Sharjah - The initiative will see fixed monitoring stations situated in strategic locations across the emirate and a mobile station. quality. Public can access data from network in real time.
Published: Tue 8 Dec 2015, 2:40 PM
Updated: Tue 8 Dec 2015, 11:35 PM
As part of a nationwide mission to safeguard air quality in the UAE, Bee’ah, an environment and waste management company, has started monitoring atmospheric pollutants in Sharjah. The “very latest” in air monitoring technology is being used for the project, the company has said.
Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO at Bee’ah, said; “This development is of vital significance as we look to secure a sustainable future for Sharjah. Our ‘Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network’ will utilise state-of-the-art reference methods to keep track of a vast range of data, from the composition of the air we breathe to wide-ranging meteorological parameters.”
The initiative will see fixed monitoring stations situated in strategic locations across the emirate and a mobile station. Locations tentatively chosen so far include residential, industrial and traffic spots, and the American University of Sharjah.
The data collected will be uploaded in real time to a website that is accessible to the public. This data will in turn feed into the UAE’s national inventory, which will enable researchers and policy-makers to employ control measures.
Al Huraimel referred to the developments as “a turning point in our progress towards becoming a world leading environmental organisation”.
“Our vision is to become an environmental leader, and our mission is to take every step necessary to achieve that target. Protecting the air that we breathe is a critical step in our journey, one that ensures the health and well-being of our community. This is our highest priority.”
The next steps towards the initiative’s implementation include conducting an air quality assessment study and consulting with all regulating authorities to assess the locations of stations, parameters to be monitored and details of data acquisition, management, and distribution.
The Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Network features round-the-clock monitoring of key parameters including carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of sulfur (SOx), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), ozone (O3); and meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, and atmospheric pressure.
The initiative will see Sharjah rank among the few cities globally to have detailed scientific data collection across a host of locations, providing real time monitoring for a wide variety of variable air quality information. In all, it will measure 12 parameters, even though by federal law it is required to measure only four.
Al Huraimel emphasised Bee’ah’s “central role” in maintaining every aspect of Sharjah’s environmental well-being, beyond its focus on air quality.
“We’re dramatically reducing Sharjah’s carbon footprint and emissions to ensure sustainability for future generations. We’ve built up the largest fleet of green street cleaning vehicles in the region. We’re constantly innovating. And we’re a pioneering force in environmental education, this year reaching 200,000 students through our Sharjah environmental awareness awards.”
Scavenger issue will be addressed
Speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Press conference to announce the initiative, Al Huraimel said Bee’ah is aware of the environmental hazards posed by scavengers. They dig out items from garbage cans, scattering rubbish all over the place.
Al Huraimel said the company has started replacing existing garbage cans with new ones, making it impossible for scavengers to access.
He said the company is coordinating with the departments concerned to control scavenging, which is an illegal activity.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com
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