Air quality modelling

We are leading experts in developing the evidence needed to support robust policy development leading to sustainable development that delivers liveable cities and communities. Policies to improve air quality bring a wide range of co-benefits in climate mitigation and adaptation, improving public health, active mobility and digital connectivity, and enhancing social equity. We work with partners to deliver policies that deliver these benefits and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals.

Ricardo is working with major UK airports to assess the air quality in the vicinity of the airports and the airport’s contribution to it. Ricardo was involved in the assessment of both Heathrow's and Gatwick's submissions to the Airports Commission; the Development Consent Order (DCO) outlining Gatwick's plan to bring the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use; and the Heathrow Expansion Project. Ricardo continues to support UK airports with their planning and forecasting activities.

Ricardo is working alongside the oil and gas industry to evaluate, understand and mitigate its air quality impacts, in parallel with addressing climate and other sustainability issues. We are deploying state of the art emissions monitoring and environmental survey techniques to gather data in some of the most demanding environments. We are working alongside industrial operators, regulators and other stakeholders using state-of-the-art modelling techniques to design and deliver the improvements in air quality impacts that are needed for the industry to fulfil its responsibilities to protect local communities, nature conservation areas and the workforce.

Managing odours is often based on straightforward principles but can also be highly complex requiring detailed and robust evaluation and solutions. Ricardo's specialist odour team has the experience and resources to provide a comprehensive odour management service, from measurement of odours through modelling and impact assessment, to odour improvement and control. Alongside our process, environmental and energy management expertise, we operate a fully integrated, in-house, UKAS-accredited odour analysis service. We provide input at a national strategic level to set the baseline and policy framework for odour management and provide odour management services to a wide range of industries, including manufacturing industry, food and drink, waste/wastewater, local authorities and the legal sector. 

Our urban/rural air quality services focus on assessing and predicting air quality at the city/county level to inform local policy and urban planning. Using our proprietary RapidAIR model, we specialise in modelling road traffic emissions and other urban pollution sources. RapidAIR’s speed and precision in handling complex emission patterns within urban areas allows us to provide accurate, high-resolution insights that support targeted interventions and efficient city-wide air quality management. Other source types call for other models such as AERMOD, CALPUFF, GRAL, ADMS, ADMS-Roads and ADMS Airports- we are expert users of them all. We use the same suite of models to understand air quality impacts in rural settings where important habitats and agricultural resources can be compromised by air pollution. 

Our regional modelling solutions simulate the movement and transformation of pollutants over large areas, often spanning entire continents. By using state-of-the-art chemical transport models like CMAQ and WRF-Chem, we can evaluate how pollutants travel across jurisdictions and affect air quality in different locations. This approach allows for a deep understanding of transboundary pollution (including the role of precursors in secondary formation of ozone and particles) enabling our clients to collaborate on regional air quality strategies and meet regulatory standards. Accurate meteorological data is essential for reliable air quality predictions. Our meteorological modelling services use advanced tools to analyse atmospheric conditions, which play a critical role in pollutant dispersion and concentration. By incorporating meteorological models into our workflows, we provide a robust foundation for air quality assessments and predictions, supporting informed decision-making for pollution control and environmental planning.

We build sophisticated, containerised modelling systems for clients to host internally (or by us) that comprise user interfaces for models like AERMOD, CALPUFF and RapidAIR, alongside open-source GIS, data analysis and visualisation software. These virtualised computing resources are designed to address all of the main tasks required in typical air quality modelling studies, in a secure, scalable, open and repeatable desktop environment. These systems are typically part of a wider capacity building endeavour involving up-front training, documentation and sometimes with ‘on the job’ project level support. We also build virtualised and automated versions of WRF, WRF-Chem and CMAQ that can be deployed in our clients’ IT, backed by our expert trainers and developers.

We supported a port operator to design enhanced controls on dust from wood chip hopper units. Using CFD, we were able to understand the flow dynamics of the system and evaluate mitigation measures to improve control and reduce losses.