The level of annoyance depends, in complex ways, on how odours are emitted and in what intensity, their dispersion under ambient atmospheric conditions and finally on citizens’ exposure and perception.
OMNISCIENTIS* brings together state of the art technologies and open communication capabilities in order to mitigate odour annoyance.
The project allows for citizen feedback, deepens knowledge on odour measurement and management and aims to support harmonised legislation at the EU level. Moreover, the project results can provide savings to industries. The core is an information system allowing inhabitants to serve as human sensors, acting according to sociological patterns, which influence odour perception, discomfort and nuisance.
It provides a dedicated tool to consider odour acceptability, based on a community-based opinion. Due to the subjective nature of odour perception, odour monitoring and fast modelling is used to assist and adjust the information citizens provide via Smartphone and obtained by measurement. Innovative in-situ sensors are improved to monitor ambient odour exposures.
A specific odour dispersion model system is developed to obtain interrelated spatial odour exposure levels. This fast and innovative model system helps us to evaluate the performance of measures taken at the very moment odours are emitted and with respect to the way in which these occur.
OMNISCIENTIS is applied in several case studies in Belgium, France and/or Austria. From the project’s outset, these case studies are part of Living Lab. This approach ensures stakeholder involvement, citizens’ participation in decision-making and supports dissemination activities.