West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
"Poor air quality is the largest environmental risk to Public Health in the UK" [DEFRA, 2017]. Air pollution in the West Midlands affects some 2.8 million people, reducing average life expectancy by up to 6 months, and is responsible for economic costs estimated at £860m per year. Air quality is therefore a key priority for local and regional government, and increasingly the general public, with further emphasis arising from the "Diesel-gate" emissions scandal, and ongoing High Court challenges to the Government's Air Quality strategy.
Historically, local air quality policy has been the responsibility of the individual Local Authorities. However, air pollution does not respect political boundaries, and the 2016 formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority will lead to an integrated approach to air pollution, under the Second Devolution Deal for the West Midlands (2017). In parallel, the NHS Sustainability Transformation Trust is bringing an integrated approach to health and social care provision - with air quality a core priority. This gives rise to a unique and timely opportunity to translate environmental science research expertise into regional policy and interventions to reduce air pollution.
The University of Birmingham group has critical mass, international research expertise and NERC track record in air pollution, and its health and economic impacts. We have a history of links with regional partners, ranging from commissioned work and joint research projects to informal collaborations. Accordingly, we have developed the West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme (WMAQIP), through a co-design process alongside regional stakeholders including the WMCA / Mayor of the West Midlands, Local Authorities, private companies, industry sector bodies and third sector organisations, to deliver:
-Situational awareness (understanding of air pollution levels and sources), e.g. applied to refinement of the Birmingham Clean Air Zone and design of future interventions in Coventry, avoiding over £5m annual costs plus benefits to visitors / commuters working in the cities.
-Predictive Capability to evaluate AQ policy options, in comparison with business as usual predictions, for pollution levels, health and economic impacts - identifying interventions to achieve Birmingham City Council's goal of halving AQ-related mortality by 2030 (750 deaths/yr and £170m annual costs avoided); avoiding additional healthcare costs of £600m required under business-as-usual scenarios, and informing allocation of recurrent and one-off intra-city transport investment of £250m.
-Application of the resulting capability to specific policy scenarios - including infrastructure design around the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games to deliver improved air quality, understanding the air quality consequences of future vehicle fleet evolution to electric vehicles, and optimising air quality co-benefits from green infrastructure for HS2 development.
WMAQIP directly addresses the UK Industrial Strategy grand challenge of Clean Growth, which commits the Government to "create a future where our cities benefit from cleaner air", and the Infrastructure foundation of productivity, which identifies a determination to "tackle air pollution and support affected areas, given the significant negative impact it has on public health, the economy and the environment."
WMAQIP combines NERC research expertise with direct inputs from a range of partner organisations. The programme will deliver policy impact from application of environmental science applied to specific policy priorities through a cohort of Impact Fellows, physically embedded within stakeholder organisations to provide knowledge transfer and training, and hence lasting impact. Programme legacy will be maximised by formalising capabilities as tools which may be applied elsewhere, and actions to promote their dissemination.
Historically, local air quality policy has been the responsibility of the individual Local Authorities. However, air pollution does not respect political boundaries, and the 2016 formation of the West Midlands Combined Authority will lead to an integrated approach to air pollution, under the Second Devolution Deal for the West Midlands (2017). In parallel, the NHS Sustainability Transformation Trust is bringing an integrated approach to health and social care provision - with air quality a core priority. This gives rise to a unique and timely opportunity to translate environmental science research expertise into regional policy and interventions to reduce air pollution.
The University of Birmingham group has critical mass, international research expertise and NERC track record in air pollution, and its health and economic impacts. We have a history of links with regional partners, ranging from commissioned work and joint research projects to informal collaborations. Accordingly, we have developed the West Midlands Air Quality Improvement Programme (WMAQIP), through a co-design process alongside regional stakeholders including the WMCA / Mayor of the West Midlands, Local Authorities, private companies, industry sector bodies and third sector organisations, to deliver:
-Situational awareness (understanding of air pollution levels and sources), e.g. applied to refinement of the Birmingham Clean Air Zone and design of future interventions in Coventry, avoiding over £5m annual costs plus benefits to visitors / commuters working in the cities.
-Predictive Capability to evaluate AQ policy options, in comparison with business as usual predictions, for pollution levels, health and economic impacts - identifying interventions to achieve Birmingham City Council's goal of halving AQ-related mortality by 2030 (750 deaths/yr and £170m annual costs avoided); avoiding additional healthcare costs of £600m required under business-as-usual scenarios, and informing allocation of recurrent and one-off intra-city transport investment of £250m.
-Application of the resulting capability to specific policy scenarios - including infrastructure design around the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games to deliver improved air quality, understanding the air quality consequences of future vehicle fleet evolution to electric vehicles, and optimising air quality co-benefits from green infrastructure for HS2 development.
WMAQIP directly addresses the UK Industrial Strategy grand challenge of Clean Growth, which commits the Government to "create a future where our cities benefit from cleaner air", and the Infrastructure foundation of productivity, which identifies a determination to "tackle air pollution and support affected areas, given the significant negative impact it has on public health, the economy and the environment."
WMAQIP combines NERC research expertise with direct inputs from a range of partner organisations. The programme will deliver policy impact from application of environmental science applied to specific policy priorities through a cohort of Impact Fellows, physically embedded within stakeholder organisations to provide knowledge transfer and training, and hence lasting impact. Programme legacy will be maximised by formalising capabilities as tools which may be applied elsewhere, and actions to promote their dissemination.
Planned Impact
Air Pollution is an increasing concern for the general public, a focus of media attention, and is rising to the top of the policy agenda for local and regional authorities, private sector organisations involved in air quality activity, and companies committed to understanding, and mitigating, the environmental impacts of their business, and the regulatory framework they operate within.
There is a demonstrated regional and national interest in the application of the best available science to understand air pollution pressures, and deliver the best policy measures and interventions both to ameliorate pollution; there is also a strong imperative to understand the likely future air quality picture, with and without interventions.
WMAQIPs three interlinked themes will address these needs to deliver transformative regional impact, through costs avoided (fiscal, health and social care); achieving legal compliance with limit values (i.e. statutory obligations); improvements to practice and to policy formulation on near-term and strategic timescales, increased regional attractiveness encouraging inward investment, new business opportunities, and most significantly through improved environmental air quality, and hence population health and wellbeing.
In supporting the WMCA and Local Authorities in achieving their strategic goals of halving air pollution related mortality by 2030, WMAQIP will reduce deaths by 750/yr and release £170m in annual attendant cost. In ensuring clean air zones meet statutory obligations, direct benefits of over £5m annually will accrue just from Birmingham and Coventry - considering only the resident population, i.e. discounting visitors / workers commuting into the area. In enabling the horizon scanning prediction of air quality consequences of policy options, and their comparison with business as usual approaches, alongside explicit consideration of air quality alongside conventional economic indicators, WMQAIP will influence the annual TfWM capital expenditure of £69m, and spend of the £250m Industrial Strategy Transforming Cities fund. In enabling the effective use of green infrastructure to deliver air quality benefit (rather than penalty), WMAQIP will promote city amenity, quality of life and wellbeing - and deliver regional natural capital gain, with scope for national rollout, through HS2. Air quality imposes a 1.4% burden on regional economic output (GVA), equivalent to 19000 jobs; ultimately WMAQIP will contribute to unlocking this pollution penalty on the region's growth.
Without action, present day West Midlands pollution levels and forecast regional population growth would require an additional 430 hospital beds by 2023 - equating to almost a £600m hospital. There is a critical need for concerted action to improve air quality; clear gaps in capability which NERC-derived environmental science can fulfil, and regional political timing uniquely suited to the opportunity.
There is a demonstrated regional and national interest in the application of the best available science to understand air pollution pressures, and deliver the best policy measures and interventions both to ameliorate pollution; there is also a strong imperative to understand the likely future air quality picture, with and without interventions.
WMAQIPs three interlinked themes will address these needs to deliver transformative regional impact, through costs avoided (fiscal, health and social care); achieving legal compliance with limit values (i.e. statutory obligations); improvements to practice and to policy formulation on near-term and strategic timescales, increased regional attractiveness encouraging inward investment, new business opportunities, and most significantly through improved environmental air quality, and hence population health and wellbeing.
In supporting the WMCA and Local Authorities in achieving their strategic goals of halving air pollution related mortality by 2030, WMAQIP will reduce deaths by 750/yr and release £170m in annual attendant cost. In ensuring clean air zones meet statutory obligations, direct benefits of over £5m annually will accrue just from Birmingham and Coventry - considering only the resident population, i.e. discounting visitors / workers commuting into the area. In enabling the horizon scanning prediction of air quality consequences of policy options, and their comparison with business as usual approaches, alongside explicit consideration of air quality alongside conventional economic indicators, WMQAIP will influence the annual TfWM capital expenditure of £69m, and spend of the £250m Industrial Strategy Transforming Cities fund. In enabling the effective use of green infrastructure to deliver air quality benefit (rather than penalty), WMAQIP will promote city amenity, quality of life and wellbeing - and deliver regional natural capital gain, with scope for national rollout, through HS2. Air quality imposes a 1.4% burden on regional economic output (GVA), equivalent to 19000 jobs; ultimately WMAQIP will contribute to unlocking this pollution penalty on the region's growth.
Without action, present day West Midlands pollution levels and forecast regional population growth would require an additional 430 hospital beds by 2023 - equating to almost a £600m hospital. There is a critical need for concerted action to improve air quality; clear gaps in capability which NERC-derived environmental science can fulfil, and regional political timing uniquely suited to the opportunity.
Organisations
- University of Birmingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd (Collaboration)
- WEST MIDLANDS COMBINED AUTHORITY (Collaboration)
- COVENTRY CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- SANDWELL AND WEST BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS NHS TRUST (Collaboration)
- Dudley Metropolitan Council (Collaboration)
- Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games (Collaboration)
- Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- Birmingham City Council (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- WOLVERHAMPTON CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Transport for West Midlands (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Rail Safety and Standards Board (Collaboration)
- Floow Ltd (Collaboration)
- Voi Technology (Collaboration)
- Hager Environmental & Atmospheric Technologies (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS BIRMINGHAM NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- Siemens AG (Collaboration)
- SOLIHULL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- SANDWELL METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL (Collaboration)
- Walsall Council (Collaboration)
- Sustrans (Project Partner)
- Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (Project Partner)
- High Speed Two (HS2) (to be replaced) (Project Partner)
- Trees and Design ??Action?? Group (Project Partner)
- Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council (Project Partner)
- Arup Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Ricardo (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- Birmingham & Solihul NHS STP (Project Partner)
- Temple Group (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- West Midlands Combined Authority (Project Partner)
- Coventry City Council (Project Partner)
- National Express Ltd (Project Partner)
Publications
Abdulrasheed M
(2020)
Allometric scaling of thermal infrared emitted from UK cities and its relation to urban form
in City and Environment Interactions
Acton WJF
(2022)
Trees and urban air quality: a briefing note
Andres L
(2019)
Planning, temporary urbanism and citizen-led alternative-substitute place-making in the Global South
in Regional Studies
Andres L
(2022)
Institutional logics and regional policy failure: Air pollution as a wicked problem in East African cities
in Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
Andres L
(2022)
Urban value chains and re-framing agglomeration-centric conceptions of urban theory
in Urban Geography
Andres L
(2021)
Calling for responsible inclusive planning and healthy cities in Africa
in Town Planning Review
Andres L
(2021)
Temporary Urbanisms as Policy Alternatives to Enhance Health and Well-Being in the Post-Pandemic City.
in Current environmental health reports
Andres L
(2023)
Learning from COVID-19 and planning post-pandemic cities to reduce pathogen transmission pathways
in Town Planning Review
Andres L
(2021)
Planning Regional Futures
Bannister E
(2020)
Neighbourhood-Scale Flow Regimes and Pollution Transport in Cities
in Boundary-Layer Meteorology
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee
(2022)
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Sustainability Report
Bryson John R.
(2020)
Service Management: Theory and Practice
Bryson, J.R.
(2022)
Policy Solutions to the Clean Air Challenge
Bryson, J.R.
(2021)
Addressing the Climate Challenge
Cowell N
(2022)
Field Calibration and Evaluation of an Internet-of-Things-Based Particulate Matter Sensor
in Frontiers in Environmental Science
Cowell N
(2023)
Particulate matter in a lockdown home: evaluation, calibration, results and health risk from an IoT enabled low-cost sensor network for residential air quality monitoring
in Environmental Science: Atmospheres
Dai Y
(2022)
Chemistry, street canyon geometry, and emissions effects on NO2 "hotspots" and regulatory "wiggle room"
in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science
Dai Y
(2022)
Chemistry, transport, emission, and shading effects on NO2 and Ox distributions within urban canyons.
in Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)
Dai Y
(2021)
Modelling chemistry and transport in urban street canyons: Comparing offline multi-box models with large-eddy simulation
in Atmospheric Environment
Ferranti E
(2023)
Incorporating Heat Vulnerability into Local Authority Decision Making: An Open Access Approach
in Sustainability
Ferranti E.J.S.
(2021)
Urban Design for Air Quality
Ghaffarpasand O
(2023)
Traffic Noise Assessment Using Intelligent Acoustic Sensors (Traffic Ear) and Vehicle Telematics Data
in Sensors
Ghaffarpasand O
(2020)
Real-world assessment of vehicle air pollutant emissions subset by vehicle type, fuel and EURO class: New findings from the recent UK EDAR field campaigns, and implications for emissions restricted zones
in Science of The Total Environment
Ghaffarpasand O
(2023)
Telematics data for geospatial and temporal mapping of urban mobility: Fuel consumption, and air pollutant and climate-forcing emissions of passenger cars
in Science of The Total Environment
Ghaffarpasand O
(2022)
Vehicle Telematics for Safer, Cleaner and More Sustainable Urban Transport: A Review
in Sustainability
Ghaffarpasand O
(2023)
Detecting high emitting vehicle subsets using emission remote sensing systems.
in The Science of the total environment
Hewitt CN
(2020)
Using green infrastructure to improve urban air quality (GI4AQ).
in Ambio
Levine, J.G
(2022)
Green Infrastructure for Clean Air and One Health
Liu B
(2023)
Assessing the Impacts of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone on Air Quality: Estimates from a Machine Learning and Synthetic Control Approach
in Environmental and Resource Economics
MacKenzie A
(2019)
Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations
in Environmental Research Letters
Matthaios V
(2023)
In-vehicle exposure to NO2 and PM2.5: A comprehensive assessment of controlling parameters and reduction strategies to minimise personal exposure
in Science of The Total Environment
Mazzeo A
(2022)
Modelling the Impact of National vs. Local Emission Reduction on PM2.5 in the West Midlands, UK Using WRF-CMAQ
in Atmosphere
Pearce H
(2020)
Using routing apps to model real-time road traffic emissions
in Weather
Potts D
(2021)
Satellite Data Applications for Site-Specific Air Quality Regulation in the UK: Pilot Study and Prospects
in Atmosphere
Radcliffe J
(2022)
A regional approach to COVID-19 recovery: lessons from the West Midlands
in Town Planning Review
Simpson O
(2022)
Evaluating Actions to Improve Air Quality at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
in Sustainability
W.J.Acton
(2021)
Air Quality in the West Midlands: Options Paper.
W.J.Bloss
(2021)
Clean Air: Bringing local synergies to the global climate challenge.
| Title | Sounding Out Pollution: Can you hear what's in the air? |
| Description | This novel collaboration will link atmospheric scientists and a sound-artist to develop and evaluate the use of innovate sonic techniques to produce audio models which will enable people to 'hear' examples of differing air quality data, from different locations / times, thus stimulating curiosity and improving understanding - both of how to manage their own exposure to poor air quality, and to reduce emissions. The project will culminate in a presentation of the best models, to be experienced online and in person at a public exhibition, which in turn will enable feedback, evaluation and refinement. The physical installation will be integrated within a public exhibition, "The Air We Breathe", in March 2022 at 'The Exchange', a new Birmingham city centre venue for public engagement. |
| Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | TBD - feedback will be analysed after March 2022. |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/sound/ |
| Title | The Air We Breathe |
| Description | Bringing together cutting edge research from WM-Air and academics across the University of Birmingham, The Air We Breathe is a public programme of exhibition, activities and events exploring the relationships between people, the environment and air quality. |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The Exhibition has been open since October 2021 and runs until July 2022. To-date over 1,500 have visited the exhibition. An add-on exhibit 'Sounding out pollution' will be added in March 2022. Feedback will be analysed in due course in order to understand impact. |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange/the-air-we-breathe.aspx |
| Description | WM-Air ("Clean Air Science for the West Midlands" ) is an (ongoing, 2019 - 2024) five-year project to apply environmental science research expertise to improve air quality in the West Midlands, delivering health, economic and environmental benefits. The project comprises three broad themes, which aim to improve understanding of the region's air pollution challenges, to provide new capability to support clean air measures and policy focussed upon the region, and to support the application of these to specific policy scenarios, questions and challenges. 1) Situational Awareness (understanding of air pollution levels and sources). WM-Air provides new measurements of the levels of air pollutants (augmenting existing monitoring and addressing gaps in knowledge), and quantify pollution sources by sector, including measurement of real-world on-road vehicle emissions. 2) Predictive Capability to develop and evaluate air quality policy options and support development in achieving cleaner air. WM-Air provides new capacity to predict (model) future air quality levels, in comparison with business as usual predictions, and how these may respond to potential policy options. The project evaluates the air-quality-driven health and economic benefits and impacts of such predictions, on a local level within the region. The project also provides guidance over the use of green infrastructure (urban vegetation) to improve air quality, to maximise the benefits achievable. 3) Application of the resulting capability to specific policy scenarios and case studies, for example around major interventions such as Clean Air Zones, infrastructure developments (e.g., Commonwealth Games) and other developments on scales from regional to local. WM-Air resourced a cohort of Impact Fellows, staff with the expertise to apply the new insight and capacity, physically embedded within partner organisations to ensure the relevance and applicability of their support. The WM-Air project is now in its fifth year and continues to progress well, building on existing partnerships and continuing to develop new stakeholders relationships in order to increase our portfolio of impact case studies (See 'Narrative Impact' for details of key case studies, including development of a regional Air Quality Framework with the WMCA, leading to £1m DEFRA cash funding award; measurement of real-world vehicle emissions; officer education and community support; methods to evaluate the clean air economic and productivity premium in support of business case development, and public and grassroots engagement ranging from art installations and Glastobnury presence to support for Birmingham Country FA air quality considerations). Summary Table of Impact Metrics to end of Feb '23: Live/completed impact projects/case studies: 41 Model scenarios: 30 Total Stakeholders and Partners engaged: 75 'Active' project partnerships: 41 Briefing Notes/Reports: 34 Events + engagements (webinars, conferences, workshops etc): 104 Consultation contributions, policy docs and white papers: 36 Publications: 26 Twitter stats - followers / posts: 373 / 976 Website stats - visitors (*only since April 2021 when analytics set up): 1.8k (6.2k page views) WM-Air Newsletters 7 Blogs + Media 34 Matched Funding (*not including in-kind) £21.4 Leveraged Funding £8.2m Affiliated Funding £8.8m |
| Exploitation Route | WM-Air will help to support existing policy actions in the air quality area, and build the region's air quality expertise base. The project addresses the UK Industrial Strategy Grand Challenge of Clean Growth, which commits to creating a future where our cities benefit from cleaner air, and the Infrastructure Foundation of Productivity, which identifies the significant negative impact air pollution has on public health, the economy and the environment; however the key beneficiaries of WM-Air will be the population of the region, through contributions to reductions in air pollution related illness, and associated increases in life expectancy and quality of life. See also next section re Impact |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/ |
| Description | The WM-Air project was co-designed to deliver impact - in environmental, societal, political and economic terms - from the application of NERC environmental science expertise in support of Clean Air for the West Midlands. The project is now roughly 2/3 of the way through its funded duration and is firmly in the "application / impact" phase, applying new underpinning tools and capabilities (i.e. air quality monitoring, modelling) through case study partnerships with local authorities (e.g. BCC, CCC, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull), regional bodies (e.g. TfWM, WMCA, Black Country Consortium), infrastructure providers (e.g. HS2) and others, including the NHS, individual SMEs and the Organising Committee of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Key impact projects include: - Supporting the development of a new WMCA-wide Air Quality Framework, now formally adopted by WMCA board to enable future air quality policy actions across all Local Authorities (2.8m inhabitants), and leading to a £1m DEFRA grant. - Working with Birmingham City Council to evaluate the Birmingham Clean Air Zone, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, understand the impact of Covid-19 Lockdowns on NO2 levels in Birmingham, supporting their schools air quality education and engagement project and providing input into the new BCC Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment tool. - Working with Commonwealth Games Organisation Committee to make air quality a key environmental focus of the Games, provide daily reporting and interpretation of AQ data for health-related decision making during B2022 (i.e. for re-scheduling endurance events), and assessing the overall impact of the Games on background air quality. - A mixed-methods case study in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust with recommendations approved at UHB Board level and WM-Air are now working to assess the impact of the interventions implemented. WM-Air have also produced a guide to monitoring air quality at NHS sites, with Sandwell and West Birmingham testing out resources. - Undertaking air quality and emissions analyses for Birmingham Country Football Association (BCFA) as part of their 'Save Today, Play Tomorrow' initiative. - Applying WM-Air air quality models to a number of partnership projects across the region, including quantifying the air quality co-benefit from growth of the Electric Vehicle (EV) fleet under different scenarios and wider decarbonization hubs; exploring the impacts of WM cycle and Voi e-scooter hire on air quality emissions avoided; investigating the impact of railway emissions with RSSB; modelling AQ across the region for local and regional status reports; input to TfWM's rapid transit route prioritisation work. - Working with stakeholders such as local authorities and the Clean Air Justice Network to apply the Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool (AQ-LAT) to estimate health and economic benefits arising from policy interventions (such as CAZ) and other potential scenarios. - Developing GI advice and guidance for local authorities, planners and practitioners including an AQ Design Charter, Trees and AQ briefing note, low-cost sensor guidance, and CPD events. -Contribution to national policy development, including Environment Act Clean Air Targets in England, equivalent target development in Wales, the 2022 Chief Medical Officer's report, and POST note on Outdoor Urban Air Quality. Summary Table of Impact Metrics to end of Feb '23: Live/completed impact projects/case studies: 41 Model scenarios: 30 Total Stakeholders and Partners engaged: 75 'Active' project partnerships: 41 Briefing Notes/Reports: 34 Events + engagements (webinars, conferences, workshops etc): 104 Consultation contributions, policy docs and white papers: 36 Publications: 26 Twitter stats - followers / posts: 373 / 976 Website stats - visitors (*only since April 2021 when analytics set up): 1.8k (6.2k page views) WM-Air Newsletters 7 Blogs + Media 34 Matched Funding (*not including in-kind) £21.4 Leveraged Funding £8.2m Affiliated Funding £8.8m |
| First Year Of Impact | 2019 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Environment,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Transport |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Air Quality in the West Midlands Covid-19 WM-Air Interim Briefing Note |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | BCC AQ Action Plan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | BCC Report: 'Air Quality and the impacts of COVID-19 Lockdown in 2020: An analysis of changes in nitrogen dioxide for Birmingham' |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| Description | BCC traffic management plan consultation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | BCC transport white paper |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Birmingham City Council Clean Air Strategy consultation response, April 2019 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/20076/pollution/1280/what_else_is_birmingham_doing_about_air_poll... |
| Description | Birmingham City Council: Air Quality and Impacts on NO2 Compliance in Birmingham, 2020 |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| Description | Birmingham Healthy City Planning Toolkit Consultation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Birmingham Urban Forestry Master Plan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Birmingham and Solihull STP task-group meetings and input to support application of the Health Outcomes of Travel Tool across seven NHS Trust sites in the region. The outputs were summarised in a paper for the STP Board and are being used to support a range of initiatives to reduce staff, patient and visitor mileage. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Chief Medical Officers Report 2022: Air Pollution |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124... |
| Description | DEFRA Call for evidence on future PM2.5 concentrations |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | DEFRA Environment Act Consultation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | DEFRA consultation on Draft Policy Statement on Environmental Principles |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Development of briefing note 'Air quality monitoring in healthcare settings' |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Changes to operational aspects, site layout, transport and logistics at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Plans made for further air quality monitoring campaign to assess impacts of these changes. |
| Description | Draft Black Country Plan 2039 (Regulation 18) Consultation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Embedding climate risk in city level planning and design |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Expert advisory input to the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Sustainability Strategy - Greener communities, Healthier lives. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Expert public health and air quality science input to the Association of Directors of Public Health West Midlands regional Air Quality Policy Position Statement (to support national ADPH Policy Position on Outdoor Air Quality). Statement to be launched at West Midlands Public Health Excellence Conference Air Quality Workshop (28 November 2019) |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Government consultation on a national Cyber-Physical Infrastructure |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Greater London Authority Guide - Using green infrastructure to protect people from air pollution. Produced in consultation with the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (University of Birmingham), the Global Centre for Clean Air Research (University of Surrey) and Transport for London. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| URL | https://www.london.gov.uk/WHAT-WE-DO/environment/environment-publications/using-green-infrastructure... |
| Description | Health Education Masterclass - Inclusive Growth and the 'Doughnut Model' for Economic Recovery |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | House of Commons' Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee Inquiry on Air Quality |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Insights into air pollution levels in the West Midlands from Covid |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/research/Public-Affairs/2019-20/UoB-Briefing-May2020-WM-Air-Q... |
| Description | NICE stakeholder consultation and guideline [NG149] Indoor Air Quality at Home |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng149 |
| Description | National Highways as a potential AQ partner |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) Strategy and Enforcement Policy Consultation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Options paper prepared for WMCA board led to the decision to develop a regional air quality framework |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Citation in other policy documents |
| URL | https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s6510/Appendix.pdf |
| Description | POSTnote on Urban Outdoor Air Quality |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://post.parliament.uk/research-briefings/post-pn-0691/ |
| Description | Provision of public health and technical air quality advice to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for the Sustainable Development Management Plan (STMP), outlining plans to improve prevention and the wider determinants of health in the communities they serve. STMP adopted by UHB Board in autumn 2019. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Revision of LAQM |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Rob MacKenzie provided a scoping document advising on Green Infrastructure around schools for Hackney Borough Council, September 2019. |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Rob MacKenzie visited and provided written advice to Guizhou Province on sustainable management of landscapes of cultural and natural significance, June 2019, drawing on concepts developed for University of Birmingham Policy Commission on Future Urban Living. |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/impact/policy-commissions/future-urban-living/index.aspx |
| Description | Sandwell Smoke Control Area consultation |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | WMCA Natural Capital Plan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | WMCA climate action / zero carbon green paper |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | West Midlands Three Year Air Quality Action Plan |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | 'Multi-model Air Quality System for Health (MAQS-Health)' - Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF), Clean Air Programme CA19-1, BEIS / Met Office |
| Amount | £700,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | DN424739 |
| Organisation | Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2020 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Actively anticipating the unintended consequences on air quality of future public policies (ANTICIPATE) |
| Amount | £429,209 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T001852/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 02/2022 |
| Description | Air Quality Grant Scheme - Particulate Matter monitoring and engagement programme to increase awareness and encourage behaviour change towards domestic burning across the region |
| Amount | £918,531 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department For Environment, Food And Rural Affairs (DEFRA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| Description | An in-depth analysis of the efficacy of the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on air quality (Research England QR funding) |
| Amount | £25,471 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Assessing environmental impacts of COVID-19 emergency public health measures in Oxford City. |
| Amount | £207,249 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/V010360/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2020 |
| End | 12/2021 |
| Description | Assessing the impact of zero and low emissions control interventions upon air quality in Oxford City; baseline data collection and feasibility study |
| Amount | £49,944 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR130095 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 04/2020 |
| Description | Developing a UK Community Emission Modelling System (DUKEMS) - UKMO / UKRI Clean Air Analysis & Solution SPF |
| Amount | £1,231,650 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Strategic Priorities Fund |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | EPSRC IAA: Integrating Air Quality measurements into the Birmingham Urban Observatory. |
| Amount | £30,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2020 |
| End | 09/2021 |
| Description | Evaluating the effectiveness of London Low Emission Zone (LEZ) and Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): evidence from Machine learning and Econometrics (PSF-22) |
| Amount | £30,763 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | PSF-22 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | IGI Clean Air - East Birmingham Net-Zero Neighbourhoods (EB-NZN) Strategic Research Partnership |
| Amount | £8,143 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2023 |
| End | 05/2023 |
| Description | IGI Clean Air - Proof of Concept fund 2021-22 - Bridge the link between carbon and air pollutant emissions |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | College of Life and Environmental Sciences |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Institutional QR Policy Support Fund - Research England - Sustainable Urban Planning To Mitigate Overheating (SUPMO) |
| Amount | £49,557 (GBP) |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Department | Research England |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Integrated Research Observation System for Clean Air (OSCA) |
| Amount | £429,752 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/T001976/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 04/2022 |
| Description | Net Zero Innovation Programme (NZIP) - "Community Climate Champions" Leaving No One Behind toolkit in partnership with Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Amount | £10,359 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Local Government Association |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 06/2023 |
| Description | Optimising air quality and health benefits associated with a low-emission transport and mobility revolution in the UK |
| Amount | £508,012 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/V002449/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2020 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | Public Health Intervention Responsive Studies Team (PHIRST): University of Hertfordshire |
| Amount | £1,472,231 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIHR131573 |
| Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | QR Funding for Policy Engagement |
| Amount | £50,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Awarded to Jian Zhong |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2023 |
| End | 12/2023 |
| Description | Sounding Out Pollution: Can you hear what's in the air? |
| Amount | £6,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | The UK-China Collaboration to Optimise Net Zero Policy options for Air Quality and Health |
| Amount | £630,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 2021GRIP02COP-AQ |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | Towards a digital twin for urban transport |
| Amount | £550,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Department of Transport |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities: Urban Observatories (Strand B) |
| Amount | £8,000,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/P016782/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2017 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | UK-China Collaboration to Optimise net zero Policy options for Air Quality and health (COP-AQ) |
| Amount | £630,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | Understanding synergies and tensions in air quality-climate adaptation needs: A UK-India Proof of Concept |
| Amount | £134,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | |
| Description | University of Birmingham - Public Engagement with Research funding for 'Clean Air for All', Dr Suzanne Bartington |
| Amount | £1,316 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Title | CVRA - open access approach |
| Description | The CVRA approach combines open access datasets to allow local authorities to determine the vulnerability of their region to climate change. It combines 11 layers (surface temperature, fluvial flood risk, surface water flood risk, IMD, Local Climate Zones, green space, open access green space, tree canopy, PM2.5, NOx, excess years lives lost) using GIS. The approach hsa been developed in collaboration with Birmingham City Council, and the GIS team will maintain the database for the long-term to ensure it is embedded within city planning and design decisions. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The impact is emerging. We will test the CVRA approach with the local authority this year and publish the open access approach for others to use. |
| Title | GeoSpatial and Temporal Mapping of Urban Mobility (GeoSTMUM) |
| Description | WM-Air have developed new method of GeoSpatial and Temporal Mapping of Urban Mobility (GeoSTMUM) which converts vehicle telematics data into several (over 27 parameters) urban mobility characteristics such as the average speed, time of travel, driving behavior, etc. We have also developed new methodology in converting those characteristics into the transport environment measures, including exhaustive emissions and fuel consumption. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The proposed method here attributes geospatial and temporal attributions to the convenient scalar parameters of fuel consumption and emission, whereby they can be considered urban features such as schools, retails, hospitals, etc. The proposed approach is quite interesting for urban/transport planners, environment/emission scientists, etc, hence it can significantly impact urban/transport planning for the years ahead. Ghaffarpasand, Omid and Pope, Francis, Telematics Data for Geospatial and Temporal Mapping of Urban Transport and Mobility: New Insights into Traffic Behaviour and Complexity. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4129692 Pope, Francis and Ghaffarpasand, Omid, Telematics Data for Geospatial and Temporal Mapping of Urban Mobility: Fuel Consumption, and Air Pollutant and Climate-Forcing Emissions. http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4363584 |
| URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4129692 |
| Title | Quantifying the impact of Clean Air Policy Interventions for air quality management |
| Description | As part of the process of air quality management it is important to understand how effective different policies are to determine whether a policy should be, for example, scrapped, changed, or rolled out across different sectors or regions. However, evaluating clean air policies is a challenge because of the complex physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere and other socioeconomic factors that may also be impacting pollution levels. Working with environmental scientists, data scientists and economists we develop a novel approach to quantifying the impact of clean air policy interventions based on observational data. We use machine learning techniques to strip out the effects of weather, followed by a synthetic control method to account for natural variability or trends in the data. This briefing document outlines a methodological approach that can be used to provide evidence of the success or otherwise of different clean air policies for different geographical areas and time periods. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The briefing document has been disseminated to Birmingham City Council and DEFRA (Joint Air Quality Unit). The method has been applied by our team to assess the Birmingham Clean Air Zone (paper submitted to "Environmental and Resource Economics" for 2nd-round revision), and the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and its extensions. The method has been applied by the strand member (Bowen and co-authors) to assess the impact of Covid lockdown on air quality (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10640-020-00483-4), the impact of China's Clean Winter Heating Plan on air quality (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c06800), the impact of 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games on air quality (paper write up). |
| URL | http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/4040/ |
| Title | Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool (beta version) |
| Description | Development and validation of a novel health and economic impact assessment tool (AQ-LAT). The AQ-LAT is a regional decision-making tool for estimating the health and economic benefits of air quality interventions - such as Clean Air Zones or regional policies in the West Midlands. The customisable tool provides users with flexibility for assessment of interventions operating across different geographical areas and time horizons. The model provides an accessible dashboard featuring information on disease cases and mortality prevented alongside cost savings for NHS healthcare (e.g., primary, secondary, emergency care, and prescriptions); days off work; Quality Adjusted Life Years gained and number of lives saved. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The tool is currently undergoing pilot applications and user feedback by Birmingham City Council/West Midlands Combined Authority/Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council/Walsall Council/Clean Air Justice Network. It has been used to calculate health impacts of air pollution for application to a Defra funding award. |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/project/health/ |
| Title | Research data supporting the publication "Real-World Contribution of Electrification and Replacement Scenarios to the Fleet Emissions in West Midland Boroughs, UK" |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| URL | http://edata.bham.ac.uk/618/ |
| Title | The WM-Air ADMS air quality model (alpha version) |
| Description | The core of the tool is a commercial model, ADMS-Urban. The tool is built on ADMS-Urban by incorporating multiple local datasets from West Midlands. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The tool can be used to model air quality for the entire West Midlands. It will be used within the WM-Air project to simulate the consequences and impact of policy scenarios in future in collaboration with stakeholders (ongoing). |
| Title | The WM-Air CMAQ regional air quality model |
| Description | Development of a regional Air Quality Model. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Ongoing work to apply the model for exploring AQ intervention scenarios in collaboration with stakeholders. |
| Description | Air quality modelling for explicit railway emissions |
| Organisation | Rail Safety and Standards Board |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Key objectives: • To model the impact of rail emissions on local air quality by coupling RSSB high resolution rail emissions mapping with UoB's road emissions model • To understand and quantify the process contribution from rail emissions on sensitive receptors within the study area • To understand and quantify the total pollutant concentrations at sensitive receptors within the study area, taking into account emissions from other sources including roads. |
| Collaborator Contribution | To supplement the WM-Air modelling work in the West Midland region, RSSB will support the University of Birmingham (UoB) through the following workstreams: • Provision of emission data for exhaust emissions from rail within the study area; • Provision of support and review on the set up of the dispersion model for the rail element; and • Review of modelling output. RSSB will provide two layers of emissions data from the rail sector in the west midlands region: 1). Emission rates per Inter-TIPLOC segment (in tonnes/km) based on g/km emission factors 2). Emission rates per 100m segment (in tonnes/km) based on g/kWh emission factors |
| Impact | Presentation of modelling work to RSSB |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | Birmingham City Council |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Data sharing for model development. (2) Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs): Using telemetry and the ADMS model to explore the impact of LTNs on local Air Quality. (3) Impact of Covid-lockdowns: Observation data and AQ model used to explore the impact of Covid lockdowns on AQ in Birmingham. (4) Roadside AQ compliance: Using the ADMS model to explore areas outside the CAZ that are still above the 40 ug m-3 threshold for NO2. (5) Advice, guidance and tool-testing: Input into the Birmingham City Strategy & Policy development;Testing a range of GI tools and developing guidance (Neighbourhood Environmental Justice Audit Tool development); Supporting the development of an Urban Forest Master Plan for Birmingham City Council that will help set direction, governance and monitoring of the Urban Forest; Viability of smog barriers; Use of Green Infrastructure to reduce personal exposure at locations predicted to exceed AQ standards (inked to DEFRA JAQU) (6) CAZ evaluation and on-going exploration of exceedances (7) Schools air quality engagement support (educational resources) |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Data sharing activities (they have provided many datasets and support needed to set up our model). (2) Data provision and co-design of activities (3) Data provision and co-design of activities (4) Data provision and co-design of activities (5) Requests for input. |
| Impact | (1) Air Quality model (2) Ongoing (3) Briefing paper: https://wm-air.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Impacts-of-Covid-Lockdown-upon-NO2-in-Birmingham_WM-Air_compressed-1.pdf (4) Model output and briefing (ongoing) (5) Written advice (6) Report (7) Educational resources (year 9 lesson plan, primary school AQ introduction, infographics) |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Birmingham City Council - Air Quality in Schools |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Contribution to developing school pupil air quality educational and engagement materials - including Year 9 lesson plan, air quality animation, information and guidance on sensor deployment. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Collaborative development of educational materials. |
| Impact | Outputs are under development |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | CERC - emissions inventory |
| Organisation | Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Sub-contract to CERC for consultancy work |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dveloping the emissions inventory for the west midlands 2016 baseline year for ADMS-Urban |
| Impact | Source Apportionment of PM |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Commonwealth Games Air Quality |
| Organisation | Birmingham Organising Committee for the 2022 Commonwealth Games |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | • WM-Air supported the development of the Commonwealth Games sustainability strategy ensuring that minimizing the impact of the Games on air quality was a target. • WM-Air monitored air quality at key Games venues (Alexander Stadium, University of Birmingham and Edgbaston Stadium), providing daily air quality updates to the Commonwealth Games Associations, Health and Games Family Services teams throughout the Games period. • WM-Air modelled expected air quality at each of the Games venues based on predicted transport data provided by TfWM. These model outputs were used to provide context to the daily air quality updates. • Advise was provided on air quality emissions by engine type ahead of fleet procurement • WM-Air provided air quality content for the Commonwealth Games carbon literacy toolkit ensuring that air quality was included as part of this legacy activity • WM-Air researchers were present at Alexander Stadium ahead of athletics sessions for three days to engage with the public on air quality at the Games and answer any questions they had on broader air quality issues • Air quality measurements made during the Games period were used to assess the impact of the Games on background air quality in Birmingham showing that the Games did not impact background PM2.5 concentrations in the city and had little impact on NO2 |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Organising Committee supported the collaboration by providing model input data, access to venues and power/internet access at Alexander stadium. |
| Impact | • Air quality was considered as part of the Commonwealth Games sustainability strategy • Air quality data was made available to Games Family, Games Associations and Medical Teams through daily reports • Analysis of air quality measurements made before and during the Games showed the Games had no impact on background PM2.5 concentrations in Birmingham and little impact on background NO2 concentrations |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Coventry City Council |
| Organisation | Coventry City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | (1) Sensor measurements: WM-Air is working in partnership with Coventry City Council to site a number of PM sensors around the region for mutual-benefit. St Osburgs agreed to host a sensor as an area of concern/changing traffic management for CCC. Sensors deployed across city. Data being analyzed. (2) AQ Modelling of Traffic Schemes around Foleshill Road (3) AQ modelling of developments (4) Source apportionment of PM for woodburning assessment (5) Briefing note on low-cost sensor guidance with co-authorship from Steve Dewer at CCC. |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Discussion regarding locations within Coventry that are mutually beneficial and useful to both parties. (2) Co-design of project and data sharing (3) Co-design of project and data sharing (4) Co-design of project (5) Co-authored low-cost sensor briefing note |
| Impact | Testimonial from Steve Dewer: - Interest has been shown right across the West Midlands and Warwickshire with support voiced by the West Mids Environmental Protection Group (WMEPG), West Mids Combined Authority and the Coventry & Warwickshire Air Quality Alliance. - The data will also prove valuable to colleagues in our Environmental Protection Team carrying out our functions under Local Air Quality Management. The existence of the sensors means that we may be able to use future data in reference to planning applications and addressing issues of development in areas of high PM pollution, planning officers in development management and planning are also supportive of any information we can get from the sensors. - Great interest and support is coming from our partners in Cov & Warks Public Health with regards to identifying the issues around PM and where we may choose to target future air quality interventions , for example in areas with high incidence of heart disease and respiratory illness and linking to NHS admissions. Also closer working with schools for education and awareness raising of pupils and parents on air quality issues. - Our Highways & Transportation colleagues are interested in terms of monitoring areas where highway improvements, infrastructure changes and cycle routes are being undertaken to see what effects on air quality have been achieved (in particular through conversations with the Council's Cycling Engagement Coordinator and the Head of Transportation). - I also used the sensors as an example of collaborative working between Coventry City Council and Birmingham Uni in a recent presentation to the RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) for the online event organised by WM-Air , Air Quality and Planning, How better to integrate planning and air quality from an EHO's perspective). - Overall so many colleagues and partners are aware of the growing health threat from PM as we address NO2 and that is why your work is so valuable to us all going forward. Thank you again from us all for all your hard work to you and your colleagues getting things up and running all through difficult times, great job and a pleasure to be working with you. - Briefing note on low-cost sensors produced by WM-Air in conjunction with Steve Dewer at CCC: http://epapers.bham.ac.uk/4238/ |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dudley Metropolitan Council |
| Organisation | Dudley Metropolitan Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Monitoring advice: Dudley MBC reported seeing high NO2 levels (100+ ug/m3) from diffusion tube data on a stretch of road within their district. Members of the WM-Air team then visited the location with area with a more sensitive chemiluminscence NOx instrument to make some measurements and fed back the data to Dudley MBC. From this the limitations of diffusion tube data were raised and the need to spot check sites from time to time with more sensitive instruments were discussed. (2) ADMS model run and use of telemetry data to explore problematic locations, Halesowen road (Netherton) and Quarry Bank High st, to assist with tube placement, comparisons with monitoring data, and generally to explore exceedances in Dudley. (3) Data check of recorded NO2 emissions for Dudley Metropolitan Council: Dudley MBC (stakeholder of WM-Air) reported seeing high NO2 levels (100+ ug/m3) from diffusion tube data on a stretch of road within their district. Members of the WM-air team then visited the location with area with a more sensitive chemiluminscence NOx instrument to make some measurements and fed back the data to Dudley MBC. From this the limitations of diffusion tube data were raised and the need to spot check sites from time to time with more sensitive instruments were discussed. |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Access to local NO2 data. (2) Co-design of impact projects and case studies based around the policy and air quality needs for Dudley. |
| Impact | (1) Data analysis and advice for Dudley (2) Ongoing - provided baseline AQ maps for Dudley for consideration by DMC. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | HEAT - EDAR |
| Organisation | Hager Environmental & Atmospheric Technologies |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | In June and Oct 2022, the University of Birmingham WM-Air project conducted a measurement campaign to monitor real-world emissions from vehicles travelling along two busy roads within the West Midlands (Wolverhampton Road, Sandwell and A4540, Birmingham). The EDAR system is developed and commercialised by HEAT and instantaneously measures the emission rates of the passing vehicles. EDAR measured the real-world emission rates of more than 90,000 valid measurements - TfWM, BCC, National Express key partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | EDAR was deployed by the HEAT |
| Impact | NA - data currently begin analysed |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | HS2 |
| Organisation | High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | This is a collaboration initiated by a previous collaboration with Churchman Thornhill Finch (part of my KE Fellowship). Churchman Thornhill Finch were landscape architects for a the pre-works on the new Interchange station site. This led to us working with HS2 to develop practical guidance to design parkway stations with better air quality. The latter part of the work is undertaken on the WM-Air project, but the relationship stemmed from my NERC KE Fellowship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | HS2 have signed an NDA providing us with access to confidential information. They have also given substantial time in kind to develop the project, including facilitating access to their construction site, the necessary training, and several meetings. Fieldwork to measure the effectiveness of green infrastructure was planned in 2020; this did not take place due to CV19. |
| Impact | Fieldwork that was cancelled due to CV19 Draft report for practitioners currently under review. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | HS2 Interchange GI |
| Organisation | High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | HS2 Ltd are working with WM-Air to understand the impact if green infrastructure on air quality in and around their proposed Birmingham Interchange station. |
| Collaborator Contribution | HS2 and partners provide access to the construction site to enable baseline measurements. |
| Impact | No outcomes to date. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation at MAQS-Health Launch Workshop |
| Organisation | Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Presentation of Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment Tool (AQ-LAT) at the MAQS- Health workshop, involving a group of academic researchers. This partnership has led to refinement of the model and a discussion around future applications, including beta-testing and extending to a broader set of regions. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of air quality modelled data as input to health impact assessment tool |
| Impact | AQ-LAT modelling tool for health and economic impact assessment. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | SIEMENS |
| Organisation | Siemens AG |
| Department | Siemens plc |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Exploring how low cost sensors can be included in an offering to Coventry City Council. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Testing of sensors and exploring of future utility |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Organisation | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) AQ model work and PM source apportionment: Baseline AQ maps near Midland Metropolitan Hospital, Kendrick House and Bearwood Road sites in Sandwell, and source footprint for NO2 and PM2.5. (2) Estimating the health impact of air quality among residents living in Sandwell. (3) Partnered with Sandwell as part of the LGA-funded Net Zero Innovation Programme 'Community Climate Champions' (2021-2022) |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Co-design of project (2) Co-design of project and data provision (3) Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of data |
| Impact | (1) Baseline maps and briefing (ongoing) (2) Masters dissertation (3) Toolkit for Community Climate Champions |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Organisation | Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust |
| Department | Rheumatology Sandwell and West Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Provision of information and resources regarding air quality management at acute NHS Trust sites, including low-cost sensors briefing note, 'What is PM2.5 briefing', access to the AQ-LAT tool, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust briefing notes, published manuscript https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/18/11128. Undertaking of mapping for hospital sites against modelled air pollutant (NO2/PM2.5 concentrations). Hospital monitoring guidance to follow. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Head of Sustainability at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust approached WM-Air for support with developing an evidence based approach to air quality management at Trust locations. |
| Impact | Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust are developing an air quality action plan. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Organisation | Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Advice on AQ around local school (2) AQ Modelling: Run model for NO2, PM2.5, PM10 to identify hotspots to determine areas of concern. Solihull to use these to explore strategies to address AQ in those areas; (3) Potential PM sensor deployment (Solihull currently have no PM monitors) |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Request for support/advice (2) Co-design of project and data provision (3) Request for support |
| Impact | (1) Advice provided (2) Ongoing (3) Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | TRANSITION Clean Air Network funding award NERC [ |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | ANTICIPATE investigators (Gilbert, Moller, Hamilton) are Co-Investigators for the Clean Air Programme Strategic Priorities Fund Wave 2 Clean Air Network 'Optimising air quality and health benefits associated with a low-emission transport and mobility revolution in the UK' led by Dr Bartington. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Activities undertaken within the ANTICIPATE research programme generated research ideas for the network proposal. |
| Impact | NERC Grant Award (1 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2023) Value: £508,012. The main output to date is the launch workshop report 'Characterising Emerging Air Quality Challenges and Risks Associated with Transport Decarbonisation' |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | TfWM |
| Organisation | Transport for West Midlands |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Traffic Maps: Detailed traffic maps will be used to produce vehicle emission maps within the WM. Modelling the impact of future traffic activity, changing fleet composition (i.e. Euro classes), and the electrification of public transport on AQ. (2) Impact of Covid-lockdown on AQ: analysis of observations and model data (3) Joint work with Motts MacDonald: Modelling to support future rapid transit route prioritisation Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) are working with Mott MacDonald to support future rapid transit route prioritisation, as part of the development of the new West Midlands Local Transport Plan. As such, TfWM approached WM-Air for support with this work using the newly-developed, high resolution ADMS air quality model to explore the air quality across the West Midlands. This will assist a high level assessment of potential, new West Midlands rapid transit corridors (tram and Bus Rapid Transit lines). This assessment will inform the identification of priority projects for rapid transit for the next ten years, and longer term proposals. This is part of the production of the new consultation draft West Midlands Local Transport Plan public transport "Big Move" chapter, setting out the long term strategy for public transport, as part of an overall urban transport strategy. Annual average NO2 and PM2.5 data files over the West Midlands Metropolitan Area were requested for the years 2019, 2021 and 2030 by TfWM. |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Data access - the traffic maps are provided by TfWM (2) Briefing paper now cited in WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Report (3) Request for modelling to support future rapid transit route prioritisation (Brief) |
| Impact | (1) Ongoing (2) Analysis and Briefing Paper on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality provided for TfWM and WMCA for advice and guidance purposes, now cited in WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Report https://wm-air.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UoB-Briefing-May2020-WM-Air-Quality-Bloss-v2.pdf (3) Briefing report: The WM-Air air quality model was used to model annual average PM2.5 concentrations for 2019 business-as-usual (BAU) case, 2021 BAU case across the West Midlands, and to predict annual average PM2.5 concentrations in 2030 under different policy scenarios. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The Floow - telematics data |
| Organisation | Floow Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Telematics data will be used to produce detailed spatio-temporal distributions of driving characteristics across the studied area |
| Collaborator Contribution | Telematics data are providing and initial calculations are conducting by the Floow company |
| Impact | NA - ongoing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Traffic Ear |
| Organisation | Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Low-cost acoustic sensor to monitor, analyse and predict traffic and vehicular emissions with Spatiotemporal Context (Traffic Ear): This project was designed based on tripartite cooperation between academia, the private sector, and local authority: WM-Air, InnovateFactory and Sandwell metropolitan borough council (SMBC). The prototype sensor was designed by the InnovateFactory, and mounted in the city of Sandwell by SMBC. The collected data were analysed by the WM-Air team. 'Traffic EAR' was installed alongside EDAR (See HEAT partnership for more details), which was designed and developed by the Innovation Factory and uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to detect vehicle type according to its sound. The WM-Air team explored the sound of the West Midland's traffic fleet in order to develop a traffic noise inventory for the region, and explore its relationship with measured vehicle emissions and hence feed into policy (and public attitudes). The traffic noise dataset was juxtaposed by the telematics-based material and method previously created in the WM-Air to develop the first traffic noise map of the West Midlands |
| Collaborator Contribution | Innovation Factory developed and installed working prototypes of an acoustic sensor that contains deep learning algorithms to determine the traffic noise of passing vehicles. In cooperation with Sandwell metropolitan borough council, eleven sensors were mounted in different locations in the city of Sandwell. Nearly six months of training and measurement campaigns provided a reliable and detailed traffic noise dataset for different vehicle subsets. |
| Impact | TBC. Noise maps are the major policy instruments that allow hotspot analysis for environmental noise management and planning. They could be considered theoretical references for policymakers and urban managers for decision-making on environmental noise regulations. In this project, WM-Air used the data from a newly designed acoustic sensor, named Traffic Ear, telematics data and fleet composition to develop the first traffic noise map of West Midlands. This project was funded by Innovate UK with significant technical and scientific support from the WM-Air team. WM-Air developed the scientific, technical, and planning missions for a working prototype. The existing research tools created by WM-Air such as comprehensive telematics and fleet composition datasets were used to extract added values from the designed prototype sensor. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Description | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust |
| Organisation | University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | NO2 diffusion tubes and PM sensors deployed at QEHB, HH, BCC, BWH sites to provide ambient baseline monitoring for a 12-month period in 2020/2021, new deployment in 2023/2024 at QE to test out the effectiveness of any interventions implemented. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-designers of the project. Tube deployment will be conducted with the support of UHB/BWH/BCH Estates staff and will involve minimal interference with clinical activities and service delivery. |
| Impact | The WM-Air team are working with UHB to better understand environmental impacts of healthcare activities and to inform delivery of the UHB Sustainability Strategy. Diffusion tubes were deployed at Queen Elizabeth (QE) and Heartlands Hospital sites to provide ambient NO2 monitoring for 1 year, and PM sensors are also located at QE and the Children's Hospitals (with the Women's Hospital to follow), in order to understand local air pollutant concentrations. The interim data has been analysed and was presented to the UHB Sustainability Group (14 July 2021), along with results from a previous project evaluating the Clean Air Hospital Framework. A full briefing paper has now also been submitted and approved. These outputs will inform actions to be taken both at a small area level (such as consideration to be given for patient/staff/visitor access and travel arrangements by UHB), to inform targeted air quality monitoring protocols arising within the NHS Green Plan (NHS SDU) and to guide future actions within the Birmingham Transport Plan (Birmingham City Council). Outputs may also be used to inform delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan commitments, including the transfer to digitally enabled outpatient care and target for cutting mileage and air pollution from rapid response vehicles, patient transport and staff journeys by a fifth by 2024. In the longer term, arising actions may inform the NHS Green Plan delivery framework, for wider use by commissioners for healthcare service contracts thereby achieving lasting impact at a national level. Outcomes arising from these findings will also benefit the health and wellbeing of staff, visitors and patients at the healthcare sites and lead to improved societal awareness of the links between air quality and healthcare service delivery. Ongoing: i) a case study / guidance on best practices for AQ monitoring for submission to NHS England; (ii) a briefing paper for Birmingham City Council, (iii) second deployment |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Voi e-scooters |
| Organisation | Voi Technology |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | (1) Collaborative project assessing the scale of benefit achievable (emissions avoided, estimated health gain) for different scenarios of scooter use / journey mode shift, linking to TfWM/DfT Future Transport Zones pilot project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | (2) Provision of data (via API) and co-design of project |
| Impact | (1) Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | WMCA |
| Organisation | West Midlands Combined Authority |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Development of an air quality options paper setting out the evidence base for a potential air quality framework, including: • Context setting: existing regulation and policy • Emerging trends • Implementation measures to improve air quality • Potential options for delivery Presenting the options paper to local authority air quality officers, the Transport for West Midlands Leadership Team and Strategic Transport Officers Group and to the WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee. This paper passed at the WMCA board in February 2022 leading to the development of an air quality Framework. WM-Air are now supporting the development of the WMCA air quality framework, including: • Helping to develop funding applications • Providing guidance on the deployment of sensors and supporting modelled air quality data • Providing data on the health impacts of air quality through the AQ-LAT tool |
| Collaborator Contribution | The air quality options paper was developed together with WMCA Environment team and the paper will be taken to the WMCA board meeting in February |
| Impact | (1) Analysis and Briefing Paper on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality provided for BCC, TfWM, WMCA for advice and guidance purposes, now cited in WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Report: https://wm-air.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UoB-Briefing-May2020-WM-Air-Quality-Bloss-v2.pdf (2) An air quality options paper prepared for the WMCA board leading to a decision to produce a regional air quality framework - https://governance.wmca.org.uk/documents/s6510/Appendix.pdf - This collaboration was multidisciplinary involving atmospheric scientists (chemistry/physics) and public health researchers. The development of a new Air Quality Framework for the WM region was approved as a result. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Walsall Council |
| Organisation | Walsall Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Working in partnership to support the setting up a new air quality rural background site in Swindon (West Mids) (2) Running new WM-Air ADMS model to explore PM2.5 sources and hot spots for Walsall. |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Setting up an air quality rural background site (described above) - data available for use in the project. (2) Data sharing activities (they provided many datasets and support needed to set up the WM-Air ADMS model). Advice on the West Midlands ADMS Air Quality model being developed, based on the Walsall AQ model - Curtis Dean (Walsall Council employee working on their air quality model) worked closely with the WM-Air team to co-develop the regional AQ model (details under secondments section). |
| Impact | (1) Air quality rural site set up (2) ADMS Air Quality model |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Walsall Council - support for health and economic impact assessment |
| Organisation | Walsall Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Support given by 1-1 meetings and integration of local air quality data to health and economic assessment tool |
| Collaborator Contribution | Request made to integrate local air quality data into health and economic assessment tool for application to Walsall population |
| Impact | Integration of Walsall local air quality data to AQ-LAT and provision to Walsall. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Wolverhampton City Council |
| Organisation | Wolverhampton City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | (1) Roadside AQ exceedances: Use of ADMS model to explore NO2 hot spot areas (Lichfield St, Broadstreet, Ring Road) and consider impact of intervention plans. (2) Taxi licensing project: Assessment of taxi emissions arising from licensing scenarios |
| Collaborator Contribution | (1) Data provision and co-design of project (2) Data provision and information access |
| Impact | (1) Baseline AQ maps and initial briefing (2) Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Title | ADMS-Urban model configuration for West Midlands (Beta version) |
| Description | The core of the tool is a commercial model, ADMS-Urban. The tool is built on ADMS-Urban by incorporating multiple local datasets from West Midlands. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Impact | The tool is being used to model air quality for the entire West Midlands. After the final version of the tool is successfully completed, it will be used within the WM-Air project to simulate the consequences and impact of policy scenarios in future. |
| Title | Application of CMAQ - Community Multiscale Air Quality Modelling System - for WM-Air |
| Description | The Community Multiscale Air Quality Modelling System (CMAQ) is an active open-source development project of the U.S. EPA that consists of a suite of programs for conducting air quality model simulations. CMAQ combines current knowledge in atmospheric science and air quality modeling, multi-processor computing techniques, and an open-source framework to deliver fast, technically sound estimates of ozone, particulates, toxics and acid deposition. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | The Application of the CMAQ model in the WMAir project permit to conduce air quality simulations over the region testing the impact of possible scenarios with reduced anthropogenic emissions in agreement with future mitigation policies. Moreover, the scenarios have been tested applying the emission reduction at national and local level evaluating the imapct of both cases on the resulting levels of air pollution in the West Midlands. Finally, the outputs from CMAQ model have been also used to create the boundary conditions of air contamination to conduce air quality simulation using the local model ADMS - urban. |
| Description | "End-user innovation of DIY Citizen Place-Making and Local Infrastructure Provision", Malvern Festival of Innovation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 45 people attended an event evolving presentations and then discussions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.festival-innovation.com/archives/2019-programme/2019-environment-sustainability |
| Description | "Repatriation or Reshoring of Manufacturing to the US and UK: Dynamics and Global Production Networks or from Here to There and Back Again", invited presentation to the Social Situation Monitor Research Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 2019 "Repatriation or Reshoring of Manufacturing to the US and UK: Dynamics and Global Production Networks or from Here to There and Back Again", invited presentation to the Social Situation Monitor Research Seminar, European Commission, SSM Seminar Global Value Chains workshop, Brussels, 17 December 2019, https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=88&eventsId=1542&furtherEvents=yes, 35 attendees |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=88&eventsId=1542&furtherEvents=yes |
| Description | "The End of Manufacturing as we Know it: New Forms of Urban Production", invited seminar to the Conférence Urban Production |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2019 "The End of Manufacturing as we Know it: New Forms of Urban Production", invited seminar to the Conférence Urban Production, organised by Metrolab, Brussels. November 14 and 15, 2019, http://www.metrolab.brussels/events/conference-urban-production, 120 attendees |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.metrolab.brussels/events/conference-urban-production |
| Description | 'A Bollywood Solution to Air Pollution: Linking Research and Policy to the Cinema Screen', City REDI blog, 19/03/2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | City REDI blog: 'A Bollywood Solution to Air Pollution: Linking Research and Policy to the Cinema Screen', |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/cityredi/a-bollywood-solution-to-air-pollution-linking-research-and-policy-t... |
| Description | 'Spacetime and Singapore: Towards a Four-Dimensional Understanding of City-Region Economies', City REDI blog, 08/05/2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'Spacetime and Singapore: Towards a Four-Dimensional Understanding of City-Region Economies', City REDI blog, 08/05/2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/cityredi/spacetime-and-singapore-towards-a-four-dimensional-understanding-of... |
| Description | 'The Invisible Killer and London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone: Too little and too late?', Birmingham Business School blog, 12/04/2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'The Invisible Killer and London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone: Too little and too late?', Birmingham Business School blog, 12/04/2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2019/04/12/the-invisible-killer-and-londons-ultra-low-emissi... |
| Description | 'The Invisible Killer and Responsible Inclusive Prosperity: Tackling the Challenges of Urban Air Pollution - Delhi India, 6-7 March 2019', City REDI blog, 09/03/2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 'The Invisible Killer and Responsible Inclusive Prosperity: Tackling the Challenges of Urban Air Pollution - Delhi India, 6-7 March 2019', City REDI blog, 09/03/2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/cityredi/the-invisible-killer-and-responsible-inclusive-prosperity-tackling-... |
| Description | A blog - Levelling-up and the Diocese of Worcester: What can be learnt? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This is a blog on levelling-up that draw upon the Urban Living and WM-Air projects |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2022/02/09/levelling-up-and-the-diocese-of-worcester-what-ca... |
| Description | A blog on 'Good growth vs parasitic growth for responsible business', |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A blog that builds on these two projects - Urban Living Birmingham and Wm-AIR that explores good growth in the context of responsible business |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2021/04/13/good-growth-vs-parasitic-growth-for-responsible-b... |
| Description | A blog on 'Climate change, pandemic preparedness, and a public inquiry' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A blog on climate change and pandemic preparedness |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2021/05/17/climate-change-pandemic-preparedness-and-a-public... |
| Description | Air Quality Forum 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof William Bloss invited to give a presentation about WM-Air at the Air Quality Forum ('Practical guidance for planning and implementing targeted solutions to improve air quality through an interdisciplinary approach'), Tuesday 25 February 2020, Arup, London |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.waterfrontconferencecompany.com/conferences/air-quality-forum |
| Description | Air Quality Innovation (Sustainability West Midland) 10 Dec 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Prof William Bloss and Omid Ghaffarpasand gave presentation at Air Quality Innovation (Sustainability West Midland) 10 Dec 2019 - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Air Quality and Climate Change Roundtable - Transport Professional Magazine |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Virtual roundtable discussion on the subject of the climate challenge and improving air quality. Specific discussion points: * Whether the transport sector will be able to meet the 2050 net zero emissions target, and strategies for getting us there * The need to improve air quality, whether we should set targets and the role of clean air zones * The consequences of failing to make transport and mobility greener and cleaner * Priorities and possible solutions (eg electric cars, more walking and cycling, road pricing) * The role of governments, the transport sector and the public * The impact of Covid on environmental ambitions and travel behaviours, both short and long term |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Air Quality in the West Midlands Covid-19 WM-Air Interim Briefing Note (on website) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Analysis and Briefing Paper on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on air quality provided for BCC, TfWM, WMCA for advice and guidance purposes: Air quality has received much attention since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes in behaviour and economic activity over the past two months. The briefing paper looked at what we would expect to see, the observed changes in air quality and the implications for clean air policy and human health: https://wm-air.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UoB-Briefing-May2020-WM-Air-Quality-Bloss-v2.pdf It is now cited in WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Report. Resulted in new work strand predicting air quality compliance for 2020 and 2021 requested by BCC, related to Clean Air Zone plans. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UoB-Briefing-May2020-WM-Air-Quality-Bloss-v2.pdf |
| Description | Air pollution health risk continues in East Africa as policy 'tensions' endure |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This piece explored air pollution in the context of East African cities with a focus on policy tensions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/air-pollution-health-risk-continues-in-east-africa |
| Description | Al Jazeera TV Interview re: 'The COVID-19 Effect: why coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change' Uni Birmingham blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Live Al Jazeera English television interview on air quality and Covid-19 to Research Fish. This occurred this evening (9.35pm - 11 March), and would have been seen by many millions internationally (potentially 54m according to the audience figures on-line). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/covid-19-climate-change.aspx |
| Description | Allometry media |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media coverage for MacKenzie et al. 2019, 'Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations", Environ. Res. Lett. Reach statistic by 15th Feb 2020 = 27 million, with a value to the funders calculated by the UoB press office as £502,000. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-51268918 |
| Description | BBC interview about Clean Air Zones (used alongside the launch of the Sheffield CAZ), Feb 2023. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | BBC interview about Clean Air Zones (used alongside the launch of the Sheffield CAZ), Feb 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | BLog on COP26 - Climate Change and the need to Shift Beyond 'Blah, Blah, Blah' towards Individual Responsibility |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A blog that drew upon the Urban Living project and the WM-AIR project to explore climate change and individual action - end-user engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/cop26-need-to-shift-beyond-blah.aspx |
| Description | Birmingham Connected AQ video - Impact of air pollution on plants and wildlife |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Birmingham Connected AQ video - Impact of air pollution on plants and wildlife: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR0gwWU3yQ4 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR0gwWU3yQ4 |
| Description | Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | COVID-19, the Domino Effect and Enhancing Pandemic Resilience across the West Midlands |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2020/09/14/enhancing-pandemic-resilience-across-the-west-mid... |
| Description | Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A blog on "Overcoming wicked problems: structural inequality, discrimination and racism" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2020/06/09/overcoming-wicked-problems/ |
| Description | Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bryson J.R., 'The COVID-19 Effect: why coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change', read over 50,000 times by Jan. 2021 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/covid-19-climate-change.aspx |
| Description | Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bryson J.R., 'Responsible Business and Responsible Citizenship: Mutual Aid, Self-Isolation and the Covid-19 Pandemic', https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/responsible-business-covid-19.aspx, 17 to 25 March 2020 on front page of the University website, viewed 923 times by 15 November 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/responsible-business-covid-19.aspx |
| Description | Blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Beyond Nation First? COVID-19, Climate Change and Global Solutions Required for Global Problems |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/debate/index.aspx |
| Description | Blog on Building back better - Building Back Better and the UK's Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A blog on building back better and the new UK green strategy that was informed by WM-Air and Urban Living Birmingham project insights |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2021/03/15/building-back-better-and-the-uks-ten-point-plan-f... |
| Description | COP27 and the highway to climate hell |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This was a commentary on COP27 that explored some of the links between climate change and air quality |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/cop27-and-the-highway-to-climate-hell |
| Description | Clean Air Day 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Day 2020. An evening panel discussion organised by ST, chaired by ARMK, and including WJB on the panel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Clean Air Day 2022 activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Day (16th June): WM-Air staff contributed to a TRANSITION and UK-100 supported event 'Beyond Clean Air Zones', at Birmingham Library. The interactive workshop brought together 30+ elected Councillors, researchers, practitioners, and citizen representatives to consider evidence emerging from 'Clean Air Zone' initiatives implemented in UK cities, with a view to defining key challenges and future solutions. This was followed by a networking reception. WM-Air worked with the UoB sustainable transport team on a pilot study measuring air quality along the A38 cycleway using e-cargo bikes. WM-Air stand at UoB's Sustainability Town Hall event. WM-Air also supported a public engagement event at The Exchange which was attended by ~30 members of the public. Twitter posts can be viewed at @WMAir_UoB or #UoBCleanAirDay |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Clean Air Day 2022 public talk - 16 June 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Day public talk to coincide with Mums for Lungs Guest Speaker (health impacts of air pollution in Birmingham) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/the-exchange/the-air-we-breathe/guest-speaker-series-mums-for-lu... |
| Description | Clean Air for All - COVID19, Clean Air and Mobility |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Day webinar exploring the links between Clean Air, COVID-19 and Mobility. The expert panel explored COVID-19 impacts upon air quality, transport and mobility in the West Midlands region, including academic research, community action and future policy direction. Speakers included: Professor William Bloss - Professor of Atmospheric Science, University of Birmingham, Cllr Waseem Zaffar - Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Birmingham City Council, Clare Maltby - England Director (Midlands and East), Sustrans, Ali Bell - Head of External Communications, National Express, Shivaji Shiva - Charities Partner at law firm VWV and Co-founder of Cycling Works for Birmingham. The event was also live streamed by Global Action Plan (Clean Air Day live) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.cleanairday.org.uk/clean-air-day-live |
| Description | Clean Air for All - Working together to improve the air we breathe for better health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A public workshop was held on 20 November 2019 to inform the public about the health effects of poor air quality, explore their opinions about this issue and answer their questions. 108 people attended the event, of which just over half identified themselves as members of the public. Approximately half of the delegates reported that they, or a relative of theirs, had a lung condition. The majority of delegates were from Birmingham city with the remainder mainly from the West Midlands region. Broadly speaking, the delegates were already engaged, interested and fairly knowledgeable about the issues which were being discussed. The lecture theatre session began and ended with interactive sessions using electronic polling devices to explore the knowledge base and canvass opinions from the delegates. A total of 71 feedback forms were received from the event and the feedback overall was overwhelmingly positive. Overall, 97% of delegates felt they had learned something new by attending Clean Air for All ('Strongly Agree' or 'Agree'), with only one delegate disagreeing with this statement. Free text responses indicated learning concerned factual knowledge of air quality statistics, the evidence base concerning health impacts and the role of the health service as both a contributor to poor air quality and relevant stakeholder for undertaking actions to mitigate impacts. https://www.birminghamhealthpartners.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Clean-Air-for-All-Event-Report-Redacted-Version-16-Dec-2019.pdf |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.birminghamhealthpartners.co.uk/clean-air-for-all/ |
| Description | DEFRA Secretary of State Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | DEFRA Secretary of State Visit: Hosted visit from Therese Coffey, Andy Street (Mayor of the WM) and Ian Courts (WMCA Environment lead) to UoB air quality supersite, with presentation of WM-Air regional impact benefits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Editorial in Singapore's only national paper - The Straits Times |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An invitation to write the main editorial in The Straits Times, Singapore's national newspaper with over 1.9m opportunities to see. Linked to WM-Air given the inclusion of an environmental pollution aspect |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/ukraine-and-the-putin-paradox |
| Description | Engagement with school groups during half term |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Air quality engagement and presentation of interactive materials during half-term. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | EnvironmentalHealth 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited Chair and Keynote, Environmental Health 2019, A.R. MacKenzie: Not falling over: strategies for the three-legged race to better urban futures |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | FutureBuild 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited keynote by A.R. MacKenzie: Reduce, Extend, Protect: Practical and evidenced steps to reduce public exposure to air pollution |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/speakers/rob-mackenzie |
| Description | FutureBuild2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | "Reduce, Extend, Protect: Practical and evidenced steps to reduce public exposure to air pollution". Invited keynote, FutureBuild, London, 5 March 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Health Economics Study Group - Winter 2022 Meeting Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Health Economics Study Group Winter 2022 meeting - presentation and discussion paper "The WM-Air Air Quality Life Assessment Tool (AQ-LAT): Designing a health economic decision-making tool for local partners to estimate the economic impacts of changes in air quality". Discussant: James Shearer |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Innovation challenge program (Sustainability West Midland) 13 Sep 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Innovation challenge program (Sustainability West Midland) 13 Sep 2019 - Short presentation on air quality and important challenges |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Institute of Physics (IOP) - Looking Glass Podcast (Air) - 11 July 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Ambient air pollution is responsible for 4.2 million deaths a year and almost all of the world's population are exposed to dangerous levels. How can physics help us to make our air cleaner? With Dr Suzanne Bartington and Dr Mark Richards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://shows.acast.com/looking-glass/episodes/episode-5-air-how-will-i-breathe |
| Description | Interview for national news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Live interview on BBC Breakfast and also covered on the New Channel on behaviour change |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Interview for national news |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Live interview on BBC Breakfast on the UK economy, on 13 January 2023 that was also covered on BBC Radio 2, and the News Channel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Invited presentation to the Worcester Diocesan Synod on Where now for Church and Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was an invited presentation to the Synod of the Diocese of Worcester to explore societal change that include a discussion of the reading cities approach developed from the Urban Living Project and air quality issues linked to WM-AIR |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a knowledge exchange event held on 14 Feb 2022 with the audience being postgraduate students from UCL on a professional planning degree. Thus, this is about educating future planners. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Levelling up and the politics of place-based tokenism |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | This is piece that identified local policy challenges framed within the context of the levelling-up agenda in the UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2023/levelling-up-and-the-politics-of-place-based-tokenism |
| Description | MEG technical visit of Councillors to the University of Birmingham - 25 Jan 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A delegation of Councillors and senior officers visited the WM-Air programme on 25 Jan 2023 for a presentation, roundtable discussion and Q and A session. Specific enquiries were made about local sources and health impacts of air pollution (e.g., at ward level). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Media coverage for MacKenzie et al. 2019, 'Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media coverage for MacKenzie et al. 2019, 'Urban form strongly mediates the allometric scaling of airshed pollution concentrations", Environ. Res. Lett. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab50e3 [Reach statistic by 14th Jan 2020 = 7.3 million, with a value to the University calculated by the press office as £174,000.] |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab50e3 |
| Description | Media interviews following the Birmingham Clean Air Zone Implementation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Clean Air Zone Launch - Communications Evaluation On 1 June 2021, Birmingham City Council announced the launch of the city's Clean Air Zone. Working with professional services and academic colleagues, we used this as an opportunity to promote the world-leading clean air research, taking place across the University of Birmingham. Communications Activity Total reach - 3,601,092 We contacted (and were contacted by) regional and national media outlets to provide expert comment on the introduction of the Clean Air Zone. Outputs include; Date Outlet Media item Academic Reach 1 June 2021 5 News Birmingham launches 'clean air zone', but defers payments for the first 2 weeks Professor Zongbo Shi 1,000,000 1 June 2021 ITV Central News Clean Air Zone Launch Professors William Bloss and Zongbo Shi 655,000 1 June 2021 Sky News Clean Air Zone Launch Professor Zongbo Shi 324,000 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdgqSO54x2U |
| Description | Meeting with Turrock Council to discuss approaches to underpinning city-region policy with diagnostics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A meeting with officers from Thurrock Council to explore Urban Diagnostics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with policymakers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Birmingham City Council representative including a Councillor and representatives of the Clean Air Zone team |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Meeting with policymakers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with DEFRA policymakers from the Air Quality Unit to explore air quality evaluation approaches |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Meeting with representatives from Birmingham City Council |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Clean Air Zone leads to discuss the impacts of the CAZ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Mobility as a Service (HSBC Bank) 21 Nov 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Discussions on roundtable at Mobility as a Service (HSBC Bank) 21 Nov 2019 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | PHE AQ review |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Public Health England (PHE) Air Quality Review, Advisory Group - Planning / Spatial. Public Health England (PHE) has been requested by government to review the evidence for effective air quality interventions and provide practical recommendations for actions to supplement those identified in the air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide in UK (2017), by August 2018. The recommendations must stratify interventions by their health and economic impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Participation in 'Birmingham Conversations' public engagement webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Participation as a speaker in the Birmingham Conversations event hosted online in association with The Air We Breathe Exhibition at the Exchange. The discussion series provides a relaxed environment for local citizens, community groups and university researchers to have conversations about issues that affect the lives of people across the city. The topic of this discussion was 'what it's like to live and breathe in Brum' and we presented and discussed findings of research arising from the consultation process for Low Traffic Neighbourhood implementation in Kings Heath. There were a range of insightful questions and links for future research, including with Sustrans West Midlands. It also provided additional ideas and suggestions for maximising reach of outputs for existing research in progress. The audience also showed a change in views about priorities for their own neighbourhoods as a result of participation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/birmingham-conversations.aspx |
| Description | Policy U-turns and avoiding plan continuation bias |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A piece on the policy-making process intended to contribute to an on-going media and policy debate. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2022/policy-u-turns-and-avoiding-plan-continuation-bias |
| Description | Presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Clean Air Zones as part of the UK Clean Air Day Conference |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation at Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum - Next steps for improving air quality at a local level in England - 13 Dec 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and case study discussion for policymakers in national and local government. local strategies: priorities for locally-based action to improve air quality in communities across England policy and funding: assessing the current policy landscape, along with grants and other forms of support being offered to local areas - opportunities for funding, investment and sponsorship best practice: latest strategies and approaches, both locally and nationally - Clean Air Zones, and supporting the uptake and use of zero emission vehicles targeted action: developing and implementing measures to improve air quality near schools, care homes, businesses and communities - driving behavioural change - improving awareness active travel: the cycling and walking investment strategy 2 (CWIS2) - encouraging zero emission travel - improving cycling and walking infrastructure - support for retrofit projects collaborative structures: best practice in joint working between local authorities, as well as businesses, infrastructure providers, environment and health specialists, and other stakeholders monitoring and guidance: building the evidence base - setting and providing guidance for industry and local stakeholders - measuring outcomes |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/publication/Air-Quality-22 |
| Description | Presentation at the Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands (ARCWM) Public Health Summit - 26 Jan 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation and demonstration of the Air Quality Lifecourse Assessment tool for health and economic impact in the West Midlands region. This included consideration of the potential benefits delivered by future net-zero scenarios (for air quality and health). Questions and discussion considered further applications for tool methodology, including in Low and Middle Income country settings. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to Public Health Specialty Registrars attending the Health Education West Midlands Regional Training Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | SEB presented to Public Health Specialty Registrars attending the Health Education West Midlands Regional Training Day to provide knowledge of air quality and health research and explore opportunities to integrate air quality within local authority training placements. (7 October 2019) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation to West Midlands Environmental Protection Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Demonstrated calculator and showed how model can be used to quantify monetised costs/benefits as a result of increase/drop in pollutant levels. - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to academics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on Clean Air Zones and measuring their impacts to the Big Data and Economics Research Network (BVRN) Workshop", University of Birmingham, 6 June 2022 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to end-user |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on New Approach to Identifying the Economic Impacts of Air Pollution to end-users engaged with the project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to industry, public and civic sector representatives at the joint Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) - Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management seminar (5 June 2019). |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Suzanne Bartington presented to industry, public and civic sector representatives at the joint Sustainability West Midlands (SWM) - Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management seminar (5 June 2019). The session identified a number of synergies between emerging environmental health challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation to the Coventry & Warwickshire Air Quality Alliance - 8 Dec 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation to Environmental Health/Air Quality officers and practitioners to share an update on WM-Air activities and support available for evidence based air quality actions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Presentation to the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Sustainability Group - 4 Oct 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation regarding sensor data acquisition at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Discussion of next steps for air quality monitoring/review. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Public Talk - Birmingham Conversations: What's it Like to Live and Travel in Brum? - 30 March 2022 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This online event was presented as part of The Air We Breathe, a brand-new public programme, with an exhibition, activities and eventsthat explore the close relationships between us, our environment and our air quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/events/birmingham-conversations-whats-it-like-to-live-and-travel... |
| Description | Public engagement at Alexander Stadium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A mobile air quality supersite was installed at Alexander Stadium for the Commonwealth games. WM-Air researchers were on site before athletic sessions started at the stadium to engage with the public on air quality and answer their questions. This sparked questions on a broad range of topics from spectators including on cooking emissions, the Birmingham CAZ and travel to the Games. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/b2022/ |
| Description | RTPI CPD Urban Trees to Help Address Climate Change and Air Pollution |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Online presentation for regional RTPI (Royal Town Planning Association) as part of their professional CPD programme |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Radio interview |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Al Jazera English, 9.25pm. live interview on COVID-19 and climate impacts linked to the blog published on the University of Birmingham Perspectives Blog, Wednesday 11 March 2020, 53million reach. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Responsible Inclusive Prosperity, Infrastructure and the West Midland's Local Industrial Strategy", Westminster Business Forum Keynote Seminar: Next steps for the West Midland's Local Industrial Strategy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | 120 people attended an event evolving presentations and then discussions |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow's third runway, Birmingham Business School Blog, 28 Feb 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Birmingham Business School Blog: Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow's third runway |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2020/02/28/third-runway-at-heathrow/ |
| Description | Roundtable (Short Journeys) - University of Hertfordshire |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | An invited presentation given at a transport policy roundtable (convened by the University of Hertfordshire) to discuss the following points: Many car journeys in counties and market towns are short distance. What can be done to move these away from cars? What is needed to move these to walking and cycling? Will micromobility substitute for car trips - e-bikes, scooters etc? In the wake of Covid-19, can the extra walking and cycling be retained and how can these be given priority in counties?" The key arising output was a policy briefing note for the Department for Transport (Short Journeys). It also resulted in a new collaboration and invited member for the TRANSITION Clean Air Network advisory group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Sounding Out Pollution: Can you hear whats in the air? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Sounding Out Pollution' is a novel collaboration between atmospheric scientists at the University of Birmingham and sound artist, Robert Jarvis. The engagement project applied innovative sonification techniques to enable people to 'hear' examples of contrasting air quality data from urban and rural locations across the UK, from a route across Birmingham, and at different times of the day, in order to stimulate curiosity and improve understanding of how to manage exposure to poor air quality, and to reduce emissions. The project culminated in a presentation of three audio-visual 'Chapters', both online (wm-air.org.uk/sound) and at "The Air We Breathe" exhibition at 'The Exchange', a new Birmingham city centre venue for public engagement. Anonymised feedback has been collected both online and at the physical exhibition for evaluation purposes. A selection of quotes are included below: • "The sound compositions communicate the 'ominous' nature of poor air quality very well. Really impactful." • "I found it easier to follow the ideas via sound patterns than by a graph or other visual means." • "Really thought provoking!" • "The 2nd video ('Pick Your Moment') directly made me think about when is the best time to go out for my daily run. This was reinforced by the 3rd video. The messaging for the first 'Location Matters' video seems more obvious although the last slide is pretty powerful. All can be summed up as Avoid The Traffic!!!" The physical and online exhibits engaged both local residents and also wider UK and overseas audiences. All of those surveyed said the compositions successfully communicated where and when they might encounter less exposure to air pollution, with 67% stating that the exhibition had inspired them to consider actions to reduce their own emissions and/or their exposure to air pollution. Since the exhibition launched (May 2022), press release had 50k+ views inc. article in MixMag - displayed at The Exchange (UoB), in the Sound Canopy at Glastonbury and ICAD2022. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/sound/ |
| Description | System change, levelling-up and courageous policy objectives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A piece that explores the levelling-up agenda that was part of an on-going media and political discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blog.bham.ac.uk/business-school/2022/04/14/system-change-levelling-up-and-courageous-policy-... |
| Description | TfWM emissions data training and technical sessions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Emissions data training (27th Jan 2023) + follow-up technical session (27th Jan 2022) with ~10 TfWM officers |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | The Air We Breathe |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The University of Birmingham has opened a major new public engagement venue called The Exchange. The inaugural exhibition, called "The Air We Breathe", drew on many of the grants being reported here, both for air quality and for forests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange/index.aspx |
| Description | The Air We Breathe Public Programme + Exhibition |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bringing together cutting edge research from WM-Air and academics across the University of Birmingham, The Air We Breathe is a public programme of exhibition, activities and events exploring the relationships between people, the environment and air quality. The Exhibition has been open since October 2021 and runs until July 2022. To-date over 1,500 have visited the exhibition. An add-on exhibit 'Sounding out pollution' will be added in March 2022. Feedback will be analysed in due course in order to understand impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/the-exchange/the-air-we-breathe.aspx |
| Description | The COVID-19 Effect: why coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change - University of Birmingham blog |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bryson J.R. (2020). "The COVID-19 Effect: why coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change", Birmingham Perspectives, front page of the University of Birmingham website The COVID-19 Effect: why coronavirus is eclipsing Thunberg on climate change - University of Birmingham With action required to protect the environment Professor of Enterprise and Economic Geography, John Bryson discusses if the COVID-19 effect may have had a greater impact than the Thunberg effect. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/perspective/covid-19-climate-change.aspx |
| Description | The Conversation blog - 70 years on from London's Great Smog, we still need cleaner air to protect health |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog article co- authored by Prof William Bloss and Dr Suzanne Bartington, in response to the UK Chief Medical Officer's Anniversary Report and 70th Anniversary of the London smogs. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | The Edge Debate (online): The nexus of clean air and urban climate resilience |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Short presentation then part of the debate panel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | The Royal Society - You and the planet: air |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Panel webinar hosted by the Royal Society and undertaken in collaboration with Manchester Science Festival https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/02/you-and-the-planet-air/ exploring the science of air quality and climate change, the impact air pollution on the planet and people's health. The event was live-streamed on the Royal Society YouTube channel and made available as a recording on the Royal Society website. Attended live by 520 viewers, with 90 questions submitted and over 2500 viewed the recording within a 24 hour period. The event led to several submitted questions which have since shaped new research ideas - for example with regard to impacts of domestic woodburning in the West Midlands region and introduction of 20 mph speed limits. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2021/02/you-and-the-planet-air/ |
| Description | Transport for West Midlands |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability: Invited presentation to transport professionals and local councillors on steps to improve air quality (Oct 2020) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | UKHSA Annual UK Research Review Meeting on Outdoor and Indoor Air Pollution research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Chairing of session on transport related air pollution at the UKHSA Annual UK Research Review Meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | UoB Planetary Health workshop (24 June 2019) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Suzanne Bartington organised the first UoB Planetary Health workshop (24 June 2019), including internal and external interdisciplinary academic researchers, clinicians, and local authority officers. The workshop identified a need for expert input for intersectoral horizon scanning, including identification of potential policy conflict areas with regard to climate change and air pollution mitigation measures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Urban Effects of Lockdown - a UDG Coalition Conversation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of the online event - UDG Coalition Conversations - is to encourage built environment professionals to come together to share ideas and thoughts on how to tackle the most pressing crises facing towns and cities. The first online conversation focuses on Urban Effects of Lockdown. Professor Zongbo Shi gave a talk on the how lockdown affected air quality in global cities and what does it mean for future air pollution control. He also answered a number of questions by the audiences |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.udg.org.uk/events/2021/urban-effects-lockdown-udg-coalition-conversation |
| Description | WJB interviewed on BBC News regarding woodburners |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Bill Bloss of filmed by BBC News commenting on government plans to plans to ban coal and wet wood from next January. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | WM-Air Annual Meeting, 29th October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Annual meeting to update stakeholders and partners about WM-Air project progress and to engage them in discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | WM-Air Quarterly Newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Quarterly e-newsletter outlining and updating audiences (stakeholders, partners and interested parties) on the work of the WM-Air project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | WM-Air Twitter (@WMAir_UoB) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Twitter account for the WM-air project, currently 170 followers, 260 tweets sent out, 10,000 engagements. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/WMAir_UoB |
| Description | WM-Air website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | WM-Air project website, containing information about the project, aims, case studies, and partners, as well as resources for stakeholders, general public and interested other parties. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
| URL | https://wm-air.org.uk/ |
| Description | WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Cllrs knowledge transfer session at UoB 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Cllrs knowledge transfer session at UoB (air quality and health), inc. visit to BAQS (26th Jan 2023). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | WMCA Transport Delivery Committee Councillors visit, 30th Jan 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | William Bloss and Catherine Muller welcomed a group of councillors from across the West Midlands (Cllr Richard Worral (Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council), Cllr Kath Hartley (Birmingham City Council) and Cllr Celia Hibbert (City of Wolverhampton Council)) plus representatives from Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), and the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), who were interested in finding out about the WM-Air project and air quality impacts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar - business |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A national Webinar organised by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) a presentation and related discussion under the title "Managing your Business Strategy Post-Pandemic". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar - business |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Invited to participate and present on the Digital Leadership Programme organized by GBSLEP and targeted at future digital leader across the West Midlands, 'Reading Service Businesses: New Business Models and Value Creation Processes', 9 September 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar - policymakers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Invited to participate in the IGI, Birmingham, COVID-19 Webinar Series 'Living with the Pandemic', my topic was Social Distancing: People are the Problem (3 June 2020), about 300 people, with viewers from Brazil, Nigeria, Kenya, Romania, Belgium, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia and 'Facebook friends from the Arab world'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar for Health Education England |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited to participate and present in a webinar organised by Health Education England on 10 November 2020 (90 delegates) on the topic "Covid-19 and the Economy: Forms of Life and the Tensions between the Biological, the Biographical and the Environmental". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar targeted at American policy-makers and businesses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Webinar discussion organised by Small Business Development Centre, University of New York (SUNY) on COVID-19 and the Management of Risk and Alternative Values, on Thursday 17 September 2020 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Webinar targeted at Business |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A presentation and discussion as part of the Business Bites webinar series run out of the Dubai campus of the University of Birmingham. The topic was: Covid-19 Pandemic and precarious Economies: Risk and Value in existing business models and the change required for recovery |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://anchor.fm/unibirminghamdubai/episodes/COVID-19-Pandemic-and-precarious-Economies-Risk-and-Va... |
| Description | West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Visit by Adam Tranter - Cycling and Walking Commissioner for the West Midlands region (Transport for West Midlands) to the Edgbaston Campus, including tour of the Birmingham Air Quality Supersite. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/adamtranter/status/1496565518928650253 |