Odour

Odour impact assessment

Odour assessment can be a complicated business. Not all odour assessments are the same, just as not all odours or sources are the same. Odours are often received in the community in many different ways, with some odours going unnoticed by some people while causing annoyance to others. This makes the measurement, characterisation and assessment of what causes odour nuisance in the community very complex.

Air Environment has experience in assessing odour impact in many different ways. Whether it is sampling and testing odour emissions at the source, ambient odour monitoring in the receiving environment, measurement of odorous compounds, dispersion modelling or other techniques, we have you covered.

We take a dynamic approach to odour assessment and will select the most appropriate tools and techniques at our disposal to find the best outcome for all. This may mean that various methods are employed to solve a complex odour issue.

Speak to us today about odour impact assessments.

Odour sampling

Our team has a comprehensive understanding of odour emissions and how to sample and assess them. Different emission sources require different sampling methods. From stack emissions using a simple and direct vacuum chamber method to more complex sources that require a dynamic flux chamber, wind tunnel or static chamber device, and other unconventional emission sources, we can select the most appropriate method to assess your activity. Our specially designed odour sampling and testing programs form the basis of developing your site’s odour emissions inventory for use in an odour impact assessment.

The inventory can be used to initiate a dispersion model for an odour impact assessment or used in a source-impact apportionment study to develop a strategic odour emissions management and control program.

Speak to one of our odour experts today about an odour monitoring program for your business.

Odour testing

Odour emissions can cause nuisance in the community through different mechanisms and not all odorous emissions provide the same response in individuals. Nuisance caused by odours can be attributed to many factors such as the odour’s concentration, its perceived intensity and unpleasantness. An odour’s character and the frequency and persistence of the experience are also key factors in contributing to nuisance effects.

It is common practice for only the odour concentration to be tested and used to develop an odour emission rate for application in dispersion modelling. However, we view this approach as only telling a fraction of the story and it assumes that the human experience of all odours is the same.

At Air Environment, we like to investigate the whole story. We have expert knowledge in a range of odour testing techniques and methods from the laboratory to the field and like to understand the full odour experience. This means differentiating between the good and not so good odours and the responses of people affected.

By testing an odour’s concentration and its perceived intensity and unpleasantness above its threshold, and assessing its impact frequency and duration through modelling, a more comprehensive assessment of impact and nuisance potential can be made.

Speak to us about the odour testing you need to make the most out of your odour impact assessment.

Ambient odour monitoring

Air Environment can monitor the impact that odours are having on the community.

Our patrols can chase specific odour plumes or monitor odour at fixed locations. This allows us to measure the impact of a facility’s emissions on the whole community, or the impact of a range of odour-generating activities on a sensitive land user.

These field-based ambient odour surveys are a key monitoring tool to identify odour sources, to understand the way they are dispersing, and to measure the strength, persistence and frequency of impact on the community. We can identify which odour sources have the most effect, under which weather conditions, and if neighbouring facilities are also contributing.

Air Environment’s consultants have performed many hundreds of ambient odour surveys around many different odour emission sources.  Source activities monitored include: sewage treatment plants, landfills, alternative waste treatment technology plants, waste transfer stations, regulated liquid waste treatment plants, composting facilities, crude and edible oil processing refineries, alumina refineries, poultry farms, abattoirs and rendering facilities, food production plants and motor vehicle manufacturing plants.

We can conduct regular measurement surveys over a set period of time to ensure we provide the full picture of what is happening at different times of day, seasons and weather conditions.

Speak to us today about monitoring odour impact.

Odour dispersion modelling

A computer-based dispersion model can assess a facility or community’s potential exposure to odours. This can be used to estimate odour emissions during the planning and approval phase of an upcoming development, as well as looking at existing sources.

Our team is experienced in the entire range of advanced odour dispersion models and techniques, so we can best meet the specific needs of each client and project.

Odour emission sources come in all shapes and sizes, from a tall stack, flare or short roof vent to a fugitive release from a building, pond or stockpile, to a section of linear infrastructure such as a road, rail line or conveyor. No matter how complex the source is, we can model and assess it.

Risk assessment

An odour impact assessment is typically based on a prediction of ground-level concentrations of certain odours in a specific area. However such an assessment rarely provides a ‘black and white’ outcome, due to the range of assumptions made and the inherent uncertainties present in emissions measurement, estimation and modelling.

A risk assessment can put the results into context and provide clarity and confidence to decision-makers over what the likely risks to the business or community are.

Environmental protection license

Air Environment can help ease the negotiation of your environmental license conditions.

Stack emission limits, odour concentration targets of control equipment, ambient air quality objectives and air quality monitoring requirements can be set as part of a new facility’s environmental protection license conditions. We can help you make sense of these conditions and provide advice as to whether the conditions can be met.

Air Environment can also undertake an audit of your facility to determine whether it complies with the air quality related conditions of the environmental protection license.

Odour policy and standards

Are you confused by odour policies and standards? Not sure of the difference between a standard, an objective, a goal and an exposure limit? What is the difference between a ground level concentration standard and an emission concentration standard? What is the meaning of the percentiles in odour impact assessment criteria? Why are the criteria based on averages and why are all the averaging periods different, with some for short term sub-hourly periods and some for longer term daily, monthly, seasonal or even annual periods?

Air quality assessment policy and standards are some of the most complex in the environmental field. The Air Environment team are experienced in all aspects of air quality policy and assessment through their exposure to a broad spectrum of Australian and international air quality and odour projects.

Our people have also worked in government as policy makers and regulators, and also on research projects to advise policy development.

We would love to answer any questions you have on air policy and regulations.

Expert advice and testimony

At Air Environment, our basic tenet is the provision of independent expert advice. We will apply a rigorous and robust assessment approach and provide our honest opinion of your project’s merits. We will offer realistic solutions to try to overcome any potential roadblocks to your project’s success.

We can also provide support to your project through negotiations with regulators including the EPA or local council or through an appeals process in the Land and Environment Court or a tribunal hearing.

Technical review

A technical or third party peer review of your existing air quality data and assessment reports can strengthen your project at the development approval stage or in response to a request for an environmental evaluation or compliance audit.

We can save you money and time by identifying existing weaknesses and opportunities for expansion within your reports, to increase the likelihood of your project being approved the first time.

Our scientists have a foot in either camp, with experience in both industry and regulatory bodies. For example, Air Environment consultants have worked for EPAs and understand the regulatory process, and we regularly assist environmental regulators and local governments with technical reviews and advice for environmental evaluations, compliance audits and development approvals.

This means we know what the regulators need and how to speak their language, helping to ensure your proposal complies with all its legal requirements.