FIELD AMBIENT ODOUR ASSESSMENT SURVEYS

The Odour Unit utilises methods for assessing the ground level impacts of odour emissions using modifed versions of the German Standard VDI 3940. Field ambient odour assessment surveys are considered a valuable odour impact assessment tool where odour sampling and odour concentration data is difficult to obtain. The general aim is to determine the extent of the impact of odours downwind from the source and rank their intensity.

Options include:

•  Field Odour Assessor Panels (Comprehensive)
  •   At least five individual odour surveys
  •   At least three experienced and calibrated odour assessors
  •   Assessors individually calibrated by n-butanol and triangle methods
  •   Odour intensities and characters recorded every ten-seconds over ten-minutes at each downwind assessment location
  •   Derivation of ground level odour concentrations possible

•  Individual Field Odour Consultant (Screening)
  •   Low cost, low visibility and not intrusive
  •   Preliminary 'snapshot' of odour plume and quality
  •   One expert odour consultant assessor with long established calibration history
  •   Downwind region systematically traveresed in grid like pattern logging location, time, ambient conditions, odour intensities and characters
  •   Odour intensities and characters observed over a two- to five-minute period with pertinent commentary noted