Consultancies Carried-out 

Air Quality Monitoring Programme - CAMP DATA

CAMP - Phase III

Monitoring of ambient air quality using automated systems

Scope: Recognizing the growing problem of air pollution and the importance of having a proper air quality monitoring system in the Colombo Urban area, World Bank mission in 1992 on the “Colombo Urban Transport Project” (CUTP) incorporated this monitoring programme as a tool for a proper air pollution management programme in Colombo with the objective of reducing air pollution in Colombo by year 2000.

Introduction:  Under this programme two fixed and one mobile air quality and meteorological monitoring stations were commissioned in December 1996. Each unit could measure ambient SO₂, NO, NO₂, NOx, CO, O₃, PM-10 levels and the meteorological parameters such as Wind Direction (WD), Wind Speed (WS), Vertical Wind Speed (VWS), Solar Radiation (SR), Ambient Temperature (ATE) and Precipitation (RF), continuously.

In compliance with the recommendation of the World Bank and the “Clean Air 2000” Action Plan Committee, this monitoring programme was executed by the Environmental Division of NBRO for the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).

FIXED STATION - MONITORING PROGRAMME

One of the fixed stations is located in front of the Fort Railway Station which functions as a peak air pollution monitoring station with respect to transport and the other fixed station is located at the premises Department of Metrology, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo – 07, functioning as a background air pollution monitoring station in Colombo City.

The data of these two monitoring stations are being sent to the Central Environmental Authority of Sri Lanka, weekly and monthly basis to disseminate to the public and also to make use of for regulatory activities.

MOBILE STATION - MONITORING PROGRAMME

The mobile laboratory was first used to crosscheck two fixed stations during the period April 1997 – May 1997.  Since then the Mobile Air Quality Monitoring Laboratory has been utilized for the following activities.

Out of these activities, monitoring of background air pollution at Hambantota, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Anuradhapura, Puttalam were carried out as a “Air Pollution Monitoring – Islandwide Programme” as per the recommendation made by the sub committee on air pollution monitoring under the “Clean Air 2000” action plan.

The locations were selected to represent the background air quality within the area.

Site Description :

Monitoring of Galle, Kalutara, Negambo and Kurunagela were carried out to see the urban pollution in those areas due to the mobile sources. This programme was carried out as per the instructions made by the Presidential Task force through Ministry of Forestry and Environment.

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