AIRQ – Expansion and Modernisation of the National Network for Continuous Air Quality Monitoring
STRATEGIC PROJECT SUMMARY
BASIC INFORMATION:
The purpose of the project “AIRQ – Expansion and Modernisation of the National Network for Continuous Air Quality Monitoring” is to improve and optimize the system for managing and monitoring air quality in urban areas, zones and agglomerations. The project aims to support the implementation of the legislative framework for air quality and environmental protection (Directive 2008/50/EC, Air Protection Act (Official Gazette 130/11, 47/14)). This entails developing integrated strategies and projects which enable the evaluation, planning and implementation of adequate procedures for controlling air quality by means of measuring relevant parameters. In the end, the project thus aims to improve the monitoring programme for short-lived climate forcers (SLCF) and introduce climate-sensitive measures against air pollution.
Razlozi potrebe modernizacije su:
• ispunjenje obveze zadovoljavanja minimalnog broja mjernih mjesta po zonama i aglomeracijama,
• ispunjenje obveze uspostave EMEP razina 1 i 2 mjernih mjesta, ispunjenje uvjeta kvalitete podataka – zamjena opreme bez tipskog odobrenja opremom koja je tipski odobrena (za one onečišćujuće tvari za koje postoji tipski odobrena oprema), • osiguranje minimalnog obuhvata podataka.
OBJECTIVES:
• increasing the percentage of the population covered by air quality data in urban areas.
• upgrading existing air quality measurement stations and building new ones.
• developing an operational model for the evaluation of ground-level pollutant concentrations.
• equipping the DHMZ laboratory for analysing the chemical composition of precipitation and air.
• equipping the IMI chemical laboratory for analysing the chemical composition of particulate matter.
• equipping the calibration laboratory for calibrating air quality standards and related measures, so as to ensure the traceability of the said measurements to international measuring standards.
• upgrading the DHMZ computer infrastructure
SUMMARY
PROJECT NAME: AIRQ – Expansion and Modernisation of the National Network for Continuous Air Quality Monitoring
PROJECT NUMBER: KK.06.2.1.02.0001
FUNDING INSTRUMENT: European Regional Development Fund, Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund (FZOEU)
TIMEFRAME: 48 months
BUDGET: EU 106.354.975 HRK, FZOEU 18.768.525 HRK
TOTAL: 125.123.500 HRK
PARTNERS
LEAD BENEFICIARY: Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ)
PARTNER: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMI)
MANAGEMENT BODY: Ministry of Regional Development and EU funds
INTERMEDIATE BODIES:
PT1: Ministry of Environment and Energy
PT2: Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund
MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE
Project Director: Jadranka Škevin-Sović, MSc, DHMZ
Deputy Project Director: Darijo Brzoja, MSc, DHMZ
IMI Project Coordinator: Gordana Pehnec, PhD
IMI Deputy Project Coordinator: Ranka Godec, PhD
EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
FUNDING DECISION within Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020, specific objective 6e1 – Upgrade of air quality management and monitoring system according to Directive 2008/50/EC
ESI FUNDS STRATREGIC PROJECT
METEOROLOGICAL AND HYDROLOGICAL SERVICE
AIRQ project includes purchasing 6 new continuous air quality monitoring stations and
reconstructing the 18 existing ones.
Air Quality Measurement Station Varaždin-1 
Air Quality Measurement Station Varaždin-1
Ozone analyser testing in a lab 
Air Quality Measurement Sector’s workshop
DHMZ CHEMICAL LABORATORY
By equipping its chemical laboratory, the DHMZ ensures that the obligations specified in the EMEP protocol of the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP Convention) are met. Implementing this project means establishing an integral air quality control system that is compliant with all European and national criteria regarding environmental protection and human health. In order to meet the obligations arising from the LRTAP Convention, we plan to keep the measurement programmes at the existing EMEP stations and upgrade one measurement station to a level-2 programme.
Ion chromatograph and gas chromatograph 
Ion chromatograph and gas chromatograph 
Ion chromatograph and gas chromatograph
DHMZ CALIBRATION LABORATORY
By equipping the calibration laboratory for calibrating air quality standards and related measures, we will ensure the traceability of the said
measurements to international measuring standards.
MODELLING
Establishing an air quality modelling system includes developing a model for calculating the ground concentration of pollutants in a spatial grid with 0.1 x 0.1 degrees of longitude and latitude. This model provides data required to evaluate the pollution level for the entire territory of Croatia, especially for the areas in which no air quality measurement exists.
Sample analysis of modelled values
IMI – INSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH
Equipping the IMI chemical lab with instruments required to conduct chemical analyses of particulate matter will facilitate the implementation of the National Network Pollution Level Measurement Programme for Continuous Air Quality Monitoring (Official Gazette 103/14) in accordance with Directive 2008/50/EC.
IMI CHEMICAL LABORATORY
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) 
X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) 
Particle matter sample weighing