Visiting a gasworks redevelopment: reflections from the IAQM Early Careers Network

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Nikoleta Alushi & Patrick Harland

Can you give an overview of the visit – what was covered and what did you see?

Nikoleta (N): The visit provided a comprehensive look at how air quality and odour management are approached during large-scale brownfield remediation works. We heard about the historical context of the site, the scale of earthworks involved, and the complexity of managing emissions in an active urban setting.
Patrick (P): The visit focused on the development and implementation of air quality strategies, as part of the wider management and logistics of the redevelopment of brownfield sites, in particular former gasworks sites.
These sites typically contain historical contamination from the processes undertaken on site, with contamination consisting of a range of pollutants including VOCs, dense non-aqueous phase liquids (DNAPLs), light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) and other various hydrocarbons. The talk given as part of the visit covered detail explaining how remediation activities of the ground can release volatile compounds and odours and careful air quality management is a crucial part of the management process. The importance of developing a strategy that addresses monitoring, mitigation and communication was highlighted as crucial.

Was there anything you found particularly interesting or unexpected?

P: The requirement for adaptive monitoring strategies stood out as an unexpected yet key part of the management process. Due to the length of time involved in the remediation processes - in some cases years - and the changing conditions on site, the method for monitoring, and in turn mitigating and communicating needs to be able to evolve with site processes. The nature of the work often means that new sources of VOCs may be discovered as excavation around the site progresses, and receptors around the site can change as site phases advance or nearby land use evolves.
This means that monitoring locations, parameters, and alert levels may need adjustments over time rather than having a plan set in stone from the beginning. I found it particularly useful to see how monitoring programmes can evolve in response to the latest information from ground investigations, site walkovers, and monitoring data. This flexible approach ensures that monitoring remains relevant and proportionate to the actual risks present.
N: I was particularly interested in the practical application of odour monitoring and the reliance on both instrumentation and human perception. The use of structured sniff testing, alongside defined alert levels and response procedures, highlighted how environmental management is not only technical but also behavioural and procedural. Another key takeaway was how proactive communication plays such a central role in ensuring contractors understand the importance of mitigation measures in real time.

A computer generated image showing the view towards a residential building (indicative only).

Did you learn anything that you will take forward into your own work?

N: The visit reinforced the importance of integrating monitoring strategies early and ensuring they are proportionate, clearly structured, and adaptable. It also highlighted how essential it is to align technical monitoring with operational realities on site.
From a professional perspective, it strengthened my appreciation of training and capacity-building, ensuring that those implementing environmental controls understand both the technical reasoning and the wider impact of their actions.
P: The talks and visit reinforced the importance of ensuing that monitoring is proportionate to risk, particularly where more cost-intensive techniques may be required, such as Tenax tube sampling for more specific pollutants. I will also be taking forward the value of maintaining flexibility in monitoring and management strategies due to changing nature of sources and receptors.

What do you think the benefits of site visits are for ECN members?

P: Site visits provide early careers network members with invaluable opportunities to see how environmental and air quality principles they use in their day-to-day work are translated into real-world applications which impact site management and mitigation. These visits allow members to learn from experienced practitioners and gain insight into challenges and solutions that may not be evident fully in guidance documents and case studies.
N: Site visits bridge the gap between guidance and real-world implementation. They provide early-career professionals with context, confidence, and exposure to practical challenges that cannot be fully understood through desk-based work alone.
They also create space for dialogue, allowing members to ask questions openly, learn from experienced practitioners, and connect theory with site-level decision-making.

A computer generated image of the view from a residential balcony across the landscaped gardens (indicative only).

What did you gain from attending an in-person event?

N: Beyond the technical insights, the in-person element was incredibly valuable. Conversations with peers and industry professionals often provide nuance that formal presentations cannot.
It was encouraging to see the openness with which knowledge was shared, and it reinforces the importance of professional networks such as IAQM in supporting the development of the next generation of air quality practitioners.
P: Attending the event in person was beneficial for a multitude of reasons, it provided an opportunity to engage directly with presenters and experts in the field, as well as an opportunity to meet peers. It provided an opportunity for interactive discussions and a chance to ask questions and hear different perspectives. This can help improve understanding of practical challenges and how they are addressed in the field. Overall, the event provided both technical insights and opportunities for professional development and engagement which would be hard to replicate remotely.

Did anything come up during the visit that you'd suggest other ECN members do some research into?

P: I would recommend that other members do research into odour mitigation methods, as well as the more standard pollutant monitoring and odour surveying methods. The visit gave an excellent insight into the different odour mitigation methods used and how different mitigation methods were used for different requirements. There was also excellent insight into how odour mitigation methods differentiate depending on the current onsite conditions and needs caused by changing meteorological conditions.

Nikoleta Alushi is an environmental engineer specialising in air quality and environmental monitoring, with professional experience across the United Kingdom and wider Europe. She provides technical expertise and advisory support on air quality, vibration, and noise monitoring, working at the interface of regulation, technology, and practical implementation within urban and infrastructure environments. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Modelling and Landscape Engineering from the Czech University of Life Sciences.
Throughout her career, Nikoleta has supported multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and project stakeholders in navigating environmental standards and best practice. She has delivered technical training on monitoring methodologies and equipment, advised on compliance strategies aligned with UK and EU guidance, and contributed to strategic discussions around environmental performance and risk management.
An active member of the Institute of Air Quality Management (IAQM) Early Careers Network, Nikoleta is committed to continuous professional development and cross-border knowledge exchange. She is passionate about advancing high standards in environmental monitoring and contributing to projects that deliver measurable environmental improvements across the UK and European markets.

Patrick Harland is a senior air quality consultant at WSP, specialising in local air quality management policy and odour modelling and assessment. He has a range of experience working on projects across local air quality management, emissions impact assessment, dust management, indoor air quality monitoring, and odour management. His work focuses on developing and applying monitoring and assessment approaches, informing modelling studies and mitigation.
Prior to this role Patrick worked at Ricardo delivering air quality and odour projects across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. His experience includes emissions inventory development, statistical analysis, industrial air quality modelling, odour management, odour sampling, and air dispersion modelling.
Patrick holds and MSc in Environmental Engineering and a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry. He is particularly interested in the practical application of environmental policy and the cross-section between air quality management and climate protection.

Want to get involved in the IAQM ECN?

The ECN is for IAQM Affiliates, Associates and Full Members in the first 10 years of their careers in air quality. Members aged 31 or under are automatically added to the network, and other members who meet the criteria can request to join. The network provides a whole host of tailored benefits on top of the standard services provided through IAQM and IES membership, including:

Networking opportunities: meet likeminded colleagues in a similar stage of their career and forge connections that you can take with you throughout your career.
Tailored events: attend our targeted online and in-person events for early career professionals, including webinars, workshops and meet-ups.
Eligibility for exclusive sector awards: ECN members can be nominated for the prestigious Ian McCrae Award and the new Helen ApSimon Award, both of which recognise excellence in air quality.

If you have any questions about the ECN, get in touch with Amy at communities@the-ies.org, or find out more about IAQM membership if you have not yet joined.