Database for Annual Processing and the Air Quality Information System
This Yearbook is the result of annual data processing, especially of the
systematically collected air pollution, emission and deposition data stored in
the respective databases of the Air Quality Information System (ISKO). ISKO has
been developed and operated since the beginning of 1992. The system is based on
state-of-the-art information technologies and it represents an integrated system
for nation-wide comprehensive assessment of the status and development of air
quality. The system includes the collection, storage and processing of data from
automatic and manually-operated air pollution monitoring networks in the Czech
Republic, and the storage and processing of data on emissions and air pollution
sources. The Internal (later Air Pollution) Information System (IIS) has become
an integral part of ISKO, as have other air quality databases, especially data
entered in the register of emissions from extra large and large pollution
sources (REZZO 1) and also the data on chemical composition of precipitation and
atmospheric deposition. In 1993 the emission database was extended to include
the outputs of medium-sized, individually monitored air pollution sources (REZZO
2). Together with air pollution data also supplementary meteorological data
measured at the majority of automated air pollution stations are stored in the
database.
The Air Quality Information System collects and generally provides access to
data gathered within major ambient air pollution monitoring networks. It thus
provides for a more effective and general utilisation of the expensive data. The
integrated regionalised evaluation of air pollution levels, and analysis of the
development over time of the status of air pollution in the Czech Republic would
not be feasible without collecting and archiving systematically at one place all
the air pollution data available.
A number of the institutions mentioned earlier have been contributing to the air
pollution database for many years. Information on the concentrations of sulphur
dioxide and suspended particulate matter (SPM) obtained from the CHMIs stations
in northern Bohemia and in Prague, has been archived since 1971. In 2005, air
pollution data were stored and processed from 230 localities in the Czech
Republic and from 11 Polish border stations.
In accordance with the current legislation, the Czech Environmental Inspectorate
and the authorities of basic administrative units with extended competencies
ensure the verification of data from operational summaries. The operational
summaries constitute the basic source of information for processing the REZZO 1
and REZZO 2 databases.
Methodical development and technical provision for annual nation-wide procession
and keeping of records of the REZZO 1 and REZZO 2 databases are carried out by
CHMI. In the framework of the emission coverage of ISKO the annual overviews of
emission data and supplementary technical information have been filed since
1993, from about 2200 large sources and technical provision has been made for
data service including preprinted forms of operation records. Within the REZZO 2
database files are kept of emission and supplementary technical data from more
than 30,000 medium-sized sources, including data service.
Emissions from small sources (household heating units) are inventoried according
to the methodology of data processing based on the 1991 and 2001 General Census.
Its output includes information on the consumption of principal fuels in
households. The data are regularly (once a year) updated in cooperation with
regional fuels and energy suppliers. The final output of the REZZO 3 database
consists in data on emission of pollutants and on fuel composition for household
heating units at local level. The total balance of small sources does not
include data on emission from small plants for which payments are made to the
local and municipal authorities. Data on emissions from REZZO 4 sources cover
road, railway, water and air transport based on processing by the Transport
Research Centre (CDV) in Brno. Since 1996 the REZZO 4 database has included also
data on emissions from agricultural and forest machinery processed by the
Research Institute of Agricultural Technology (VÚZT) in Prague. On the basis of
information on total consumption of fuels calculations have been made of
emissions from further mobile sources (building machines, in-plant transport and
army vehicles) since 1997.
Fig. -1 schematically depicts ISKOs links
to data sources and co-operating systems. The scheme outlines the
interconnection of air quality monitoring networks and sources of data on air
emission with data processing and information layers represented by ISKO, and
the linkage to a higher-level layer – cross-sectional information systems. The
actual interconnection is carried out through exchange of data by e-mail, on
magnetic media, over switched data lines and, in case of data from the automated
air pollution monitoring (AIM) network, mainly over radio transmission.
Since 1993, both the Tabular Survey and the Yearbook have been completely
produced with the help of a computer system based on an innovated concept. It
consists of a computer network around a database server with the multi-user
relational database system installed and working under the Unix operating system.
The new data model ISKO2 project was implemented in 2003 under RSBMS Oracle.
ISKO2 meets the growing demands on data presentation in various forms incl.
internet publication. The concept of the system is based on distributed
processing in local networks on the workstations and PCs, with direct access of
processing and analytical programs – such as the Geographic Information System (ARC/INFO
and ArcView), statistical programs (SPSS, Systat), spreadsheet and graphic
programs – to the data stored in the central database which features
uninterrupted and backed-up operation.
The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has its regional offices in all the
former regional capitals; these are mainly concerned with measurements, and data
collection and data initial processing within their respective regions. The
offices are connected to the central system in Prague via CHMIs private WAN
data network operating with TCP/IP protocol. The selected information, tables,
graphs and maps on air quality published in the Tabular Survey and in the
Yearbook are accessible in the internet, where you can find other surveys relevant to
ambient air pollution.
Fig. –1 Scheme of ISKOs links to data sources and co-operating systems
