Implementation of an Instrumental Odour Monitoring System (IOMS) with variable thresholds to predict citizens' odour perceptions

Abstract

The use of Instrumental Odour Monitoring Systems (IOMS) to monitor odours at plant fencelines is becoming more and more interesting. Indeed, in Italy, IOMS are currently frequently prescribed at waste treatment facilities with the purpose of continuously monitoring odour emission and produce alarms when a given threshold is exceeded. In this context, a possible improvement concerns the implementation of variable alarm thresholds, which change as a function of the local meteorological conditions, and result in a better correlation with odour perceptions at receptors. This paper presents the implementation of such a monitoring system applied to a landfill, proving its capability to increase the correspondence between threshold exceedances and odour events at receptors, thus paving the way for the development of a system capable in assisting plant managers to promptly identify critical situations and plan immediate interventions to reduce odour impacts.