Vehicle Emissions Remote Sensing Project

Tender description

Transport Scotland require the procurement of services for a vehicle emissions remote sensing network. This project is to be run over three phases. The Phase 1 was delivered in 2019-20 with the first sensors being deployed on the trunk road network at the end of August 2019 and on a range of locations in Scotland. The appointed supplier will support Transport Scotland with the supply and management of vehicle emissions remote sensing equipment for phase 2 of the remote sensing project. The services are required in order to meet a commitment made within the 2018-19 Programme for Government in relation to establishing a ‘network of cutting-edge remote sensing air quality monitors’ as outlined further below. A small scale pilot vehicle remote sensing project was undertaken in 2017, providing an analysis of the emissions data collected for on road vehicles at two locations (Edinburgh and Broxburn). In addition, remote sensing equipment has been used to monitor the success of the first phase of the Bus Emissions Abatement Retrofit (BEAR) programme. Transport Scotland are looking to build on the success of these projects. Ultimately the results from this larger scale Phase 2 project could be used to help inform future air quality policy and to investigate ways to reduce air pollution levels through mitigating the misuse of emission abatement equipment and controls. Due to the nature of the technology, Transport Scotland are looking to procure a “turn-key” service. This should include remote sensing equipment hire, civil engineering works to install and relocate sensors (with support from regional trunk road operating companies), data collection, data analysis and data processing/cleansing. The first phase of this project achieved one sensor installed and rotated at various locations across the Scottish road network, targeting a least 3 different VSP ranges, and across a varied ambient temperature range. It is envisaged that these locations will coincide with the four Scottish Low Emission Zones cities; Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen, however other suitable locations in Scotland where air quality is a concern, including trunk roads will also be included. The aims and objectives of the remote sensing network is to collect emissions data and ANPR data both for scientific research purposes and to investigate how the data can be used by government agencies to enable the enforcement of vehicle emission standards where vehicle emission abatement systems are poorly maintained or impaired through vehicle tampering. The early phase will focus on research and establishing robust methodologies which make enforcement possible.