Environment: from ENEA a portable smog-tracker for bikes and strollers
17/11/2016
The project will be supported through crowdfunding
The first portable smog-tracker to be installed on strollers, bikes or scooters, was presented by ENEA at Ecomondo, the International Trade Fair of Sustainable Development held in Rimini.
Thanks to MONICA (Air Quality Cooperative MONItoring), a portable, multisensory system, is now possible to know the exposure to air pollutants as you move about - and share this information with other users - through a smartphone application.
MONICA is a coloured small box measuring 8CM X 12 CM inside which a sophisticated multisensory system measures pollution levels - carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone – and delivers their levels and the corresponding area directly on the user’s phone. The smog-tracker was developed at the ENEA Portici Research Center (nearby Naples) by a team of experts in intelligent sensoristics, such as the high-tech electronic noses employed in the aviation industry and to monitor volcanic gases.
But that’s not all. In order to create a fleet of pilot-sensors to be tested in cities, ENEA has decided to launch for the first time a crowdfunding campaign through the platform “Eppela” (eppela.com), where it will soon be possible to support the project.
“The objective - Federico Testa, President of ENEA, explained - it’s not just to find sources of funding at such a difficult time for research, but to have an informed and participatory approach to environmental and health issues, notably urban atmospheric pollution, highlighting the potential contribution of technological innovation in which ENEA is in the front line.
MONICA is not in competition with traditional monitoring systems but aims at paving the way to complementary tools, in line with the European directives that envisage the use of mobile systems as well, conceived for using different measuring parameters from the current ones and creating a more widespread network.
As of today, the laboratory prototype costs about 500 euros but if field trials are successful the price could lower to 100/300 euros.
MONICA will in fact start a citizen science campaign, already widespread in other countries, especially in Canada and the United States. “The idea originated from a group of young researchers believing in the importance of experimenting with new technologies while bringing citizens closer to scientific research, highlighting its positive impact on everyday life” Testa pointed out.
For more information on the project and the support campaign log on to:
With MONICA:
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU BREATH
MONICA measures the city’s air pollutants (CO, NO2, ozone) through a smartphone application, showing a synthetic index of individual exposure
YOU CAN CHOOSE GREENER ROUTES
MONICA shows the level of pollutants along your route and allows you to choose less polluted routes through your smartphone
YOU EXPERIMENT WITH NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Your contribution to MONICA will allow to creat a fleet of pilot-sensors and test their reliability
YOU HELP RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
MONICA can lead to new ways of measuring urban pollution while moving about
YOU CAN DRAW A MAP OF AIR QUALITY
Once the experimental phase is over, with MONICA you will be able to draw a real- time map of air quality
AND SHARE IT WITH OTHER USERS AND YOUR COMMUNITY
