Air Quality Software
- brendan mccormack
- Jul 2
- 6 min read
Air Quality Software has transformed Air Quality Assessments from time-consuming work into a smooth and efficient process. Built by air quality consultants, the software has been designed to empower consultants by automating manual repetitive tasks.
This article walks you through our air quality software as a service (SaaS) and explains how it has improved the air quality assessment process. Click here to learn more about the air quality assessment.
First check out our air quality software highlights video:
Improving Air Quality Assessments:
More Accurate Methods
Traditionally, air quality consultants manually measure or estimate critical data points such as vehicle speeds and road widths. This approach often leads to inconsistencies and human error, affecting the accuracy of results.
Air Quality Software eliminates these inaccuracies by automating data retrieval from verified and up-to-date sources. By ensuring the use of precise data and reliable methodologies, we significantly improve the accuracy of air quality dispersion models. Air Quality Software provides air quality consultants with the confidence that their air quality assessments are based on the best available information.
Removing Model Limitations
A major limitation in air quality modelling is the time constraint imposed on air quality consultants. Due to deadlines and manual restraints, models are often built smaller and less complex than they should be, leading to suboptimal results.
These results are reflected in the verification process, which cause air quality consultants to redo models several times in order to get the results at a sufficient standard.
Air Quality Software integrates with the ADMS dispersion model and automates much of the air quality modelling process. Air quality consultants can now build larger, more detailed models without sacrificing time. This ultimately reduces the need for re-running or altering models to meet required standards, significantly saving time completing air quality assessments.
Faster Turnarounds
Efficiency is at the core of Air Quality Software. By optimising nearly every aspect of the air quality assessment process, we have achieved an average 80% reduction in the time required to complete an air quality assessment.
It gives air quality consultants more time to focus on critical aspects of the air quality assessment and enables consultants to meet tight deadlines without compromising on accuracy.
Enhancing Productivity and Job Satisfaction
Beyond efficiency and accuracy, Air Quality Software has had a positive impact on productivity and job satisfaction. By automating repetitive tasks and eliminating manual data analysis, air quality consultants are empowered to focus on higher-value work. This not only improves overall workflow but also enhances job satisfaction by reducing tedious, time-consuming tasks.
How does Air Quality Software work?
Centralised Database:
Air Quality Assessments for planning require a lot of data from many sources, a process that is tedious and time-consuming for consultants. To save time spent on data retrieval and to improve decision making, we built a centralised database to store all necessary data.
The following are a few examples of how it is used in Air Quality Software and the benefits it offers.
Monitoring Data:
Every local authority in the UK uploads their own air quality monitoring data and local policy. With 382 local authorities, accessing and managing this data every assessment is a lengthy process.
How our database helps:
Automated retrieval and updates: We extract and store all of this public air quality data so consultants can receive data without collection. By implementing tools such as website tracking and data expiry, we keep everything up to date.
Interactive mapping: Air Quality Software presents monitoring sites on interactive maps with layers such as AQMAs, satellite imagery and monitoring info. This makes identifying the most representative stations easier.
Quick editing: We know data in Annual Status Reports can be incorrect so we have built features to allow consultants to easily move monitoring locations and change their heights.
Traffic Data:
When traffic flows aren’t provided, consultants rely on sources like DfT (Department for Transport) and LAEI (London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory).
How our database helps:
Closest source detection: Air Quality Software automatically retrieves the closest, most representative traffic sources and assign these values to road links in our model.
Comprehensive traffic flow mapping: It provides the user with traffic flows for all roads within the vicinity the development. This allows the user to easily observe which roads have the largest contributions so can take priority when modelling.
Automated traffic network suggestions: Using traffic flows, site and monitoring locations, it can provide a network of suggested roads - freeing up time from manually adding each road. Consultants are left to add or remove links based on professional judgement.
Meteorological Data:
Meteorological data is an critical input in air quality dispersion models. It influences where pollutants travel and how pollutants they are dispersed.
How our database helps:
Instant access to verified datasets: We have collected and processed, meteorological data from all UK meteorological stations. This ensures air quality consultants no longer require to process the data themselves or collect from expensive suppliers.
Automatic station matching: Air Quality Software identifies and retrieves the most appropriate meteorological station to be used in the air quality assessment.
Topographical data:
Topography influences pollutant dispersion through terrain features, road inclines, and the built environment. Accurate topographical consideration leads to more realistic predictions and faster model verification.
How our database helps:
Automated road gradient mapping: Air Quality Software maps gradients for all modelled roads. Since steep inclines increase vehicle emissions this improves emission accuracy and concentration predictions in hilly areas.
Dynamic street canyon modelling: The platform automatically incorporates 3D building geometry into dispersion models. This feature is especially useful in urban environments, where street canyons significantly affect airflow and pollutant dispersion.
No manual input required: Consultants no longer need to source, calculate, or manually input terrain data. Our automated integration handles it all - allowing consultants to model real-world conditions in just a few clicks.
Automated Report:
The report is the most important part of the air quality assessment, it represents the final product of all prior analysis. Air Quality Software contains autogenerating reports to save air quality consultants time from manually writing them.
The following shows our approach to report optimisation by breaking report content into 4 categories: Unconditional, Preconditional, Conditional, and Contextual responses. We use this framework to identify the most effective methods for optimising each category of content.
1. Unconditional: Standardised Text
Unconditional content forms the backbone of every report, ensuring consistency and professionalism. This includes:
Titles/Subtitles
Methodologies
Limitations
These elements remain the same across all reports and serve as the foundation of templates, saving time and ensuring uniformity.
2. Preconditional: Established Information
Preconditional content consists of data that is either:
Provided by the client (e.g., client name, development location).
Generated during the assessment process (e.g., pollutant concentrations, verification factors).
This information is directly integrated into the report, eliminating repetitive copy-pasting and reducing the chance of errors.
3. Conditional: "If" Statements for Dynamic Content
Conditional content is flexible and adapts to specific circumstances. It allows reports to respond dynamically to various scenarios. Examples include:
If a development is not Air Quality Neutral, include specific recommendations or details.
If the site is located within an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), automatically incorporate the relevant information.
What mitigations to apply based on the dust assessment results.
This dynamic approach ensures that every report is tailored to the project’s unique requirements without additional manual adjustments.
4. Contextual: Summaries and Conclusions
Contextual content is automatically generated by combining established data and conditional responses, creating detailed summaries tailored to each project.
By labelling each category of content in the report, consultants are able to review assessments more efficiently. Air Quality Software enables air quality consultants to spend less time focussing on unconditional/preconditional aspects of the report and more time on crucial aspects like conditional/contextual areas - ultimately allowing faster reviewing.
Feature Review: Construction Phase Dust Assessment
Dust risk assessments are part of every Air Quality Assessment, making it a important component to be optimised. Here’s how Air Quality Software optimises dust risk assessments to improve efficiency and accuracy for consultants.
Optimising the workflow:
Interactive Mapping: The development of an interactive map in our consultant UI allows users to upload the site boundary and easily draw along roads. This feature completely automates the production of figures needed for the assessment.
Leveraging Professional Judgment: By embedding Google street view in the UI, consultants can quickly evaluate the sensitivity of surrounding area. After reviewing all inputs and results, they can make choose to make necessary manual adjustments in the size of construction categories or proceed straight to the report.
Dust Assessment Automation:
Automated Buffers and Receptor Identification: Once the site boundary and roads are set, Air Quality Software automatically generates buffers. The integration of APIs and databases allows for identification of sensitive and ecological receptors within these zones.
Mitigation Suggestions: Air Quality Software is able to automatically retrieve required mitigation measured based on the type and size of each phase and according to the sensitivity of the area.
Air Quality Report:
All dust assessment data is stored and used to populate the air quality assessment report. Air Quality Software automatically categorises this content using our structured framework (Unconditional, Preconditional, Conditional, and Contextual), making it easier for consultants to review, adjust if needed, and finalise.
Air Quality SaaS for Air Quality Consultants
We are thrilled to deliver Air Quality Software to other air quality consultants so they can take control of their time and provide their clients with the highest quality reports in the industry.
We are committed to continuous development, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and increasing the number of services Air Quality Software can provide. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the progress of the industry, ensuring better assessments, better data, and better air quality for everyone.
Interested in streamlining your air quality assessments? Sign up for a free trial
