About COMPAIR
COMPAIR, which stands for Community Observation Measurement and Participation in AIR Science, embodies a pioneering approach to tackling air pollution through the lens of citizen science. This innovative project is helping Athens, Berlin, Flanders, Plovdiv, and Sofia to harnesses the collective power of volunteers to monitor air quality and traffic patterns using low-cost sensing devices. The essence of COMPAIR lies in its community-centric methodology, where data collected by citizens is calibrated and disseminated through open dashboards and mobile applications, empowering volunteers and policymakers to make informed decisions. Through bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and community action, COMPAIR is at the forefront of developing a greener, more sustainable future.
Description of success
COMPAIR's achievements across various locations underscore the project's adaptability and widespread impact:
- Athens: put into action citizen science, particularly among the elderly and lower socioeconomic groups, to bring about behavioural changes, enhance air quality awareness and encourage actions towards sustainable lifestyles.
- Berlin: engaged a community of citizens in air quality monitoring through static and dynamic (cycling-based) measurement campaigns, building a knowledgeable base of volunteers eager to contribute to environmental health and sustainable public spaces.
- Flanders: focused on evaluating local policy and educational engagement, particularly among primary school students, leading to the successful implementation of a 'school street' initiative to improve safety and air quality.
- Plovdiv: raised awareness about the impact of local traffic on air pollution, with schools and local residents actively participating in air quality monitoring, enhancing the community's environmental consciousness.
- Sofia: engaged elementary school students in workshops to assemble DIY air quality sensors and introduced sustainable transportation solutions such as school buses to instil environmental sustainability values from an early age.
Highlights
- COMPAIR has set a new standard for involving citizens in scientific research, particularly notable in Athens, with the active participation of elderly communities, and in Sofia where Roma communities were enlisted to act on air pollution.
- The project has made significant strides in incorporating environmental science into educational settings, especially in Flanders and Plovdiv. By engaging students in hands-on activities and real-world data collection, COMPAIR is nurturing a generation keenly aware of environmental issues and motivated to tackle air pollution in their community.
- The insights and data produced by COMPAIR have had a tangible effect on local environmental policies, informing urban planning and traffic management decisions. This has been achieved by providing policymakers with hyperlocal, actionable data, underscoring the project's role in bridging the gap between community action and policy formulation. In Berlin, data gathered by citizens contributed to the evaluation of low-traffic neighbourhoods called Kiezblocks, while in Herzele, Flanders, local policy-makers benefited from actionable insights into changes in traffic and air quality before and after the school street was introduced.
- Highlighted by the introduction of school bus services in Sofia, COMPAIR has promoted sustainable transportation solutions. These solutions contributed to reduced traffic congestion and lower emissions around schools, showcasing a practical application of citizen science data in urban mobility development.
- The project has tapped into the creative energies of its participants, as seen in Sofia where students expressed their learning and aspirations for cleaner air through art and poetry, illustrating the diverse ways in which communities can engage with and advocate for environmental sustainability.
Outputs
COMPARE has published a report to share the results from all their activities across the different cities. The results include data gathered by the citizen scientists to contribute towards their local air quality information. In Plovdiv, it was found that the air quality in terms of nitrogen dioxide was worse on school days compared to non-school days.
In some cities, the pilot studies gained attention in the local news, for example in Plovdiv and Flanders (not in English).
Impact
The collective efforts of the COMPAIR project have enhanced local air quality, while also contributing to a broader understanding of urban environmental challenges. The project's innovative use of citizen science has established a scalable model for community participation in scientific research, setting a benchmark for future initiatives aimed at sustainable urban development.
Lessons
Different lessons and observations were made across the different cities, and they should be considered in the planning of all future pilot studies as they are universally relevant.
Engagement with participants should be regular so that they feel invested in the project and to maintain their interest. In a similar way, there should be incentives for participants to attend workshops. Citizen scientists with particularly strong skills or enthusiasm should be recognised as local champions and be empowered to take on leadership roles, boosting their confidence and the morale of their community. There is always a risk of citizens dropping out during the course of the pilot, so as many citizens as possible should be recruited to the pilot to cover potential loss.
Data cafés were a success as a means of collaborating and sharing knowledge, ideas and results, compared to traditional lecture-style sessions. They led to insightful discussions, a closer-knit community spirit and better understanding of the project and its objectives.
Other information
Due to the great success of the pilot studies, other citizens, schools and neighbourhoods are getting involved in further sessions throughout 2024.
