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Air pollution is comprehensively monitored in Europe, from Earth observation satellites to ground-based stations. However, air quality can vary dramatically at the hyperlocal level, especially within cities, where tall buildings, dense traffic and limited air flow can create pollution hotspots.
These hotspots contribute to poor health, especially over the long term, yet residents may not be aware of their own level of exposure. “Some people might think that if they don’t see or feel a problem now, there is no need to worry about it,” says Lieven Raes, CompAir project coordinator. In order to make effective policies at the local level, authorities first need a high-resolution view of local air quality.
The issue is particularly acute for those in lower socio-economic groups, who face greater exposure and lack access to real-time air quality updates. To improve both awareness and action around air pollution, the EU-funded CompAir project equipped citizens in Athens, Berlin, Flanders, Plovdiv and Sofia with air quality sensors, and developed a range of innovative digital tools that offer advanced insights for citizens and authorities.
These custom-built apps help visualise air pollution, compare air quality across different routes to identify the healthiest option, analyse the impact of urban mobility policies, measure individual carbon footprints, and simulate necessary strategies to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.
A model for citizen engagement
The project focused its attention on women, young people and vulnerable groups, developing the awareness, knowledge and skills needed to help them take charge of their neighbourhood and their health.
This community-centred effort also prioritised groups that are most at risk from air pollution. In Athens, for example, 80 % of air quality data was collected by senior citizens.
Residents were involved from the start of the project, co-creating the scope of local citizen science labs, where they learned about air pollution and were trained to assemble and use air quality sensors. The team also organised various workshops and interactive events called data cafes, to discuss findings as a group and develop policy recommendations.
“This deep, multilayered participation increased people’s knowledge, skills and social capital, and showed that air quality can be improved through policy and lifestyle changes,” explains Raes. “Perhaps more importantly, it made participants feel valuable, by showing their contribution matters and makes a difference on a bigger scale,” he adds.
Turning ideas into policy
CompAir led to several policy developments with positive real-world impacts. These include the impact evaluations of a school street in Flanders, and a new cycling bridge and circulation plan. In Berlin, data produced by citizen scientists contributed to the assessment of the Graefekiez neighbourhood, leading to the redesign of a public space to reduce traffic and better accommodate citizens.
In Sofia, the project’s findings supported the extension of a school bus route, while in Plovdiv, the campaign improved STEM education. In Athens, the project’s activities aligned with the citizen engagement strategy that is outlined in the city’s climate resilience plan.
The team also significantly improved three air quality and traffic sensors, making them more robust, accurate and easier to use. Data from air quality sensors was also calibrated to improve low-cost sensor accuracy and precision.
The project also had other tangible impacts. One experiment in Flanders led to a 20 % decrease in car use and a 7 % increase in the use of public transport, walking and cycling among students.
A reproducible knowledge base
The findings led to the creation of an accessible online knowledge base hosted by the project, including project reports, publications, webinars and an online course which aims to inspire others to learn from the successes of CompAir and reproduce them elsewhere.
Many of the pilot cities will continue to monitor air pollution using the sensors that have already been deployed, and will make use of the project’s frameworks for designing experiments and sensor-network planning.
The team hopes the results will inspire a cultural shift across Europe, shifting perspectives around environmental and health issues. As Raes explains: “It’s never too early to start learning about air pollution.”