A modelling system for air quality management

To develop effective air quality management strategies at regional and urba n levels requires the preparation of several actions belonging to different scientific areas and analysis of their complex interactions. A well struct ured management system must be based on efficient tools that integrate dive rse sets of information - emissions, traffic, meteorological variables and air quality data. Ideally, such a system should include appropriate modelli ng tools that could be used to perform spatial interpolation and air qualit y forecasts. This paper will describe the modelling system developed for pr edicting the emissions (emission pre-processor), dispersion and chemical tr ansformation of pollutants in urban areas and its application for two sites in Portugal (Lisbon and Oporto). For predicting the concentration fields, all categories of sources are taken into account, namely stationary point a nd area sources and traffic. This allows the construction of an urban air q uality management system for decision support.