Odour monitoring system is on its way!

In my last update back in July, work was underway to review proposals for an odour monitoring system. I’m pleased to report that this much-anticipated system is now under construction and being installed around The City’s Shepard operations area. Most of the system won’t be visible to the public, but you will probably notice a new addition to the New Brighton Athletic Park where one of the odour monitoring stations will be housed. 

The system works by continuously collecting air samples to measure certain known odour causing compounds in the air. As we know the odours tend to come and go, it will be great to have something in place that can help to capture information about these smells as they are happening. As you may remember, last year’s S.E. Odour Investigation found that there are multiple odours sources that are causing challenges in the area. By collecting and analysing the data from the odour monitoring system, The City will be able to better determine which of the odours are the biggest concern and then find targeted solutions for it.

The monitoring station (seacan) houses sophisticated analyzing equipment to review the air samples.

The system works by continuously collecting air samples to measure certain known odour causing compounds in the air. As we know the odours tend to come and go, it will be great to have something in place that can help to capture information about these smells as they are happening. As you may remember, last year’s S.E. Odour Investigation found that there are multiple odours sources that are causing challenges in the area. By collecting and analysing the data from the odour monitoring system, The City will be able to better determine which of the odours are the biggest concern and then find targeted solutions for it.

Keep reporting concerns to 311

We still need you to keep reporting odour concerns to 311. Your 311 reports will be critical information to be combined with all the other air monitoring and weather data that will be recorded by the monitoring system.

Bookmark this handy online 311 link for reporting odours.

Next steps

Construction of the system is currently underway. The system is expected to be set up by the end of 2024.

Throughout early 2025, the system will initially build a data set to ‘learn’ about emissions for odour sources in the area, identify trends, and develop trajectories to odour source locations.

As we move into spring 2025, the data collected from 311 and from the monitoring system will be combined in a sophisticated analysis model to help to pinpoint precise locations of odour sources. This will help The City determine targeted measures to resolve very specific issues. Exactly how long this will take will depend on several factors, such as how many odour sources there are, how quickly data is accumulated, and how complex of odour mitigation measures are needed.

For more details on the odour monitoring system, visit calgary.ca/odours

Previous blog posts:

Odour and Fire Update July 2024
Odour Update November 2023
Odour Update September 2023
Odour Update August 2023
Odour Update May 2023
Odour Update February 2023
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