Products and Services > Inventories & Projections

Quality Tools

Aether has developed a series of tools which facilitate efficient documentation and checking of datasets at any step in the data production process. These tools are adapted to and can be embedded within existing data management systems. They save time compared to conventional QA/QC approaches.

Inventory Tools

Aether’s Inventory Tools support the development of greenhouse gas and air pollution emission inventories. They are provided as part of clear and concise training for national inventory teams. The Excel based tools are designed to be easy to use and understand, making them perfect for new inventory compilers.

  • The Key Category Analysis Tool is simple and intuitive. It is used to identify the key sectors contributing to emissions using a method in line with the 2006 IPCC Guidelines.  The tool also provides a template for documentation and discussion points related to the analysis. The user inputs the emission estimates and the tool transparently calculates key category analysis in terms of emission levels and trends. The results of the analysis can be used to prioritise emission estimate improvement activities.
  • The Uncertainty Analysis Tool for emission inventory compilers quantifies uncertainties in line with international guidance. This provides information to develop a prioritised improvement plan. It can help stakeholders better understand the accuracy and limitations of key messages.
  • The Completeness Assessment Tool will support inventory discussions by providing a clearly presented overview of the completeness of the inventory and improvement actions. The tool is an Excel table that lists all CRF categories, GHGs and years. The user completes the table by indicating if emission estimates are calculated or not.  If not, the tool allows documentation of why they have not been compiled for that category, GHG and year.
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Q-Comments

Aether’s Quality Comments (Q-Comments) tool has been developed to enable teams to carry out QA/QC processes in a highly efficient and transparent way. Through its tagging system, the tool improves communication and transparency, accelerating learning and aiding work handover. The tagging system is customisable and therefore offers a bespoke, consistent and efficient approach to completing and documenting QA/QC processes.

The Q-Comments tool is an advanced Excel tagging system that provides the user with a complete, transparent and documented record of the QA/QC procedure. This record is consistent across all spreadsheets in which the tool is used. Aether has implemented this system successfully, receiving excellent feedback from spreadsheet model users. The Q-Comments tool uses tags and comments to facilitate documentation and conversation between a spreadsheet author and a reviewer. The tags used can be customised to the needs of the user and the tools come with a user guide.

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Q-Analyst

The Quality Analyst (Q-Analyst) tool can be used to verify timeseries datasets. It has been developed based on Aether’s experience in running quality assurance activities both as data compilers and reviewers.  The Q-Analyst tool is an easy-to-use, Excel-based review tool that can be applied to all time series data.

Through the tool’s user-friendly interface, data are visualised to support QA/QC activities.  Analysis of the data identifies attributes of the data that need checking, and the checking is enabled through data visualisation. Users can ensure datasets are comparable and consistent across a time series.  Recalculations between versions of datasets can easily be reviewed in order to verify changes.

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Case studies

LULUCF GHG Inventory Support for Romania

Aether is supporting the Romanian National Research and Development Institute for Cryogenic and Isotopic Technologies (ICSI) in the compilation of its national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory for non-forest land areas. We are helping to ensure that Romania’s land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) inventory is robust and of high quality.

Driving emission reductions through the public sector supply chain: Scope 3 emissions

Aether contributed to the analysis of procurement (Scope 3) emissions reporting in the Scottish public sector. The research aimed to demonstrate approaches and tools available to Scottish public bodies. The aim was to understand and report their supply chain emissions, providing options for action to improve supply chain reporting across the public sector.

Runnymede Borough Council Climate Change Study

Aether, in partnership with Land Use Consultants (LUC), delivered a package of works to support Runnymede Borough Council’s (RBC) review of the 2030 Local Plan with a view to introducing stronger policies to address the impacts of climate change.

GHG inventory support for Estonia

Aether is supporting the Estonian Environmental Research Centre (EKUK) and Estonian Environment Agency (EstEA) in the development of its national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory templates. We are helping to ensure that the compilation process is transparent and efficient.

Railfreight Energy and Emissions Calculator (REEC)

REEC is the first tool for the UK that can calculate, to a high level of granularity and accuracy, the energy usage and resulting emissions for a specified freight train configuration travelling on specified routes on the GB rail network.

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Testimonial

Don't just take our word for it...

“ Aether is a great partner for work in the area of European Air Emissions. The team was committed, reliable, well organised and had a deep technical understanding and motivated other partners with their good spirit. ”

Umweltbundesamt: Environment Agency Austria

“ If we have a need for any more reports in the future Aether will be first on my list. ”

Alan Hardy, Kyson Design

“ We have been collaborating with Aether for several years, and our projects have greatly benefited from it. Aether staff are very knowledgeable, professional and flexible - and last but not least, very friendly and a pleasure to work with. ”

Umhverfisstofnun, Environment Agency of Iceland

“ The professional service provided by your company was of very high quality and completed within agreed timelines. ”

Matthew Dudley, UNFCCC Secretariat

“ Aether was a great asset in involving/engaging with Member States experts on highly technical subjects regarding GHG reporting. Very clear communication of issues and results. ”

Andreas Pilzecker, DG CLIMA

“ It is always an absolute pleasure working with Aether. I always know what is expected of me. Their work ethic is of a very high standard and projects are always handled in a very professional manner. I have learnt many skills in terms of project management, quality control and workshop training styles from Aether and I hope to carry these principles forward in my own work. I look forward to collaborating with Aether more in the future. ”

Luanne Stevens, Gondwana

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