An automated web-based system for air quality monitoring

The automated measuring station for monitoring air quality at the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH) determines the mass concentration of pollutants in ambient air by automatic analyzers. Adoption of the EC Directive (91/692/EC), the Croatian Environment Agency (CEA) introduced Environmental Information System (EIS) for the Republic of Croatia. Accordingly, the specialized information system at the IMROH provides two functionalities: creation of an Air Quality Data Exchange Module (DEM) using monitoring station data from an existing database and timely transmission of the results to the CEA. This paper presents the system, which is based on a three-tier client-server architecture for the Web, and the most significant applications developed for different user groups. The two main applications are IMI DEM Maker and a Web application that creates graphic and numeric reports on hourly air pollutant concentrations and calculates? minimum, maximum, and average values. This information is used for monitoring and comparison with data obtained at other monitoring stations in the Croatian air monitoring network. In 2004, the Croatian Environment Agency (CEA) started to apply the so called Environmental Information System (EIS) introduced in the EU by the EC Directive 91/692/EC. This system has been implemented by the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH) since 2009 to monitor ambient air quality using an automated station. It allows for immediate exchange of air quality data with the CEA. This paper presents the system's three tier client-server architecture for the Web and the most significant applications developed for different user groups. The two most relevant applications are the IMI DEM Maker, which creates air quality data exchange modules (DEM) and a Web application Air Quality monitor, which creates hourly graphic and numeric reports on air pollutant concentrations, presented as ranges and averages. This information is used for air quality monitoring and comparison with data obtained at other monitoring stations in the Croatian air monitoring network.