Odour surveys are one of the methods used to determine the effects of air emissions (usually from one particular source, such as a spray painter, restaurant, or poultry farm).
Surveys can be conducted as phone surveys or newspaper notices inviting responses.
Usually the Taranaki Regional Council supplies postage-paid weekly diaries for residents near a potential odour source to record details such as odour strength, characteristics, times of day odours are detected, and wind speed and direction.
The responses are collated to build up a picture of how many people may be affected by odours and under what circumstances. Council staff can then evaluate compliance with resource consents or the Council's Air Quality Plan, or review whether additional management of odour sources is necessary.