Creating air quality awareness in Bistriţa: an approach based on sensor data

Bistriţa is actively monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality since 2021, as part of the local sustainable mobility campaign "Bistriţa, Zero Carbon City". This initiative has led to the installation of sensors across various areas, with the collected data online accessible to the public.

The sensors make CO₂ levels and air pollutants tangible and comprehensible to the public. This aligns with the primary goal of the initiative: to educate and raise awareness among citizens, particularly children and young adults, about the importance of reducing pollutants and CO₂ in the atmosphere. As public awareness of these emissions grows, individuals can better understand their impact on climate change, thereby encouraging exploration of more sustainable alternatives, such as transportation choices.

The implementation of this initiative involved collaboration with a local urban group, providing valuable insights into effective carbon emission reduction measures within the city.

At present, there are 10 road traffic sensors (uRADMonitor A3 sensors) actively monitoring air quality throughout the Bistriţa municipality. Each uRADMonitor A3 device monitors 10 indicators, including air temperature, humidity, dust concentration (PM₁, PM_2.5, PM₁₀), volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde concentration, ozone, CO₂ and lastly noise level.

Data from these sensors is updated every minute and stored for retrospective analysis. This project started as a small-scale pilot project, and later expanded to include more locations in Bistriţa (indoor and outdoor).

Citizens can access real-time data through the Bistriţa Municipality website or a dedicated app. For example, the real time data can indicate where air is polluted, and thus warn vulnerable citizens to reduce their exposure to the polluted air in that specific area. Another example is that measured noise levels can help to build a noise map at city level, but also to estimate the intensity of traffic in the city.

The remaining 8 sensors, which are the indoor sensors (uRADMonitor SMOGGIE-CO₂) measure concentrations of CO₂ and discreetly indicate excessive CO₂ levels through a red LED light, while a green light indicates acceptable levels.

Stakeholders include among others the urban local group, environmental agencies, and universities, all of which have contributed by installing sensors on their premises. High schools and kindergartens with indoor sensors support Bistriţa’s sustainable urban mobility campaign.

Throughout the project, the identification of optimal sensor locations posed challenges due to the requisite reliable Wi-Fi access, crucial for sensor functionality. Sustained public interest, information dissemination, and engagement were also essential to ensure the sensors remained purposeful. This was achieved by granting citizens access to the platform and utilising an online application.

Citizen feedback highlights that the most significant positive outcome was the increased enthusiasm among school children where sensors were deployed. This underscores the effectiveness of using accessible environmental sensors to generate awareness and enthusiasm for improving air quality.

The LED indicators on the sensors alert teachers when the CO₂ concentration is too high, so that they can take actions such as opening windows in the classrooms. Data shows that when more ventilation is ensured, there is a subsequent decrease in CO₂ concentration. This decrease is especially noticeable during the winter.

The city of Bistriţa recommends other municipalities to consider the implementation of similar environmental sensors to raise public awareness about air quality and pollutants. The data generated by these sensors is easily understandable and resonates with the public, making it a cost-effective solution.

A logical progression for Bistriţa would involve the expansion of the sensor network, a goal the city aspires to achieve in the future. Additionally, the city could explore whether other parties are interested in investing in sensors and installing them on their premises. A potential future development may entail gaining insights into website usage, an aspect currently not fully explored.