AEA manages the UK's air quality data archive, the first online public information system of it's kind in the world
National and local government, private sectors organisations and the public at large all require efficient access to information on air quality. This is both from a personal quality of life perspective, and also in order to meet the statutory requirements of European Directives and the UK Air Quality Strategy. In today’s, world this means on demand 24-7 in near real-time through multi-media channels.
The UK National Air Quality Information Archive meets this need by reporting up-to-date information on air quality over the web and onwards. It also provides a host of other reports, detailed air quality monitoring data, statistics and supporting information.
Issues
This project was initiated following the Government’s white paper “This Common Inheritance” which provided a commitment for free access of information about air quality to the public. AEA has carried out the developments and managed this high-profile delivery on behalf of Defra and the UK Devolved Administrations since 1997, with many updates in legislation steering it’s course and evolution along the way.
Results
Up-to-date and archived information about air quality are provided in several different ways:
- Website – www.airquality.co.uk
The current state of air quality today as it stands as well as an interactive database to download measurements of approximately 150 million records, mainly for the use of environmental professionals, students and researchers. - Freephone Helpline – 0800 556677
This automatic freephone number can detect where a person is calling from to enable them to inform them of the air quality in that particular area. - Teletext – 156
This page is updated automatically every hour with latest data and a forecast. - E-mail
A summary bulletin including forecast is automatically sent at the end of each day to national newspapers, BBC, Sky Weather and many other TV and radio services for the information to be disseminated to the public.
The free phone-line receives 100-150 calls a day, and the website on average receives ½ million hits per month.
Solution
AEA brought to the project the key mixture of IT expertise and air quality science. Our skilled IT specialists built the air quality database and website using their understanding of the underlying air quality data to develop and present the required statistics for public information, EC Directives and UK Air Quality Strategy compliance.
This was the first project world-wide to make air quality information available in this way, and is still seen within Europe as the leading example of how to provide relevant information.
Its success is built on working closely with our customers at Defra and the Devolved Administrations to ensure we deliver their major policy needs through rapid, reliable and state-of-the-art services.