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Integrated Port Environmental Monitoring: Air Quality, Water, Noise and Odours in Real Time

Home » Sectors » Integrated Port Environmental Monitoring: Air Quality, Water, Noise and Odours in Real Time

Successful environmental management of a modern port is no longer limited to basic compliance. It requires active intelligence on land operations, maritime traffic and the port-city interface. To achieve this, it is essential to monitor air quality, noise impact, odour episodes and port water quality.

At Envira, we assist Port Authorities with a comprehensive environmental monitoring solution based on sensors to measure air and water pollution, enabling the deployment of an extensive network for continuous, real-time monitoring. This ensures compliance with the initiatives for improving environmental quality and guarantees sustainability, protects biodiversity and ensures coexistence with the urban environment.

Advantages of the comprehensive environmental monitoring system in seaports

Air quality

Air quality

Continuous monitoring of critical atmospheric pollutants: SO₂, NO₂, NOx, VOCs, and PM 2.5 and PM10 particulates. Immediate detection of diffuse emissions at bulk terminals and supervision of ships' compliance with the MARPOL Convention.

Smells impact

Smells impact

Odour episodes are the main cause of complaints from citizens. Monitoring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and sulphides allows us to anticipate nuisances, managing operations to prevent odours from spreading to inhabited areas.

Noise pollution

Noise pollution

Industrial and logistical noise requires strict control, especially during night-time operations. Monitoring with Class 1 sound level meters guarantees legally valid data to defend port management and adjust dynamic noise maps.

Water quality

Water quality

Early detection of accidental spills (hydrocarbons) or changes in turbidity due to dredging works is essential to protect marine biodiversity and avoid severe penalties for non-compliance with water regulations.

Monitoring air and water quality in the port environment

At Envira, we offer a comprehensive solution based on IoT technology that allows for the deployment of a dense network for monitoring atmospheric, acoustic, and aquatic pollutants throughout the port environment. This makes it possible to detect pollution ‘hot spots’ and improve the port's operating procedures.
  • The Nanoenvi EQ device is a compact air quality monitoring station equipped with highly sensitive electrochemical sensors for gases such as SO₂, NO₂, NOx, VOCs, CH₄ (among others), PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 particles, and meteorological sensors that include wind direction and speed.
  • The Nanoenvi EQPM monitor is specifically designed for monitoring dust and suspended particles in solid bulk terminals. This distinction makes it easier to obtain more sampling points at a lower cost.
  • The Nanoenvi dB equipment integrates a legally valid class 1 sound level meter that allows dynamic noise maps to be created to demonstrate the impact of industrial noise pollution in ports adjacent to urban centres.
  • The monitoring buoy is equipped with probes for continuous monitoring of parameters that influence water quality.

Environmental data platform for seaports

 

Our Cloud platform integrates data from the entire sensor network (air, water and noise) into a single dashboard accessible 24/7:

  • Early warnings: receive automatic alerts via SMS or email when thresholds are exceeded, allowing for immediate reaction.
  • Efficient deployment: thanks to the design of the equipment and the different connectivity options – 4G, WiFi or LoRaWAN – a long-range sensor network can be easily deployed, ideal for the extensive port geography without the need for complex cabling.

Data platform for port environmental monitoring

Air Quality Monitoring in Ports

Air pollution in ports is critical and is influenced by multiple factors. For this reason, port authorities need to move from passive measurements to active air quality management, with the aim of achieving ‘zero non-compliance’.

Air Quality Monitoring and MARPOL Compliance in Seaports

The use of continuous air quality monitoring devices in seaports has multiple advantages:

  • Control of diffuse emissions in bulk terminals: the Nanoenvi EQPM monitor controls airborne dust (PM10, PM2.5) generated during the loading and unloading of solid bulk materials such as clinker, coal or cereals, preventing operational downtime.
  • Control of ship emissions (MARPOL Annex VI): the Nanoenvi EQ device installed at berths allows real-time verification of SO2, NOx and PM concentrations in immissions, thus detecting infringements due to fuel switching or undeclared plumes on berthed ships that are not connected to the OPS system.

It is also common to find Ambient Air Quality monitoring stations, equipped with reference instrumentation, at the port-city interface. This provides legally valid data for the port’s defence against neighbourhood complaints.

With this same objective in mind, it is also common for port authorities to contract indicative monitoring campaigns.

Management of odour episodes generated in the port

Odours are not usually toxic, but they are the most immediate perception of pollution for citizens. Liquid bulk terminals, treatment plants, and areas where organic matter decomposes emit odours that generate complaints that are often based on subjectivity.

Odour is the result of a chemical mixture, and to manage its impact, it is necessary to measure its components.

Continuous monitoring with the Nanoenvi EQ device provides real-time data on the concentrations of odour precursor compounds, such as:

  • Hydrogen sulphide (H2S)
  • Ammonia (NH3)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

This system also allows for the triangulation of the sources causing the odour by integrating meteorological data, identifying whether the odour is coming from a specific terminal, tank or vessel, facilitating an immediate response before complaints reach the public.

Port noise pollution control

Noise is statistically the biggest source of conflict between ports and the cities that surround them. Given their proximity to residential areas, RD 1367/2007 requires strict control to ensure that emission limits in neighbouring buildings are not exceeded.

Therefore, Port Authorities need to:

  • Verify whether the acoustic quality targets are exceeded.
  • Have an early warning system in place if immission levels at the port-city interface exceed legal limits.
  • Generate Dynamic Acoustic Maps and the necessary documentation for periodic reviews.
  • Protection against complaints from residents with legally valid historical data.

The deployment of a network of approved Class 1 sound level meters around the perimeter, such as those integrated into the Nanoenvi dB device, allows 24/7 measurement of Ld (day), Le (evening) and Ln (night) noise indices to adjust dynamic noise maps and verify acoustic quality targets.

Water Quality Monitoring in the Port

Ensuring the good ecological status of port waters, quickly detecting changes in turbidity due to dredging works and reacting immediately to accidental or illegal oil spills is essential to protect marine biodiversity and avoid severe penalties for non-compliance with regulations.

The water quality monitoring buoys are equipped with multi-parameter probes that measure the main parameters affecting seawater quality:

  • Hydrocarbons
  • Turbidity
  • Dissolved oxygen
  • pH
  • Suspended solids

This makes it easier for port authorities to establish systems for continuous, real-time monitoring of water quality to assess its chemical and ecological status, identify sources of operational pollution, ensure compliance with the MARPOL Convention and ROM 5.1-13.

Boya de monitoreo para calidad del agua en puertos marítimos

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about environmental monitoring in ports

How do I access the data from the sensors distributed throughout the port?

The entire monitoring network (air, water, noise, and odours) is centralised on a cloud platform accessible via the web from any device. The platform allows you to view data in real time, extract historical reports, and, most importantly, set up automatic alerts via SMS or email when pre-established thresholds are exceeded, enabling proactive rather than reactive management.

How are dust emissions (clinker, coal, cereals) controlled at terminals?

To prevent operational downtime and fugitive dust clouds, we use the Nanoenvi EQPM monitor, designed specifically for solid bulk terminals. This device measures the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 particles generated during loading and unloading in real time, allowing immediate corrective measures (such as watering or misting) to be activated before the dust reaches urban areas.

Can the system detect if a vessel is not complying with the use of clean fuel?

Yes. Through continuous monitoring of gases (SO2, NOx, VOCs) at the quayside, our sensors can detect ‘undeclared plumes’ and triangulate the source of the emission. This is a key tool for monitoring fuel switching and verifying whether ships are using their auxiliary engines instead of connecting to OPS (Onshore Power Supply) systems.

How does the system identify where the unpleasant odours in the port come from?

Odour episodes are complex due to chemical mixing. Our solution, based on high-precision electrochemical sensors, measures specific precursors such as hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3). By cross-referencing this data with wind direction and speed, the system triangulates the exact position, identifying whether the odour is coming from a treatment plant, a liquid bulk tank or a docked ship.

Is the system effective in detecting accidental oil spills?

Absolutely. Envira’s monitoring buoys are equipped with multi-parameter probes that continuously monitor water quality. The system provides early warning of the presence of hydrocarbons or sudden changes in turbidity and suspended solids, which is vital for responding quickly to accidental spills or controlling the impact of dredging works on marine biodiversity.

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