Scottish Air Quality Database Development Project update - Ruth McNeil, SEPA

1. Scottish Air Quality
Database & Website
Development Project
(SAQDDP)

2. Project Scope
• SEPA will be developing and improving data analysis
and visualisation on air quality in Scotland to enhance
the information available through the Air Quality in
Scotland website. Enhancements will be in the form of
both spatial and trend analysis web-based tools.
• The enhancements being developed by the SAQDDP
will be aimed at assisting Local Authorities in their Air
Quality duties (including any additional requirements
introduced through the Scottish Low Emissions
Strategy) and providing appropriate information for the
general public. They will provide added value to the
existing service

3. • Project runs in parallel to the current Scottish
Air Quality Database project which is
delivered by a Contractor on behalf of the
Scottish Government. It gathers monitoring
data from air quality monitoring sites across
Scotland and displays this information on the
Air Quality in Scotland website

5. Objectives
• Enhanced data analysis and data
visualisation. Including more
detailed local and regional maps
of air quality
• Incorporate additional data into
analysis e.g. Met Office and
Transport Scotland which adds
value to the information
• Deliver webpages to host the
enhancements on the Air Quality
in Scotland website
• Develop further links with other
sources of environmental
information in Scotland (e.g.
SEWeb)
• Develop proposals for future
enhancements of the service for
the users

6. Product Descriptions
• 4 PDs looking for any input by SUAQ Steering
Group:
Spatial Analysis
Trend Analysis Tool(s)
QA/QC of Additional Data
Webpages
• Remaining 3 PDs being drafted:
 Stakeholder Engagement
 Additional Services
 Future Development

7. Spatial Analysis

8. Spatial Analysis Methodology
• Methodology supporting
production of spatial
analysis tool(s).
• Developed at both a
regional and city scale
ensuring that high level
principles from
stakeholders inform
development.
• There is an identified need
that this be of comparable
standard to current national
delivery
• Input from Aberdeen City
Council Project and from
Monitoring and Modelling
Sub Group

9. Standardised Urban Model
• Concerns the space for
visualising the work
undertaken by the
Aberdeen City Council
Modelling Project.
• Requirements will be
identified for the storage of
any future models but it is
outwith scope to provide
the space for storage or
visualisation for any
additional models.

10. Forecasting and Hind-casting
Processes
• Need to define what is
meant by these and then
determine feasibility of
inclusion in current project
• Met Office already
produces an air quality
forecast so consideration
needs to be given to avoid
duplication
• For hind-casting historical
data availability may render
this impractical at present
instead may consider
bookmarking key historical
events and linking this
back to air quality
information

11. Spatial Data Analysis
Application(s)
• Anticipated to be
interactive Spotfire
applications at Regional
and City level as part of, or
supporting, interactive
maps.
• Aim to enable users to
interrogate air quality data
at various spatial levels.
• Will be visualised on the
webpages.
• There will be supporting
operating procedures on
use of these tool(s).

12. Spatial Analysis Enhancement
• Sets out process for
review/updating of spatial
analysis tool(s).
• Facilitates capture of
enhancements which may
fall outwith project scope or
outwith project timeframe.
• Establishes a timetable for
review of future
enhancements

13. Trend Analysis Tool(s)

14. Current Pollutant Trend Analysis
Application(s)
• (Refers to pollutants
currently available through
the Air Quality in Scotland
website) delivers tools to
develop new methods for
identifying trends, hotspots
and potential outliers in
datasets.
• Aimed at assisting LAs in
Air Quality duties and
appropriate info for the
general public.
• Key idea: these will provide
value add to the existing
service provision

15. New Pollutant Trend Analysis
Application(s)
• As for current pollutants
but for pollutants which are
not currently available or
reported through the Air
Quality in Scotland
website.
• Key idea: these will provide
value add to the existing
service provision
• Operating and Reporting
Procedure will be joint
between this and previous
sub-product

16. Trend Analysis Enhancement
As with Spatial Analysis:
•Sets out process for review/update.
•Facilitates capture of enhancements
which will fall outwith current project.
•Establishes a timetable for review.
•Additionally this also encompasses
consideration for developing a
Headline Air Quality Indicator,
reporting the state of the environment
for air and building on the deadline
indicator reported by DEFRA. This
should help to promote the protection
of human health by raising awareness.

17. QA/QC of Additional Data

18. Additional Site Record
• Provide a record of all Scottish monitoring
sites contributing to the Scottish air
quality network and will likely include:
SEPA managed volcanic sites, Transport
Scotland sites and Local Authority air
quality studies.
• The record will be supported by a
procedure to ease handing this over to
BAU

19. External Data Process
• Primary focus to ensure all external data is of
comparable quality (wherever possible) to the
data provided by the contractor.
• Process and procedure for incorporating
additional data to ensure value is added,
licence considerations are built in and
development needs are identified. This will
include a process for LA air quality models
but will not involve carrying out the QA/QC.
• This product will also outline SEPA’s
involvement in supporting the Low Emissions
Strategy specifically relating to the modelling
outputs.

20. Quality Assurance Procedure
• Putting in place written quality assurance
procedures for data (for SEPA sites, LA
models and citizen science data),
webpages and other procedures which may
become necessary under project scope.
• Data = comparable to that for AURN sites
with exception of citizen science data –
linked to Data Management Tool
• Webpages = to ensure that they run
seamlessly with SAQD website from
viewpoint of end user
• Other = of linked information and linked
portals, and for incorporating additional air
quality monitoring data

21. Webpages

22. Data Visualisation
• Webpages for displaying the regional
and city maps, trend and spatial analysis
tools and pilot model.
• It is likely that there will be 2 distinct
‘areas’ one of which will be password
protected for accessing the Aberdeen
City Council Pilot Model.
• The webpages will be visually
comparable to the Air Quality in Scotland
website.
• This product will also ensure licensing
and server arrangements are in place
and have clear procedures for handover
to BAU.

23. Linked Information and Portals
• Combined with Linked Portals for
more streamlined delivery.
• Identification of relevant information
and portals for inclusion on
SAQDDP webpages, e.g. SEWeb
linkages.
• Key idea: these will provide value
add to the existing service provision

24. Quality Assurance
• Ensure webpages run seamlessly with
SAQD website from viewpoint of end
user, linked with QA Procedure.
• Creation of webpage templates, style
guide and writing guide to ensure
integration of webpages with Air Quality
in Scotland website.
• This will also include a completed
Equalities Impact Assessment.

25. Service Level Agreement(s)
• Establishing acceptable levels of
service for webpages:
• external web server host
• internal technical team
• Scottish Government
• template agreement for the Website
Contractor

26. Stakeholder Engagement

27. Stakeholder Workshops
3 in total are proposed:
1st
(May 2015) Requirements Gathering
2nd
(Sept 2015) Tool Demonstration and
Feedback
3rd
(February 2016) Pre-Launch/Launch
Workshop

28. April Meeting Proposed Agenda