Washington University & Delhi Pollution Control Committee to jointly work on the project for next 18 months

OFFICE OF THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENT
& FOREST

GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI

****

New Delhi: 07/01/2019Delhi govt
signs MoU with Washington University for joint study on air quality evaluation

·
Washington
University & Delhi Pollution Control Committee to jointly work on the
project for next 18 months

·
Real
time air quality monitoring and identification of air pollution sources all the
year round is the main target of the project

Delhi government
has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Washington University
(St Louise) to undertake a Real Time Source Apportionment Study in India’s
national capital to evaluate the air quality issues.

The MoU is aimed at
a joint study to be undertaken by the Washington University and the Delhi
Pollution Control Committee for the real time source apportionment with special
reference to PM 2.5. Analysis of elemental, organic carbon and 72 inorganic
elements will also be undertaken.

The project duration is 18 months, the work will be
undertaken by the personnel of the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory
(AAQRL); the laboratory has expertise to identify air quality problems and
suggesting the solutions to curtail the emission to reduce the air pollutant
release.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

1.      Real-time
monitoring and sampling of the particulate matter – PM 1, 2.5 and 10. Two
speciation monitors will be used in the project for obtaining composition of
PM2.5.

2.      Identification
of the sources of the respective particulate matter based on a real time
algorithm that will be developed.

3.      Data
analyses and algorithm development for identifying major source categories and
approaches to minimize and improve the Air Quality.

DELEVERABLES

As a
result of this project, the following will be achieved –

·
Air Quality data of real time monitored particulate matter (PM 1, 2.5
and 10) concentration, and the chemically speciated data at one site in Delhi.

·
Demonstration of an algorithm for real – time source apportionment of
the respective particulate matter over the period of time. The data will help
understanding the source profile need to be regulated for the effective
improvement of the air quality in the city.

·
Wireless sensors will be deployed together with developed algorithm,
help monitoring real-time air quality and the source at selected locations in
the city.

·
The real time data will help policy development to regulate and improve
the air quality, whereas the state of art instrument demonstration will lead a
path of capacity building development.

·
Testing and identifying the source of the air pollution and chemical
composition of various PMs.

·
Identify the factor affecting the quantities of emissions of various
pollutants from different sources.

·
Conclusions and policy recommendations for air pollution control.