About the project
The amount of air pollutants (especially pollutant gases and particulates) emitted to the atmosphere in Lower Silesian Voivodeship is one of the highest in Poland. The main source of air pollution is local anthropogenic (connected with human activity) emission, consisting of individual emission (e.g. exhaust fumes from home coal furnaces ), public utilities sector, transport emission (exhaust fumes) as well as industrial emission from power plants and other facilities. Furthermore, there are also pollutants brought in the atmosphere through long distance transport from remote sources, located behind the voivodeship and country borders.
The biggest problem connected with air quality in the area of Lower Silesian Voivodeship is the high level of air pollution caused by particulate matter, benzopyrene (a substance that occurs in smoke) and tropospheric ozone.
Pollutants concentration in Lower Silesian Voivodeship is characterized by spatial variation depending not only on the location and distribution of emission sources but also on environmental conditions i.e. land relief or atmospheric processes.
The Project LIFE-APIS/PL was created to help solve the problem of excessive air pollution in Lower Silesia. Thus a part of the project will be a system of information tools designed to support environmental decisions being taken at the area of Lower Silesia. Great emphasis will also be placed on rise of the ecological awareness of residents, especially by increasing access to the information about the quality of the surrounding environment. In the longer perspective the indirect impact of the project should help improve the air quality in Lower Silesia area and thereby ameliorate the quality of life in our region.
The main objective of LIFE-APIS/PL:
Creation of an integrated system designated to provide information about threats connected with air pollution and adverse biometeorological conditions for the area of Lower Silesia
Main task:
Planning and implementation of the three following systems:
- Air quality modeling system
- Air quality information system
- Support system for air quality management
Duration of the project:
1 October 2013 – 30 September 2017
Project area:
Lower Silesian Voivodeship with particular emphasis on areas of high population density
Expected results:
Establishment of a geoportal website providing open access to air quality and biometeorological forecasts with particular regard to alerts about exceeding the permissible values of air quality an biometeorological indices.
Project receipients
- individual recipients: residents of Lower Silesia
- institutions: local authorities, authorities of local government administration in Lower Silesian Voivodeship, municipal services and health service
Methodological assumptions:
The project LIFE-APIS/PL will create an integrated and innovative supporting system for environmental management. It will combine various methods to provide acheivement of best possible results in the field of modeling and forecasting of air quality and biometeorological conditions.
It’s activity will be supplemented with data from the Lower Silesia air quality monitoring system as well as results of in situ measurements obtained through use of an advanced mobile meteorological station.
The Project LIFE-APIS/PL is to provide a quick and reliable way of supplying decision-making bodies and residents of Lower Silesia with essential information and warnings concerning air pollution and biometeorological conditions. The system will provide tools allowing air quality management and implementation of effective environmental planning.
