UAP models in operational UAQIFSs, as a rule, use simple in-situ meteorological measurements which are fed into meteorological pre-processors. Lacking an adequate description of physical phenomena and the complex data assimilation and parameterisations of numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, these pre-processors do not achieve the potential of NWP models in providing all the meteorological fields needed by modern UAP models to improve the urban air quality forecasts. Despite the increased resolution of NWP models, urban and non-urban areas mostly contain similar sub-surface, surface, and boundary layer formulation. These do not account for specifically urban dynamics and energetics and their impact on the numerical simulation of the atmospheric boundary layer and its various characteristics (e.g. internal boundary layers, urban heat island, precipitation patterns). Additionally, NWP models are not primarily developed for air pollution modelling and their results need to be designed as input to urban and mesoscale air quality models.

The main objectives of the FUMAPEX project are thus to improve meteorological forecasts for urban areas, the connection of NWP models to UAP and exposure models, build improved UAQIFS, and demonstrate their application in cities subject to various European climates. In order to achieve the innovative project goal of establishing and implementing an improved new UAQIFS to assist sustainable urban development, the following steps will be achieved:

1. improve predictions of the meteorological fields needed by UAP models by refining resolution and developing specific parameterisations of the urban effects in NWP models,

2. develop suitable interface/meteorological pre-processors from NWP to UAP models,

3. validate the improvements in NWP models and meteorological pre-processors by evaluating their effects on the UAP models against urban measurement data,

4. apply the improved meteorological data to UAQIFS, emergency preparedness and population exposure models and compare and analyse the results, and

5. successfully link meteorologists/NWP modellers with urban air pollution scientists and the 'end-users' of UAQIFS. The necessary steps will evolve in ten separate, but inter-linked Work Packages realised by 16 participants and 6 subcontractors. They represent leading NWP centres, research organisations, and organisations responsible for urban air quality, population exposure forecast and control, and local/city authorities from ten European countries.