R. Halsey et al., Pre-construction assessment of odour generation potential for a combined indoor/outdoor facility, PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPOSTING SYMPOSIUM (ICS'99), VOLS 1 AND2, 2000, pp. 571-578
Nova Scotia Composting Guidelines require the proponent to complete atmosph
eric dispersion modeling as part of the application for approval to constru
ct and operate an open-windrow composting facility. This paper will describ
e the odour modeling method developed for use with the Industrial Source Co
mplex Short Term (ISCST3) air dispersion model and its use for odour impact
analysis. The paper highlights methods used to customize the model for use
in modeling of various design configurations, with several different odour
sources of varying emission rates. The paper also discusses the use of odo
ur sampling from existing facilities and its application in the modeling of
the odour impacts predicted for proposed facilities. Limitations of the mo
del and its use in certain situations are also highlighted. The use of GIS
technology in the presentation of odour dispersion modeling results is also
discussed. This type of presentation has been found to be an extremely eff
ective tool in communicating the results of odour dispersion modeling to re
gulators and the public. As a result of our iterative design process in con
junction with odour dispersion modeling of the various alternatives, we wer
e able to develop for the client a "low-tech, low-cost" compost technology
while assuring regulators and the residents surrounding the facility that t
his system would function with little or no odour impacts.