The object of this overall research, which has an expected duration of two years is to set up a scheme for predicting ground-level pollutant concentrations for real-time control purposes (i.e. the action to be taken at the emission sources in the presence of forthcoming high pollutant events). The forecasting scheme is described, together with its application to sulphur dioxide pollution in the Venetian lagoon area. The scheme is based on a complex mathematical model to be run on a computer and receiving at the beginning of each interval of time all the information (about the meteorological and emission situation) required for the prediction. The type of control action which should be taken on the basis of such a forecast is the object of this part of the research