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THE PROBLEM

Several scientific studies agree that low air quality is a problem and a risk to people's health. According to the research “Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities: a health impact assessment”, published by The Lancet Planetary Health and performed by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Isglobal), in collaboration with researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss Tph) and the Utrecht University, compliance with WHO guidelines could prevent more than 50.000 deaths per year due to air pollution. Although the information is by now widely disseminated, the sensitivity and above all the search for solutions to the problem still need to be improved today. This is demonstrated by the fact that the air quality is steadily deteriorating over time in many areas.

THE SOLUTION

Building virtuous communities is the first step to creating and maintaining a capillary network of air quality sensors, allowing timely and georeferenced data collection. By leveraging the IoT (Internet Of Things) paradigm, low-cost sensors and open data, AirQ collects and processes data, aiming at offering an application that provides personalized information to the user, suggesting, for example, the best routes based on the measured air quality. The application, currently designed for people who regularly exercise outdoors, acts as a coach, suggesting actions to the users so that they can improve their quality of life.

FUNCTIONS

AirQ is not just an application, it is both an educational and functional tool!

EDUCATIONAL

● Explains what air pollution is, what it is due to, how it is monitored, what data represents it
● Teaches people how to read data properly
● Informs users on the impact that air pollution has on health (probability of contracting certain diseases, years of life expectancy, …)

● Informs users about the timely status of air quality in a given location, monitored by sensors as close as possible to that location

FUNCTIONAL

● Suggests routes with a lower pollution level (compared to target exercising goals)
● Suggests actions aimed at reducing air pollution, highlighting how activities impact the air quality
● Raises awareness in the users about the improvements in their physical condition by measuring the benefits obtained when following the personalized suggestions