In today’s marketplace, there are many ambient air quality monitors capable of measuring multiple environmental parameters and pollutants in real-time. However, air quality monitors aren’t useful unless they are paired with an intelligent software platform in order to extrapolate the information and make it serviceable to operators and communities.

 Envirosuite has succeeded in embedded 30+ years or experience working with complex air quality and meteorology challenges directly into an advanced software platform. Users can make operational decisions based on insights from real-time air quality data and emissions modeling. Furthermore, they can identify the likely sources of air quality pollution from past incidents. 

The platform is currently used by over 500 industrial operations such as mines, oil refineries, maritime ports, construction sites but also for municipal authorities in cities. Noise management capabilities are also used at 200 of the world’s major airports.

Key modules and their functionalities

Envirosuite does just that and it is a global leader in Environmental Intelligence, using proprietary technology and real-time localized data to help industries grow sustainably and communities to thrive. The platform integrates with pre-existing monitoring devices that are capturing data on multiple air quality parameters. It is offered as SaaS (software-as-a-service) subscription supported by AWS cloud technology and is segmented into modular solutions for to assist with specific air quality challenges.

Environmental Compliance

The Environmental Compliance module displays air quality monitoring network data in real-time. This data is collected by monitoring sensors and meteorological stations. The ‘arcs of influence’ feature provides the user with a visualisation of problematic emission sources and where to focus mitigation efforts. This is accompanied by configurable reports and alerts to let the user know when a threshold has been breached. This module requires pre-installed air quality stations and sensors with meteorological stations for its operation.

Incident Intelligence

Incident Intelligence provides an ideal solution for when air quality complaints are lodged by a member of the community. The module uses algorithms built on meteorological data to produce a ‘backtrack’ and indicate the likely source of pollution. Users can determine if their site was or wasn’t responsible for causing the complaint. Complaint locations can be mapped and managed by a centralised ticketing system to be assigned to the person responsible. This module requires a weather station for its operation.

Impact Modelling

This module provides a 72-hour model of air quality emissions from a stationary source. A dispersion model plume is visualised according to meteorological conditions within a time scale of 72 hours. The model provides visualisations and calculations of pre-defined emission rates. The model also considers how specific industrial activities may affect air quality emissions (e.g. loading processes of minerals, unloading bulk cargo at ports). This can also be configured based on different operational scenarios according to site requirements. This module requires a weather station for its operation.

Meteorological forecasts that drive the Impact Modelling module are sourced from the NOAA and WRF services, adjusting it with the measurements collected by the meteorological station implemented in situ. The algorithms used are based on CALPUFF, a highly accurate non-static three-dimensional air quality model, ideal for coastal areas with different altitude gradients and different roughness in land use (sea/land).

Risk Management

The Risk Management module translates advanced weather models and data into clear actions for operational staff an industrial site according to specific shifts and hours of work. It provides 72-hour risk reports to operational staff with colour-coded reports and alerts. This information can be used to avoid incidents such as excess dust emission and plan for times of high risk.

For example, operational teams at a maritime port can schedule the best time to unload bulk cargo and unload operations according to when there’s a low risk of weather dispersing dust clouds into nearby communities. 

Conclusion

For companies that don’t have the resources to rely on specialist expertise can now rely on decision support from a fully integrated hardware and software implementation to analyse air quality impact quickly and easily. Envirosuite works with most of the 3rd-party air quality monitors and sensors in the market thanks to advanced algorithms, APIs, and embedded experience within the product.