Air quality monitoring in urban environments

Air pollution is both an environmental and a social problem, as it leads to a multitude of adverse effects on human health, ecosystems and the climate. Air pollution is one of the largest environmental health risks in Europe today. Quality of the air in city and urban areas is the most important factor that directly influences the incidence of diseases and decreases the quality of life. Taking appropriate decisions in a timely period depends on the measurement and analysis of the parameters of the air, which creates the need for the development of real time air quality monitoring. The use of multi-parameter air quality monitoring systems makes it possible to do a detailed level analysis of major pollutants and their sources. These monitoring systems are important components in many smart city projects for monitoring air quality and for controlling the main pollutant concentrations in urban areas. In this paper we present an approach for cost-effective measurement of relevant environmental parameters, based on a scalable sensor array with integrated amperometric and infrared gas sensors. The device has been tested in the city and the measurement was compared with the output data of the local environmental control authority stations. The preliminary results show that this approach can be used as an economical alternative to the professional grade systems.