Information for air data users

Overview

The Alberta Air Data Warehouse is an access point to retrieve data and information related to air quality and industrial air emissions. The data provided may be used for various purposes such as air dispersion modelling, air quality research, compliance investigations, or general environmental awareness.

To access air quality datasets housed in the Alberta Air Data Warehouse, see:

• Access air data

The information below describes the available datasets and gives users guidance on data extraction and use. Data extracts are typically presented in comma-separated values (CSV) format for use in spreadsheets or other applications. Knowledge of these programs is helpful to use and interpret the data.

References are provided below for further information on air data definitions, collection and submission.

Ambient Air Data Search

Ambient air is the air outside, external to structures, that is normally monitored at ground level. Ambient air quality is measured in communities and anywhere beyond the fence line of an industrial facility.

The Alberta Air Data Warehouse provides access to three different ambient air data extracts:

• Industrial Ambient – Air quality stations operated and reported on by facilities as a requirement of their industrial operating approval conditions.
• Area Operator Ambient – Air quality stations operated and reported on by community-based, multi-stakeholder organizations (commonly referred to as airsheds) and the Government of Alberta.
• Combined Ambient – Allows for extracts to be generated from a combination of industrial and area operator data.

When accessing the Ambient Air Data Search, the user will select from one of the three above options. For industrial ambient and area operator ambient, this will be followed by a data preference choice:

• One industrial approval or area operator station for multiple parameters
• One parameter for multiple stations

Combined Ambient has only one data preference: one parameter for multiple stations.

When conducting a data search, a series of selections and options will need to be entered based on the above selected data preferences:

• Approval name, approval number or company name
• Area operator name
• Station name (industrial and/or area operator)
• Interval start and end date
• Collection type (continuous, non-continuous or both)
• Parameter name or acronym (e.g., sulphur dioxide, SO₂)
• Only include good quality data? – if No is selected, results will contain all available data including data that have been flagged as potentially invalid
• Include quality control samples? – if Yes is selected, results will include duplicates, method or field blanks
• Output format – advanced option includes additional metadata (e.g., comments provided by the data submitter)

Due to the great volume of data available, some data interval restrictions are applied to ensure successful processing of data requests:

• One industrial approval or station for multiple parameters – 10 years
• One parameter for multiple stations – 5 years
• Combined ambient – 5 years

There is no restriction on the number of data extracts that can be generated.

Once the Download Data button is selected, the system will generate the data extract and automatically download it. The user can then exit the system, reset the search filters, or return to the primary search filters.

Continuous Emission Monitoring Data Search

A Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) measures emission characteristics from industrial sources (stacks) through a variety of analyzers and sensors.

The Alberta Air Data Warehouse provides access to two different CEMS data extracts:

• Measurements and Source Status – provides measurement values and source and analyzer status information.
• Codes for Electronic Reporting – provides monitoring requirements and source information as per an industrial facility’s operating approval.

When accessing the Continuous Emission Monitoring Data Search, the user will select from one of the two above options. Measurements and Source Status will have an additional data preference choice:

• Multiple CEMS sources for multiple parameters
• One parameter for multiple sources

Codes for Electronic Reporting has only one data preference: multiple approvals.

When conducting a data search, a series of selections and options will need to be entered based on the above selected data preferences:

• Approval name, approval number or company name
• CEMS Source(s)
• Start and end date
• Parameter name
• Operational / source status (active or active and terminated)
• Reporting requirements (active or active and terminated)

Due to the volume of data available, a five-year limit is placed on Measurements and Source Status extracts. There is no restriction on the number of extracts that can be generated.

Once the Download Data button is selected, the system will generate the extract and automatically download it. The user can then exit the system, reset the search filters, or return to the primary search filters.

Reference information

Supporting reference materials may be reviewed as follows:

• The Alberta Air Monitoring Directive (AMD) sets out the requirements for monitoring and reporting air quality in the province of Alberta.
• The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) Code (2021) establishes requirements for installation, certification, operation and maintenance of CEMS.
• The Electronic reporting of CEMS information user manual provides guidance on the procedures to successfully create, upload, verify and submit CEMS data
• Reference information for ambient data, such as definitions of program codes and flags, are described in the Ambient Data Reference Table.