on urban planning to supply housing while addressing policy issues such as sustainability, affordability, and liveability. The interrelated nature of these issues, combined with the requirement of evidence-based planning, has made decision-making so complex that urban planners need to combine expertise on energy, water, carbon emissions, transport and economic development along with other bodies of knowledge necessary to make well-informed decisions. This paper presents two geospatial software systems that can assist in the mediation of complexity, by allowing users to assess a variety of planning metrics without expert knowledge in those disciplines. Using Envision and Envision Scenario Planner (ESP), both products of the Greening the Greyfields research project funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information (CRCSI) in Australia, we demonstrate a workflow for identifying potential redevelopment precincts and designing and assessing possible redevelopment scenarios to optimise planning outcomes.     

中国大气超级站发展与展望：基于问卷调研的统计研究

大气环境综合观测研究站(简称大气超级站)是开展大气环境污染综合立体观测、进行大气重污染过程污染特征动态表征、深入分析大气污染成因的重要平台。了解中国当前不同地区大气超级站的建设和应用现状、存在的问题及发展需求,有利于科学指导和规范中国大气超级站的设计、建设、运维和应用,提高其在大气重污染过程应急管控和空气质量改善中的技术支撑能力。研究通过对国内60余个大气超级站进行问卷调研,综述了中国目前大气超级站的现状,并基于统计分析结果,对中国大气超级站发展提出建议。     

环境空气质量监测数据采集与传输的标准化研究及设计

目前中国空气质量监测数据缺乏统一的数据采集及传输管理规范,导致数据集成困难,各监测网络间的数据无法充分共享,形成信息孤岛。该研究在深入分析中国环境空气质量监测数据采集与传输现状及问题的基础上,遵循已有的标准规定并结合实际业务需求,针对环境空气质量监测数据传输系统结构、通讯协议以及监测数据编码提出具有良好扩展性、通用性及规范化的设计方案,以期促进监测设备及系统集成工作的标准化,实现系统间信息数据高度集成,信息资源充分共享和互融互通,环境空气质量监测业务紧密互动。     

The role of Health Impact Assessment in the setting of air quality standards: An Australian perspective

The approaches used for setting or reviewing air quality standards vary from country to country. The purpose of this research was to consider the potential to improve decision-making through integration of HIA into the processes to review and set air quality standards used in Australia.To assess the value of HIA in this policy process, its strengths and weaknesses were evaluated aligned with review of international processes for setting air quality standards.Air quality standard setting programmes elsewhere have either used HIA or have amalgamated and incorporated factors normally found within HIA frameworks. They clearly demonstrate the value of a formalised HIA process for setting air quality standards in Australia.The following elements should be taken into consideration when using HIA in standard setting. (a) The adequacy of a mainly technical approach in current standard setting procedures to consider social determinants of health. (b) The importance of risk assessment criteria and information within the HIA process. The assessment of risk should consider equity, the distribution of variations in air quality in different locations and the potential impacts on health. (c) The uncertainties in extrapolating evidence from one population to another or to subpopulations, especially the more vulnerable, due to differing environmental factors and population variables. (d) The significance of communication with all potential stakeholders on issues associated with the management of air quality.In Australia there is also an opportunity for HIA to be used in conjunction with the NEPM to develop local air quality standard measures. The outcomes of this research indicated that the use of HIA for air quality standard setting at the national and local levels would prove advantageous.     

Urban Development and Air Quality in San Luis City, Argentina

Some factors such as the high population growth, along with insufficient housing, health and sanitary services, obsolete industrial technology and the lack of environmental management programs, give rise to contamination in Latin-American cities. Owing to the urban characteristics of San Luis, a detailed analysis of air quality was planned as part of a more comprehensive study, in order to make an environmental diagnosis of the city after the demographical and economic upgrowth over the last 15 years. It has been concluded that air pollution levels in San Luis are higher than those expected for a medium-size city. The reported high levels were attributed to important industrial activity, responsible not only for the direct of polluting gases to the atmosphere but also as the principal cause of the urban expansion. The levels of CO and SO₂ (ppm) found in the city can be considered as high. Some weeks during the sampling measure values were appreciably higher than the maximum tolerance levels established. The urban area under study was separated into five defined areas, which allowed to make comparisons in order to identify specific contamination problems. The slopes corresponding to the plot polluting substances concentration vs. wind speed were lower than the expected values. Because of the urban area characteristics, different micrometeorological effects facilitating a low air exchange can be generated, and consequently increasing the contamination levels. Thus, it is correct to conclude that the degradation processes are not occurring in a single environmental plane. Accordingly, air contamination rate in San Luis city could be considered as evidence of other upper-scale regional environmental degradation processes.     

The Parameter Optimization in the Inverse Distance Method by Genetic Algorithm for Estimating Precipitation

This study aimed to analyze long-term urban land use (LU) change and its negative implications on the coastal environment of Iskenderun, Turkey. Information on urban LU change for the 144-year period between 1858 and 2002 was extracted from a historic city plan, black-white monoscopic aerial photographs, and Landsat ETM+ imagery. According to the results, areal extent of urban areas has increased approximately 40 times during the past 144 years. The population growth as a result of industrial developments and permanent migration was main driving force to the urbanization. Environmental problems that resulted from rapid development in the region such as air, water and soil pollution were highlighted and some recommendations were made in the light of qualitative and quantitative information on the urbanization and its negative consequences.     

美国加州南岸地区空气质量预报系统运行管理与借鉴

借鉴美国加州南岸空气质量预报经验,特别是其运行管理模式对于现阶段中国城市环境空气质量预测预报具有极高的参考价值。简要介绍了加州南岸空气质量管理局(SCAQMD)空气质量预报业务流程、技术方法、信息发布方式和预报效果评估策略。建议从4个方面借鉴SCAQMD经验:(1)建立相对完善的空气质量预报体系,分层级自上而下指导预报工作;(2)选择合适的空气质量预报方法,综合统筹成本-效益评估工作;(3)评估预报效果进而提高预报准确率;(4)在优化空气质量预报能力的基础上,有序开展预警协同控制工作。     

Urban Air Pollution Patterns, Land Use, and Thermal Landscape: An Examination of the Linkage Using GIS

This article investigates the relationship of local air pollution pattern with urban land use and with urban thermal landscape using a GIS approach. Ambient air quality measurements for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, total suspended particles, and dust level were obtained for Guangzhou City in South China between 1981 and 2000. Landsat TM images and aerial photo derived maps were used to examine city's land use and land cover at different times and changes. Landsat thermal infrared data were employed to compute land surface temperatures and to assess urban thermal patterns. Relationships among the spatial patterns of air pollution, land use, and thermal landscape were sought through GIS and correlation analyses. Results show that the spatial patterns of air pollutants probed were positively correlated with urban built-up density, and with satellite derived land surface temperature values, particularly with measurements taken during the summer. It is suggested that further studies investigate the mechanisms of this linkage, and that remote sensing of air pollution delves into how the energy interacts with the atmosphere and the environment and how sensors see pollutants. Thermal infrared imagery could play a unique role in monitoring and modeling atmospheric pollution.     

Air quality assessment of Estarreja, an urban industrialized area, in a coastal region of Portugal

Despite the increasing concern given to air quality in urban and industrial areas in recent years, particular emphasis on regulation, control, and reduction of air pollutant emissions is still necessary to fully characterize the chain emissions–air quality–exposure–dose–health effects, for specific sources. The Estarreja region was selected as a case study because it has one of the largest chemical industrial complexes in Portugal that has been recently expanded, together with a growing urban area with an interesting location in the Portuguese coastland and crossed by important road traffic and rail national networks. This work presents the first air quality assessment for the region concerning pollutant emissions and meteorological and air quality monitoring data analysis, over the period 2000–2009. This assessment also includes a detailed investigation and characterization of past air pollution episodes for the most problematic pollutants: ozone and PM10. The contribution of different emission sources and meteorological conditions to these episodes is investigated. The stagnant meteorological conditions associated with local emissions, namely industrial activity and road traffic, are the major contributors to the air quality degradation over the study region. A set of measures to improve air quality—regarding ozone and PM10 levels—is proposed as an air quality management strategy for the study region.