Latest weapon in smog war was developed by a Canadian firm

By S. Craig Hunt, Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc.

Dr. Anton Davies (second from left), former Minister of the Environment, Dan Newman, and Brenda Elliott, MPP for Guelph, during Regional Airshed Model presentation by Xin Qiu of RWDI.

Industries, governments and public health organizations now have access to an important, new and proven technological tool that can help better understand the contributing sources of air pollution and resolve urban air quality and pollution problems in a very cost-effective and timely manner. Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin Inc., an international consulting engineering firm based in Guelph, Ontario, claims to be the only firm in Canada to offer the technology to clients on an ongoing basis.

The Regional Airshed Modelling Framework (i.e. "Models 3/CMAQ" Modelling System: or "Models-3") technology is a proven state-of-the-art computer hardware and software system that scientists can use to simulate and forecast how atmospheric pollution forms and behaves under various weather conditions. The system acts as a 'pollution weather map'.

For example, the formation of pollutants that have negative health effects, such as ozone and fine particulate matter, can be simulated in the Models-3 system. Simulations can be made to analyze and predict the formation of ozone and fine particulates under many different weather scenarios. Realistic and cost-effective steps can now be taken to improve upon a region's air quality. The simulations can show the effect of mitigation measures, such as reducing vehicular traffic, using alternative fuels, or decreasing industrial and household emissions and their effect on the formation of ozone and fine particulate matter. Realistic steps can be identified to reduce the destructive nature of ozone.

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