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Tower Bridge commuters exhaust emissions to be tested as 'Accuscan' comes to town (2 May 2007)

On May 15th 2007, air quality monitoring specialists - Enviro Technology - will be demonstrating the abilities of the Accuscan 4600 remote sensing device on vehicles passing by Tower Bridge, City of London.

This demonstration is the first of a number of Accuscan events taking place in 2007. The event comes hot on the heels of a number of successful demonstrations, and customer-led data surveys, which took place in 2007.

Professionals from London borough councils will be able to actively see the device in action, while getting a real-time taster of the level of harmful exhaust emissions being pumped into the city's air by both large and small vehicles.

The Accuscan 4600 can test up to 4,000 vehicles per hour and will operational from 08.30 - 15.30 on Tuesday 15th May.

In 2005 Enviro Technology was appointed as the sole UK distributor for Tucson, USA, based Environmental Systems Products (ESP) the worlds premier vehicle inspection company and manufacturers of the Accuscan 4600.

Says Duncan Mounsor, Enviro Technology Operations Director: "Our UK Accuscan demonstrations went so well throughout 2006 that, this year, we are inviting many more people to our London event.

"Having worked with local authorities on vehicle emissions surveys in 2007, we are now even better placed to advise potential users on the merits of using the equipment for vehicle emission testing."

The Accuscan 4600 works by measuring tailpipe emissions as motor vehicles pass through ultraviolet and infrared beams stationed at either side of the road.

"Remote sensing devices (RSDs) are the worlds fastest and most convenient form of motor vehicle emissions testing.

"The Accuscan 4600 provides a simple diagnostic solution for the ever present vehicle emissions pollution problem affecting our major UK cities. With its ability to monitor thousands of vehicles in a day and provide reliable information as to emissions, the Accuscan 4600 really is the only option for those cities looking to research and, if needed, implement low emissions zones."

The Accuscan 4600 measures vehicles for the emission of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Hydrocarbons (HC) and the 'smoke factor' - a measurement technique specifically developed for assessing particulate emissions from diesel vehicles.

The system also records the speed and acceleration of the vehicle. All the data is referenced to an image of the registration plate which has been captured by a high speed camera, thus allowing the identification of polluting vehicles.

"Several major UK cities are interested in setting up low emissions zones and this kind of technology simplifies the screening of clean and grossly polluting vehicles without having to stop the vehicles to conduct the test - or having to involve third parties such as the police," adds Duncan.

Representatives from ESP and Enviro Technology will be on hand during the day to discuss how the Accuscan 4600 can help environmental professionals with regard to Air Quality Management areas.

For further information on the Accuscan 4600 London Wall Demonstration please contact Jackie Yarnham or email Jackie.yarnham@et.co.uk

The Accuscan 4600 works by measuring tailpipe emissions as motor vehicles pass through ultraviolet and infrared beams stationed at either side of the road.
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The Accuscan 4600 measures vehicles for the emission of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Hydrocarbons (HC) and the 'smoke factor' - a measurement technique specifically developed for assessing particulate emissions from diesel vehicles.

I fit's used in London then you can probably get good odds on all the public transport vehicles being fined

And you can defeat such a measurement in a flash by adding air to the exhaust gasses.

Strangely, exactly how manufacturers got round the early more-stringent emissions restrictions California. CA spec. cars had an engine driven air pump that was used to dilute the %age of noxious fumes in the exhaust.

Strangely, exactly how manufacturers got round the early more-stringent emissions restrictions California. CA spec. cars had an engine driven air pump that was used to dilute the %age of noxious fumes in the exhaust.

That aside, how on earth do these pollution cameras cope with a windy day or some other source of pollutant nearby? We already have cases of speed cameras being triggered by spurious inputs. How on earth are they going to prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that it was MY exhaust that triggered it or even that my exhaust was just within the limit but was tipped over the edge by the tungboat passing under the bridge at the time?

Absolutely. It's BS.

Perhaps it may one day be used as a crude 'screening' test to trigger an evidential test?