Abu Dhabi: The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has developed and implemented a bespoke Air Quality Modeling System.
The system will support regulation through the assessment of cumulative air quality impacts expected from new facilities and urban development projects. It reduces public exposure to air pollution and supports the improvement in air quality across Abu Dhabi.
The system will also provide expert technical support, training, and capacity building to enable the identification of pollution hotspots where elevated pollutant concentrations occur. It will further help the development of detailed Emirate-wide annual air quality maps.
The air quality maps of Abu Dhabi will complement EAD’s ambient air quality monitoring network and assist in the evaluation of dispersion modeling for Environmental Impact Assessments.
Eng. Faisal Al Hammadi, Executive Director of the Environmental Quality Sector at EAD, stated that, “Air pollution represents the biggest environmental threat to human health. Therefore, robust evidence-based tools and systems are required to enable the effective management of air quality, to support the identification and selection of measures that will reduce air pollution and protect human and environmental health.”
In addition, the new modeling system will support the assessment of air pollution control plans, regulations, and strategies for the attainment and maintenance of acceptable air quality and provide projections of future air quality trends associated with regional planning options.
Mr. Al Hammadi pointed out that, “As our mandate is the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, we have developed a bespoke Air Quality Modeling System for the Emirate that will strengthen our ability to secure better air quality for all. Science-based decision-making and advanced technologies will create the optimum balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social wellbeing.”
Air quality modeling will support several of EAD’s strategic partners, such as the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Abu Dhabi Executive Office (ADEO), Department of Health (DOH), Abu Dhabi Police, Department of Municipalities and Transports (DMT), Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED), Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DOE), and ADNOC Group, among others.