Environmental Monitoring
Construction on a large scale has turned Dubai into one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, a city that boasts unmatchable towers, remarkable architecture, and world-class developments. To augment its success, Dubai is setting the fundamental groundwork for attracting new businesses and investors by establishing a suite of economic frameworks that remove barriers to development, encourage investment and promote ease in conducting business in the region. Embedded within these frameworks is the theme of environmental protection and sustainability.
As the Emirate aims to be a world leader and an example of environmental and sustainability excellence across the globe, it recognizes the impacts on the environment brought about by this development.
The three of the main objectives of the Federal and the Dubai Government that have been integrated into developmental policies and strategies are protection, conservation, and enhancement of the environment.
A system of federal laws and executive regulations focused on the protection and enhancement of the environment and are enforced by competent authorities. These aim to protect the air, water, and soil environment from pollution and waste; develop water resources; protect marine environment; conserve biodiversity; natural resources, and fisheries; and render mitigation strategies and adaptation measures on climate change in order to promote sustainable development in the country.
In support of this initiative and pursuant to the Federal Law No. (24) of 1999 on the Protection and Development of the Environment (hereafter referred as the Law), the Dubai Municipality – Environment Department (DM-ED), the Competent Authority in Dubai as per the Law, has embarked on this strategic initiative to develop a Guidance on the Environmental Clearance Requirements for Development and Infrastructure Projects. This document (hereby referred to as the Guidance) is published under the authority of the DM-ED to provide information and guidance to Project Owners and Environmental Consultants on the DM-ED prescribed procedures and requirements to obtain an Environmental Clearance (EC) for all development, infrastructure, coastal and marine Projects in the Emirate of Dubai. An EC will be issued for Projects that will successfully complete the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process leading to an approved EIA document. Specifically, an EC will be issued when the DM-ED is fully satisfied that the potential impacts of a Project have been properly analyzed and addressed through the provision of appropriate mitigation measures.
What is the importance of air quality monitoring?
As a result of a wide range of natural and human factors, air quality has decreased significantly throughout the world. Air quality is closely related to the size of natural and human activities practiced in a given geographical area. It is known that we need to breathe more air in physical activity compared to what we need when we do not exercise, so the increased concentration of pollutants in the air necessarily means the increase in the amount of pollutants that we breathe. It is therefore advisable to avoid outdoor physical activities during periods of low air quality. Air quality particularly affects people in the sensitive category, such as children, the elderly, individuals with lung disease, and individuals with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema. The graph below shows the volume of air inhaled by children compared to the type of activity they perform.
What is UAE Air Quality Index?
It is an indicator for reporting the air quality in a specific area, it tells you how clean or polluted the air is, and what health effects are associated with it. It is calculated from the highest concentration of the five pollutants: CO, NO2, SO2, O3, PM10
Due to its harsh hot and arid climate, UAE environment consists mostly of desert land with a long coastal line, in addition to wind current that changes daily and seasonally. These factors affect air quality. In the UAE, we usually have high values of air quality index as a result of increasing sandstorms and formation of natural dust in the air. Therefore, it is usual to find high amounts of particulate matter suspended in the air which affect the value of air quality index. Hot weather also increases the chemical formation of Ground Ozone, which in turn also affects the Air Quality Index. These two pollutants currently have the highest impact on the UAE AQI and will usually be found as a dominant pollutant throughout the year. Also, the AQI values can increase due to the rise in emissions or from a lack of dilution of air pollutants, stagnant air, temperature inversion and low wind speeds which let air pollution remain in local areas leading to higher pollutant concentrations allowing for hazy conditions. The air quality index is based on the concentration of SO2, NO2, O3, CO and PM10 over set periods of time. Health effects corresponding to the given categories of colors are established through epidemiological resections may vary from time to time while further research is established.
The Emission Inventory for the Emirate of Dubai is a comprehensive and detailed estimate of air emissions of criteria pollutants, air pollutants from specific emission sources, and odorous gases. The DM-ED has established an online emission inventory platform.
Facilities with emission sources are required to annually submit the source description, activity data and pollutant concentrations via the interactive online platform, http://www.dubaiairenvironment.dm.gov.ae/, as a part of monitoring requirement in the compliance conditions of the EC. A user account to access the online platform should be requested through contacting DM-EPSS via Emission_Inventory@dm.gov.ae. The Company Owner must ensure that the appointed laboratory involved in the monitoring is accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), formerly Dubai Accreditation Center (DAC), for the specific tests (https://eiac.gov.ae/directory?flter=Testing%20Laboratories&flter_status=Accredited)
Specific Conditions for Projects with Odour Emitting Sources
The following compliance conditions shall be applicable for, but not limited to, Projects with sources of odourous gases such as Municipal Solid Waste Recovery or Recycling Facility, Landfll or Composting Facility, etc., in addition to the General Environmental Compliance Conditions (except for condition nos. 7 and 12):
Adequate controls and mitigation measures shall be implemented for all air emissions associated with the Project activities. All emissions to the air environment shall comply with the limits provided in the Cabinet Decree No. (12) of 2006. The ambient concentration of the below odourous gases shall not exceed the following limits at plot boundaries and nearby sensitive receptor(s).
Guidance on the Requirements for Air, Noise, Odour Baseline Survey & Modelling, and Separation Distance Air Quality and Odour Baseline Survey
Air quality and odour baseline measurement shall be carried out following international best practices or standard methods established by recognized international bodies. Only laboratories accredited by the EIAC for the particular task and parameters shall be engaged for air and odour baseline measurement.
Detection limits of instruments, analyzers or internationally accepted methods shall be below corresponding statutory or adopted allowable limits of pollutants in ambient air and odour to allow suitable assessment (Refer to Table 3). Existing weather and air quality information in the proximity of the site must be screened and reviewed to obtain representative data using appropriate and acceptable instruments. Baseline measurement shall consider the following criteria:
- Measurement shall be done at upwind, downwind and crosswind of emission sources
- Measurement shall be done at the fenceline or close to the boundary of the sensitive receptors that are likely to be impacted; and
- The duration of measurement shall be based on the respective statutory averaging time (hourly, daily, 8-hour) of each parameter
A minimum of three (3) survey locations from the upwind, downwind and crosswind of the prevailing wind direction is required.
Depending on the Project (i.e. type of emission, magnitude of emission, Project footprint, sensitivity of the area, etc.), however, additional number of locations may be required to cover variable wind directions and sensitive receptors.
All relevant data including temperature, wind speed, wind directions, site conditions and activities, nearby emissions sources shall be recorded throughout the baseline survey period and shall be appended in the EIAR/EIAS. The survey should be done under typical or normal weather conditions (i.e. not during dust storm events). Any data (i.e. PM and TSP) measured at wind speeds of more than 5 m/s shall be invalidated.
Results must be reported at the same average time of the relevant limits.
A Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program must be in place that covers equipment maintenance; calibration; sample handling, storage and transport; and data verification.
Noise Measurement
Noise measurement shall be carried out following international best practices or standard methods established by recognized international bodies. Noise measurement must be undertaken with the following considerations: a. Noise measurement must be undertaken employing a Class 1 sound level meter. The sound level meter must be calibrated at least 2 years by a calibration laboratory and field performance shall be checked with a portable sound level calibrator before and after each measurement.
The measurement should be taken outdoor or inside affected property.
The sound level meter should be at least 1.2 - 1.5 meters above the ground, floor or building and should be no less than 3.5 meters from any reflective surface such as walls or buildings.
When it is not possible to locate at 3.5 meters, the preferred position shall be more than 1-meter from any reflective wall.
Where measurement is made inside any habitable room of the noise affected residential premises and a window or door is the major transmission path for the noise, measurements shall be taken with the window or door fully opened and fully closed to obtain an estimate of noise level difference.
Survey locations shall be chosen based on the following criteria: a. Location of existing or future noise sources; b. Background noise which is not much influenced by emission sources; and c. Topography between noise sources and noise sensitive receivers.
A minimum of four (4) survey locations and a 15-minute measurement period in each location are required during daytime and nighttime, weekdays, and weekend. The minimum 15-minute average time is applicable only for constant noise levels. In case of erratic, impulse and other types of noise, the measurement time shall be prolonged for a minimum of 12 hours during daytime and nighttime. Additional survey locations and longer measurement interval may be required depending on the nature and characteristic of noise emissions (e.g. type, time of occurrence, the sensitivity of the surrounding receptors, and any noise modelling requirement).
A noise survey should be carried out on a day with calm to gentle breeze represented by wind speeds not more than 5 m/s. In case of high winds, the microphone shall be protected with windscreen. All relevant data including wind speed, site activities, and noise sources shall be recorded throughout the baseline survey period and shall be appended in the EIAR/EIAS. Noise levels shall be reported as A-weighting and equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) to assess compliance with the Federal allowable limits including Lmax, Lmin, L5, L95, L90 for source noise and background assessment.
A Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program must be in place that covers equipment maintenance, calibration, and data verification.
