People used as pollution sensors

Buses, cyclists and pedestrians are being transformed into mobile pollution sensors as part of a new project.

Researchers from Imperial College London, in South Kensington, hope to build a three-dimensional picture of how polluted air spreads.

During a demonstration on Tuesday, dozens of sensors were attached to vehicles and people in the city.

Scientists hope the mobile devices will provide them with a portrait of air quality in unprecedented detail.

 
 We envisage a future where thousands of mobile sensors are deployed across the country

Professor John Polak said: "There is a lot that we do not know about air quality in our cities and towns because the current generation of stationary sensors don't provide enough information."

The sensors can simultaneously measure five different pollutants from traffic fumes, including nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxides.

Researchers will use the data they collect to create three-dimensional models of pollution clouds to understand how it forms, lingers and dissipates.

Professor Polak continued: "We envisage a future where thousands of mobile sensors are deployed across the country to improve the way we monitor and manage pollution in urban areas."

The measurements and locations of each sensor will be tracked on Google maps.

The scientists hope the experiment will lead to discoveries such as whether poor traffic signalling causes reduced air quality.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8127649.stm

BBC News Tuesday, 30 June 2009