A benchmark of two different simulation models for the air quality evaluation in a complex industrial area

In this work, we present the results of the application of two Gaussian simulation models for the air quality evaluation. We used Industrial Source Complex (ISC) and WinDimula models for the estimation of the concentration of industrial pollutants in a wide area near an important Italian industrial complex. The climatic and orographic features of the site require particular attention as to the evaluation of the effects of typical meteorological situations which can be critical in the use of Gaussian-type models. In this work we make a comparison between the results of the two models and between the models results versus data collected by the air quality network of the local Environmental Agency. The comparison shows that the two models produce results in good mutual agreement. As far as the comparison of the simulation results versus monitored data is concerned, some attention has to be put in the analysis of the background concentration and of the effects of the meteorological changes during transport time. Anyway, the Gaussian models results present an acceptable agreement with respect to air quality network data, in particular as to the air quality environmental norms purposes.