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EVER WONDERED HOW much pollution there is in the environment around you as you cycle or walk somewhere?
A new app, Airprobe, part-funded by the European Union, aims to let you know.
Using a small sensor box that you connect to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, the new app will allow you know where the pollution peaks are and just how much pollutants there are in the air.
Level reading
The device works by sucking in air. The box then sends readings for the level of ozone, black carbon and other pollutants to a central server, which then sends around information about the town’s polluted areas as well as peak pollution times to avoid.
Partners from Belgium, Germany, Italy and the UK developed the system, receiving more than €2 million from the EU.
More than 300 people in Antwerp, Kassel, Turin and London participated in the first tests. Over 28 million air quality points were collected.
Scientists can also use the information gathered to analyse pollution trends and post this information online for citizens and public authorities. This could, for example, help deal with traffic congestion.
Project coordinator Professor Vittorio Loreto said:
It is still too early to draw any conclusions, but it will be interesting to see how people change their behaviour as their awareness of the environment increases.
In 2010, more then 400 000 people are estimated to have died prematurely from air pollution in the EU.
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NIMBYs incoming
@Pól Ó’hAodha: :) so far so good
Plans look good and what a central location to live with everything on your doorstep, good luck to the lucky tenants that will live in them private or council owned
Brilliant news
It’s a sad state of affairs when we need to go for cabinet approval to build some apartments.
@Anthony Horan: You mean using *public* land to enrich private landlords? Yeah, that definitely shouldn’t be allowed. Ever.
They look like they’ll make decent barracks for the Russians when they take over. Timing is off tho they won’t be ready by then.
Great news
They were all social housing and that was what was wanted again, now the vultures can swoop in.
@Gary Kearney: and the people in social housing get a free house, it’s a win win
@Gary Kearney: I take it you never saw the place when it was occupied.
have your say