The Improved Air Quality Forecasting project (ISB52) was funded by the UK HM Treasury Invest to Save Budget.

The aim of the project was to develop a better understanding of air flow within the atmospheric boundary layer by gathering 3-dimensional air flow information using two identical Doppler lidars, one of which was the UFAM (Universities Facility for Atmospheric Measurement) Doppler lidar. The project compared parameters derived from the dual Doppler lidar measurements with inputs used in the UK Met Office air quality forecasting model. Field experiments were undertaken in March 2003 at Malvern and in July 2003 at RAF Northolt, West London, UK.

Project collaborators were the University of Essex, University of Salford, the UK Met. Office and QinetiQ. A software suite (DAViS) was developed by the University of Essex to visualise the Doppler lidar data in 3-D. QinetiQ were responsible for the overall project management and the enhancement and development of their Doppler lidar system to make it compatible with the UFAM Doppler lidar system which was operated by the University of Salford. The UK Met. Office provided dispersion model parameters and AMDARS data.