Total Bubget: 112,650 Euro

The European Topic Center on Air Quality (ETC/AQ) was created by the European Environment Agency (EEA) with the participation of four Institutes from three countries:

1. RIVM from the Netherlands
2. NILU from Norway
3. IERSD - NOA from Greece
4. DNMI from Norway

The Center has expanded since 1997 with the incorporation of the 13 PHARE countries. The center supports all EEA activities related to air pollution through the maintenance and development of :

• the air quality measurement network in Europe
• infrastructure related to air pollution models
• information transmission systems
• and environmental estimates.

The IERSD participates in all of the Center's activities and coordinates some of its projects.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 135,600 Euro

The aim of this project was to provide a comprehensive study of the physical parameters that determine the thermal and optical properties of solar control devices and their effect upon the overall energy performance of buildings. It provides building designers and practitioners with the information and tools needed to allow solar control techniques to be integrated into new and existing buildings with the best possible way.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 171,050 Euro

Development of a European methodology and software for building audits of apartment buildings and techno economic assessment of refurbishment actions for improved energy performance and indoor environmental quality. Publications available in the national market: Retrofit of Residential Buildings - Case Studies for Hellenic Buildings, 126 p. in English and 137 p. in Hellenic; EPIQR Method, 173 p. in Hellenic. EPIQR Software (Hellenic version ISBN 960-87905-9-X). The tool was the result of a collaborative effort between various organizations and experts from seven European countries.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 54,000 Euro

This project has used satellite data to study the creation and dispersion of oil spils in the sea.

Scientist Responsible: Prof. D. Asimakopoulos

Total Budget: 57,000 Euro

The aim of this project was to harmonize the environmental policy of Cyprus with that of the European Union.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 165,000 Euro

The aim of the project was to develop, test, and compare modern control techniques for modern building heating and cooling systems, characterized by increased solar gains. The control techniques tested include predictive/adaptive, expert, fuzzy, and neural network systems.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 127,000 Euro

Development of a solar system for combined building heating and cooling. The system has included an absorption heat pump connected to solar collectors and a floor hydraulic network.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 265,000 Euro

This project has dealed with the effect of tourism upon the environment on the islands of Mykonos (Greece) and Elba (Italy), using satellite remote sensing.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 114,879 Euro

TOBUS proposed a new European methodology and a multimedia tool for architects and engineers that can be used for an overall assessment and diagnosis of the existing conditions of office buildings, the evaluation of various refurbishment and retrofit scenarios, and the cost of induced works, in the preliminary stages of a project. These actions address problems associated with the physical and functional building elements, obsolescence, the energy consumption and the indoor environmental quality. The tool was the result of a collaborative effort between various organizations and experts from eight European countries.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 23,145 Euro

Investigation of the working conditions for employees in hospital operating rooms and determination if they are exposed to any potentially dangerous substances in the course of their work. During the project brief measurements of thermophysical parameters and indoor air quality were taken. Diagnostic monitoring was carried out in ten representative operating rooms in hospitals. The data was used to identify the problems in each case, and propose methods for solving them. The final product was, a Code of Good Practice for hospital personnel to help improve working and sanitary conditions.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: .......... Euro

This project has been submitted by the Geodynamical Institute and deals with the short time forecast of flood episodes in urban areas, combining information from real time measurements, databases and models through the possibilities offered by modern telematics.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Koussis

Total Budget: 356,000 Euro

The purpose of the PRIMAVERA project was to identify environmental problems in ecologically sensitive areas, such as national parks, using satellite remote sensing.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 7,263 Euro

A study of the effects of CEO (Center of Earth Observation) activity on the European scene. This study was based on the activity of various organizations working on CEO related programmes. The impact of the organizations' future activities was derived from statistical analysis of this data based on certain specific algorithms.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 366,858 Euro

PROMED provides an integrated approach to environmental emergency management by using Earth Observation information based services.
Cost effective solutions have been implemented that deal with oil spill problems, by focusing upon the real needs of users within their day-to-day operational activities. The major aim of this project is to create an emergency detection and management tool that can be useful at a European Mediterranean level.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 12,750 Euro

This project's goal was to collect, classify, and distribute information about biepochal energy storage in order to contribute to further development of this technology in all European countries.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 10,000 Euro

Using ground air alternators is one of the most efective methods of hybrid cooling. The existing applications of this method use alternating current fans.
A study on the possibility of using continuous current fans powered by photovoltaic elements was considered necessary. NOA's part in this programme was to study such an experimental system under real climatological conditions.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Argyriou

Total Budget: 108,565 Euro

Environment inspectors and other representatives of environmental protection agencies (in many cases the directors of the agencies involved) from 12 EU states and 11 states in the process of joining the EU took part in this programme. Activities included a briefing on the system for the assesement and implementation of environmental laws in Greek industries, visits to selected industrial units, and three technical work meetings.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Kotronarou

Total Budget: 114,180 Euro

The IMPEL FOOD PROJECT was executed in close cooperation with the Hellenic Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. The purpose of the project was to exchange information between EU (MS) and AC countries in order to develop options for integrated pollution control, compliance and enforcement for food production/processing industrial activities (IPPC and non IPPC). Data on 3 sub-sectors, milk industry, meat industry and breweries were collected from 21 IMPEL and AC-IMPEL countries.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. A. Kotronarou

Total Budget: 64,352 Euro

The project aims are:

• To assess the potential of using existing satellite data from the DMSP OLS sensor to produce maps of light emissions and urban night-time intensity levels in the EU. The accuracy of these maps will be quantified at different spatial scales and in different countries and areas of the EU in order to assess the potential for routine mapping of urban night time light emissions using either existing satellite technology or new sensors
• To investigate the factors that affect urban night-time light emissions, including urban morphology and layout; land use characteristics; lighting configuration; population density and the extent of urban areas
• Based on this analysis, to assess the ability to use urban light emissions as indicators of population size/density; urban population numbers; total energy consumption by sector of activity; energy waste; gross domestic product; urban typology; rural tranquillity and landscape/skyscape quality
• To evaluate the capability to enhance the quality of this information either by post-processing of the data or by using higher resolution sensors.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 79,964 Euro

The project aims are:

• To characterize chemically the particulate matter associated with actual human exposure in selected residential European urban areas
• To provide an integrated European exposure assessment database for urban PM characterization through indoor/outdoor monitoring and modelling
• To study and evaluate the mechanisms controlling the outdoor/indoor relationships of PM by taking into account infiltration, meteorological conditions, indoor sources of PM, physical and chemical processes indoor, and the composition/size distribution of indoor-generated particulate matter, by using mechanistically based models
• To link human exposure to particulate matter indoor with physiologically based mechanistic dosimetry models.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. M. Petrakis

Total Budget: 168,805 Euro

European methodology, software and calculation tools for the evaluation and selection of investment strategies during the maintenance and renovation of apartment buildings, accounting for the environmental impact and the proper use of natural resources. Publications available in the national market: European Residential Building Audits Database - Multimedia CDROM, (ISBN 960-87905-5-7); Building's Deterioration Assessment Guidelines - Handbook & Multimedia CDROM (ISBN 960-87905-6-5); Building's Environmental Impact Guidelines - Handbook & Multimedia CDROM (ISBN 960-87905-4-9). The tool was the result of a collaborative effort between fourteen organizations from seven European countries. Project information is available in http://investimmo.cstb.fr.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 158,396 Euro

Development of software for the audit of hotel buildings and the assessment of its existing condition, the potential for energy conservation and exploitation of renewable energy sources. Development of printed and electronic dissemination material. Development of a prototype for monitoring solar thermal collectors. Organise a dissemination campaign to local authorities, hotels and hotel associations, through workshops and seminars, direct mailings, through web-site and the Internet. Publications available in the national market: XENIOS Software (ISBN 960-87905-3-0); XENIOS - Dissemination Material CDROM (ISBN 960-87905-2-2). The tool was the result of a collaborative effort between ten organizations from four European (Mediterranean) countries. Project information as well as project deliverables are available in http://env.meteo.noa.gr/xenios/

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 41,614 Euro

A horizontal study on the state-of-the-art of cooling and dehumidification (summer air conditioning) and low temperature heat driven technologies. Assess the potential of these technologies to use solar heat as the driving mechanism, identify future research needs to accelerate their introduction to the market. Publications available in the national market: SACE - Solar Air-Conditioning in Europe CDROM (ISBN 960-87905-1-4). A collaborative effort between five organizations from five European countries. Project information as well as project deliverables are available in www.ocp.tudelft.nl/ev/res/sace.htm.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 86,223 Euro

Development of a methodology and software for the energy assessment of existing residential buildings in Europe and the evaluation of different interventions for energy conservation and the exploitation of renewable energy sources. The method and software can be used for the audit and labelling of dwellings according to the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD 2002/91/EC). Publications available in the national market: Energy Performance Assessment method for Existing Dwellings (EPA-ED) Dissemination Material, Multimedia CD-ROM (ISBN 960-88325-2-7). A collaborative effort between five organizations from four European countries. Project information as well as project deliverables are available in www.epa-ed.org.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 200,000 Euro

The objectives of the MICE project are to:

• Identify and catalogue extremes in observed and modelled climate data
• assess future changes in climate extremes
• assess the impacts of changes in extremes
• communicate the results to stateholders

Scientist Responsible: Dr. Ch. Giannakopoulos

An international collaborative research programme

The objectives of the MINOS project is to qualify the main processes involved in the Mediterranean pollution build-up. More specifically it will adress the:

• Transport of pollution from Europe and from remote sources
• Chemical mechanisms that contribute to the build-up of oxidants and aerosols
• Export of pollutants to the global environment.

MINOS is an international collaborative research programme coordinated by the Max-Planck Institute for Chemistry.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. Ch. Giannakopoulos

Total Budget: 114,488 Euro

Development of an assessment method for preparing an energy performance certificate for existing non-residential buildings. Develop tools to perform the assessment (check lists, inspection protocol and a software for energy calculations). Perform pilot projects to test the method and tools. Provide policy recommendations to all levels of government across Europe. The method and software can be used for the audit and labelling of non residential buildings according to the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD 2002/91/EC). A collaborative effort between nine organizations from seven European countries. Project information as well as project deliverables are available in www.epa-nr.org.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. C. Balaras

Total Budget: 335,000 Euro

ENSEMBLES aims to maintain and extend European pre-eminence in the provision of policy relevant information on climate and climate change and its interactions with society. State-of-the-art, high resolution, global and regional Earth System models developed for Europe will be utilised to produce an objective probabilistic estimate of uncertainty in future climate. In order to maximise the utility of the project outputs, the results of the ensemble prediction system will be related to various socio-economic sectors including health, food security, insurance, agriculture, energy, water resources and weather risk management.

More specifically, ENSEMBLES will:

• Develop an ensemble prediction system based on the principal state-of-the-art, high resolution, global and regional Earth System models developed in Europe, validated against quality controlled, high resolution gridded datasets for Europe, to produce for the first time, an objective probabilistic estimate of uncertainty in future climate at the seasonal to decadal and longer timescales.
• Quantify and reduce the uncertainty in the representation of physical, chemical, biological and human-related feedbacks in the Earth System (including water resource, land use, and air quality issues, and carbon cycle feedbacks).
• Maximise the exploitation of the results by linking the outputs of the ensemble prediction system to a range of applications, including agriculture, health, food security, energy, water resources, insurance and weather risk management.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. Ch. Giannakopoulos

Total Budget: 280,000 Euro

In spite of the relevance of diagnosis to help the success of desertification treatment, there is a lack of standadised procedures to perform it at operational scales. This project offers a contribution to fill this gap by complementing assessment of desertification status with early warning and vulnerability evaluation of the involved land use systems. Fulfilling this objective requires the integration of a hard core of basic and application-oriented research, with the development of user-support technologies, capacity building, and stakeholders, as well as data and technology providers including SMEs.

DESURVEY aims to develop a prototype of a low cost and flexible surveillance system that allows for:

• Understanding of desertification in a systemic and dynamic way.
• Assessing desertification and land degradation status, including diagnosis of driving forces, discrimination between current and inherited desertification, and identification of desertification hot spots.
• Forecasting of desertification under selected climatic and socio-economic scenarios.
• Monitoring of desertification and land degradation status over large areas using objective and reproducible methods.
• Bridging the gap between the knowledge generated by the project on the processes underlying desertification and the practice of formulating policy to detect, prevent and resolve desertification risks.

Scientist Responsible: Dr. Ch. Giannakopoulos