Satellite-assisted Management of Air Quality

Actions

• Data collection on main anthropogenic emissions and on population vulnerability with regard to adverse effects of atmospheric pollutants on human health.  The data will be collected via questionnaires to the local economic actors and population, as well as analytical (bottom-up) emissions accounting based on the operational characteristics of the main industrial point and area sources. The CORINAIR methodology of the EC will be used and the national emissions factors for Greece will be adapted to reflect the local and regional reality with regard to emissions in Western Macedonia.
• Design and implementation of a dedicated integrated environmental information management system operating at the regional and local level.
• Fusion of air pollution data from ground measurements and satellite remote sensing to derive comprehensive validated maps of airborne pollution loading at the regional and local levels.
• Design and optimisation of a regional air quality monitoring system through the combined use of ground measurements and satellite-derived indicators of air pollution loading at the local and regional levels.
• Training seminars for personnel of the local/regional competent authorities for air quality management on running the environmental information management system and the air quality monitoring network
• Biomonitoring campaign to assess the actual risk that airborne pollutants pose on the health of vulnerable population in Western Macedonia.
• Conception, assessment and implementation onset of alternative scenarios in order to identify the optimal cost-effective means to curb air pollution and alleviate pressure on human health in the area of Western Macedonia.
• Organisation of dissemination seminars/events targeting the local community in Kozani and other cities of Western Macedonia, focusing on environmental NGOs and environmental science students and professionals; organisation of international inter-regional workshop on advanced air pollution management at the local and regional levels, with the participation of regional authorities from heavily polluted new Member States and the Balkans in particular