Client experience and journey ahead

Dr. Stephen Thomson Head of Environment & Sustainability

Knots and problems

Summary of current position: Data & Monitoring

Opportunities and challenges

Stakeholder survey findings

Introduction to workshop

Stakeholders

SUAQ: To provide direction for work on Urban Air Quality in Scotland & to drive specific areas of work, associated with LES

TS

SG

HPS

SEPA

GCC

Planning

LES Framework

Health

Transport

Sustainability

Modelling & Monitoring

LES working groups

Knots and problems

We need to create free, robust, integrated and supported AQ decision making tools

across scales and sectors

“What’s wrong with the tools that we’ve got”

“We don’t have the time or resource”

“How can we work together”

“Not a simple problem, but its not a unique problem”

Key Stages • Define the task.

• Match task parts with distinctive

capabilities of different contributing organisations.

• Divide and distribute the work.

• Measure progress.

“A careful, focused definition of a problem can open the way to novel solutions”.

Summary of current position at a national level (in TS)

6 models

“We don’t have a single national model that applies to every scale”

“Appraisal must be proportionate and pragmatic (not unique to AQ)”

“Tool(kit)s is a more reasonable phrase, rather than referring to a national model”

“Identifying the right levers will drive your data collection”

Queensferry Crossing

SESTRANS

at the strategic level

AWPR

898 Traffic monitoring sites

Roadside AQ monitoring

No No2 SO2 O3 CO

au

n_no

, aqm

esh7

_no,

aqm

esh1

4_no

0

50

100

Sep 08 Sep 09 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep 13

aun_no aqmesh7_no aqmesh14_no

AQ appraisal needs…

‘It is essential that there are detailed and

high quality (1) traffic data available across Scotland, especially in densely populated

city centres and surrounding areas.’ LES draft (Nov 14)

(2) Sum of emissions from vehicles

(3) dispersion model

Local models

• Perth City Centre

• Dundee

• Aberdeen

Models are built from various data sources, with analysis from microsimulation

Microsimulation: Scheme based analysis

• Model individual vehicles for schemes • Real time information • Complex metrics • Realistic analysis • Post processing using AIRE tool

Origin destination modelling

• What are we trying to model and why?

• Models have specific purpose (ladle vs spoon)

• Grain and scale of model is key

• Models are intrinsically complicated…how to share skills and model assumptions

Opportunities & Challenges

ACTION: A national air quality modelling methodology will be developed.

‘Essential that LES is supported by modelling, data requirements and decision making, that is undertaken in a consistent manner to the same standards’

Opportunities & Challenges

Opportunities & Challenges

‘…AQAM seeks a standardised approach to modelling air quality at the regional and local scales.’

‘…help LA’s to explore possible LEZ scenarios and other effective measures.’

‘Modelling the potential effectiveness of the LES measures is a necessary part of the process.’

Opportunities & Challenges

Good understanding of, and ability to source, traffic data, is essential but perhaps still missing

BEST PRACTICE: How to analyse and present model / data outputs

GUIDANCE: Outlining

essential modelling and data requirements

TOOLS: Web-based

interactive data products

GUIDANCE: How to deal

with modelling uncertainty

Opportunities & Challenges

Thoughts: AQMM approach...

MODEL Modelling Assessment LEZ Framework

PURPOSE National, Scotland-wide, linked to planning decisions, cross-boundary

Local, area specific, link to AQMA assessment, linked to LEZ scoping

PROCESS AQMA modelling, LATIS, STAG, DPMTAG

Spotfire and MATlab tools, AIRE

DATA AURN data, NTDS Limited proxy data available

RESOURCE Scottish Government, Transport Scotland, SEPA

Transport Scotland, SEPA, Local Authorities, consultants, urban big data

Stakeholder survey Question Answer

Organisations to include?

Planning, development control, local businesses, operators

Training needs? Dispersion modelling, sensitivity analysis

Main Challenges? Traffic counts, funding, complexity of modelling, stakeholder acceptance

Other bodies to help?

Collate and provide transport data, training

Future key actions Training, robust peer review of process

Governance? Regular meetings, clear structure, open up models to scrutiny and peer review, right players, ability to procure specialist skills

Observations? Very little time to acquire and share knowledge (to become aware of AQMM), expert/specialist are key.

Stakeholder survey

Workshop introduction

• clear joint understanding of the tools we have at the moment

• what new decision making tools we need

• resources we have available to deliver these new tools