Our purpose

The Association exists to advance quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) across the UK’s heterogeneous ambient monitoring estate: from MCERTS-certified reference and equivalent analysers operated under Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) to indicative low-cost sensor (LCS) deployments. We promote harmonised protocols for data capture, ratification, uncertainty estimation and metadata, consistent with the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and AURN practice, so that datasets are interoperable, traceable and fit for purpose in exposure assessment, AQMA review and source apportionment. We also sustain a community of practice for the network operators, data stewards and end users on whom that evidence base depends.

How we are run

The Association is a membership charity governed by a board of seven trustees, elected by Full and Associate Members at the Annual General Meeting. Individual Affiliates elect one trustee from among themselves.

• Board of trustees: sets strategy and budget; meets quarterly.
• Membership Committee: assesses Full Member applications against the Assured Network Standard and decides appeals.
• Special interest groups: each has a volunteer convenor and reports to the board once a year.
• Membership Office: two part-time staff who handle joining, renewals, invoices and events.

Annual reports, accounts and AGM papers are in the members’ area.

Where the money comes from

Membership fees cover about two-thirds of our costs; conference and training income covers the rest. We do not accept sponsorship from organisations whose activities are a major source of air pollution.