Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) Tools

Defra and the Devolved Administrations have provided a range of tools to assist local authorities with the Air Quality Review and Assessment process. These tools are all available online and can be downloaded.

Below, we provide introductions to each of the following tools, with links:

• NO₂ Diffusion Tubes
• VCM Correction
• Monitoring
• Emissions Tools
• Modelling Tools
• Background Maps
• Emission Factor Toolkit
• Report Submission Website
• FAQs
• Helpdesks

Please note that the majority of the links below will link to external Defra websites, which open will in a new window.

The tools are available to download in a variety of file formats although mainly in .pdf and .xls formats. Some of the tools contain macros and some users of MS Excel may need to alter their macro security settings to get these tools to run.

NO₂ Diffusion Tubes

A range of tools and guidance has been produced by Defra and the Devolved Administrations, to assist local authorities using diffusion tubes. The tools include:

• Guidance on precision and accuracy
• Guidance on calculation and use of bias adjustment factors
• The national database of bias adjustment factors
• Practical guidance on the use of diffusion tubes

VCM Correction

• King's College London have developed a new model to correct TEOM PM₁₀ concentrations to "gravimetric equivalent" values, based on the concentrations of the volatile PM₁₀ fraction, measured by FDMS analysers. The Volatile Correction Model is accessed via web portal

Monitoring

Tools for monitoring data including:&

• NO₂ Fall off with distance - A calculator has been produced which estimates the annual mean nitrogen dioxide concentration at one distance from a road, using measurements made at a different distance from the same road.
• NO_x to NO₂ calculator - This calculator allows local authorities to derive NO₂ from NO_x wherever NO_x is predicted by modelling emissions from roads. The calculator can also be used to calculate the road component of NO _x from roadside NO₂ diffusion tube measurements.
• Year adjustment factors

Emissions Tools

• A suite of tools are available to help local authorities assess their local emissions

Modelling Tools

• Download tools related to air quality modelling and screening

Background Maps

• UK background pollution maps and associated tools are available for download

Emission Factor Toolkit

• The Emissions Factors Toolkit (EFT) assists local authorities in carrying out Review and Assessment of local air quality as part of their duties under the Environmental Act 1995.

Report Submission Website

• Local Authorities are required to use the LAQM Report Submission Website for electronic submission of their Updating and Screening assessments, Progress Reports, Detailed Assessment and Further Assessments. The RSW does not allow submission of Action Plans and these should be submitted directly to your Devolved Administration representative.

FAQs

• LAQM related Frequently Asked Questions

Helpdesks

• The Local Air Quality Management Helpdesk provides answers to Local Authorities' questions on air quality monitoring, modelling and emissions inventories, information and guidance to assist Local Authorities in carrying out the Local Air Quality Review and Assessment process required under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and information and guidance to assist Local Authorities in preparing and implementing Air Quality Action Plans for improvement of local air quality.