INFORMING THE PUBLIC ON AIR QUALITY THROUGH INTERNET:
THE CASE OF LISBON
Luísa NOGUEIRA and Paula V. MEIRELES
Direcção Regional do Ambiente de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo,
Rua Antero de Quental, 44 1169-171 Lisboa Portugal,
e-mail: cga-gasa@mail.fct.unl.pt
In this paper we describe the work developed by the Comissão de Gestão do Ar de Lisboa (Lisbon's Air Management Commission) to provide public access to information on Lisbon Air Quality Network through Internet. The structure of the site is presented with the information made available and the criteria used to make it clear, comprehensible and accessible. The difficulties in the site conception and limitations concerning the permission to divulge some kind of data, such as hourly mean concentration, are also accounted for. An approach was made to the advantages of electronic information technologies, especially the Internet, to promote the dissemination and the access to information on air quality comparatively to other means, and to the interest and extent of what, how and by whom the information currently provided is being or may be used. In this context, we address our efforts to future developments, in order to increase the targeted audience and public involvement on air quality problems, by predicting air pollution concentrations, ensuring adequate information during pollution episodes and precautionary measures that ought to be taken in cases when alert thresholds are overrun, promoting the mobilisation of the public for taking actions for air quality improvement.
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