METHODS OF INFORMATION ACQUISITION FOR PLANNING (MEASUREMENTS, WIND TUNNELS, NUMERICAL MODELLING)
4.1.1 Stationary Measurements

A pronounced topography, like in many parts of Southern Germany for example, favours local climatic differences, which, in turn, require a relatively dense measurement network for the main climate elements like air temperature, humidity, wind direction, wind speed and precipitation. The period in which data is collected should be at least one year in order to determine seasonal differences. The measurement periods for orientation measurements, like that of cold-air flows, may be shorter.

Depending on the context, it is possible to carry out additional air pollutant measurements. This applies mainly to strongly traffic-related air pollutants, like nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, while ozone as a rather large-scale issue plays no immediate role in urban planning. In order to turn punctual data into more comprehensive information, numerical methods are used to describe the flow and dispersion situation depending on the topographic and other conditions (see also Chapter 4.3).