Environmental research

Research projects

CERC undertakes a wide range of environmental research projects broadly covering atmospheric issues and complex flow problems. The projects are varied and have been undertaken for local, national and international organizations, often in collaboration with academic, government or commercial partners.

They include many air quality studies comprising for instance:

• mitigation scenario testing for both pollutant concentrations and emissions;
• source apportionment;
• detailed studies of atmospheric chemical mechanisms and dispersion in street canyons;
• scientific model evaluation methodologies;
• development of the understanding and parameterizations of boundary layer flows essential for improved dispersion modelling including effects of complex topography, generation of coastal jets and marine boundary layer structure.

If you would like to discuss a research project with us, then please contact us and our highly experienced development team will be pleased to help.

Software development

One of CERC's principal functions is to make use of new developments in environmental research to develop practical but scientifically advanced environmental software.

Since its inception CERC, sometimes with sponsorship from industrial companies and UK government departments, has produced a number of models which tackle issues such as air dispersion of both planned and emergency releases, air quality management, flow over complex terrain and compilation of atmospheric emissions data including greenhouse gases.

Customization of standard release versions of our models and the development of new software modelling systems have been undertaken for various clients with specialised requirements. We have developed other custom software for particular clients including tools for calculating and manipulating pollutant emissions, and innovative web platforms to present information to a range of audiences.

Our experience covers a variety of applications, from fluid mechanics and atmospheric dispersion to database construction. Examples include:

• Extension of the chemistry scheme in ADMS to incorporate the chemical reactions of amines and their products as part of the ‘CO₂ capture Mongstad’ project, a major venture overseen by Statoil Petroleum AS and Gassnova SF (the Norwegian State enterprise for carbon capture and storage).
• Development of the advanced street canyon and urban canopy model options for clients in Hong Kong, to better represent the dispersion within their urban area.
• Extension of ADMS-Urban to calculate changes in temperature and humidity due to land use and anthropogenic factors
• Development of ADMS-STAR to calculate the effects on food from the deposition of accidental releases, for a UK government agency.
• Development of ADMS-Puff to model dense gas releases in a spatially varying meteorological field, for clients in China.
• Development of a conversion tool which enables the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department to use emissions calculated from its Emission Factors Model for Hong Kong in ADMS-Urban.
• Development of the CARBONES web platform to present carbon cycle data from the EU research project CARBONES for scientists and policy makers.
• Development of a model of flow through porous structures (e.g. oil and gas rigs).

If you would like to discuss a new software system you would like to be developed or a customised application of an existing CERC model, then please contact us and our highly experienced development team will be pleased to help.