Apps & Dashboards
Many citizen science initiatives that collect data on air quality share this information publicly, with simple maps and dashboards being the most common visualisation tools. While access to air quality information is no longer an issue as both government related and citizen science sources provide this data with sufficient frequency and granularity, the limited analytical capacity of existing tools means that the true value of air quality data remains unlocked.
COMPAIR tackles this problem by designing advanced monitoring and simulation tools that aggregate data from multiple sources to provide a well-rounded view of air pollution and related challenges e.g. traffic, waste management, energy use. Built-in analytics allow users to examine the impact of individual lifestyle choices and government policies on a range of indicators, and see more clearly what the result of a particular action or measure might be before implementing it on the ground.
We also leverage new technologies like Augmented Reality to provide a more personal insight into air quality in one’s immediate vicinity. This way citizens can have a better understanding of their exposure to air pollution depending on where they are in a city.
Policy Monitoring Dashboard
The Policy Monitoring Dashboard (PMD) is a new visualisation and analytics platform developed to enhance the value of citizen science data. With PMD, users can study the impact of policy changes on traffic and air pollution before implementing or refining any measures on the ground. The platform displays data from multiple sources and allows users to drill deeper into the datasets to gain new insights. PMD supports the monitoring of a target location and the surrounding areas to make sure that the policy change does not simply shift the problem further afield. Advanced graphs and charts enable users to dive into detail and investigate complex relationships between air and traffic values and between the target and the surrounding areas, in a way that is easy to understand.
CO2 Simulation Dashboard
The Carbon Footprint Simulation Dashboard, or CO2 Calculator for short, employs Citizen Science information in order to assist citizens in understanding and comparing how future carbon emissions will be modified in accordance with changes in their daily routines. The CO2 Calculator helps people to measure their carbon footprint by answering questions on flights, recycling, travel, energy use, and so on. Individual results are then calculated and presented in relation to a country’s or EU average. Where there is room for improvement, the calculator provides recommendations on how to offset CO2 emissions in the area concerned. The simulator, for its part, will show which actions are needed from individuals and the government to meet Green Deal targets.
Dynamic Exposure Visualisation Dashboard
The Dynamic Exposure Visualisation Dashboard (DEV-D) shows people their exposure to air pollution when they are on the move. Specifically, the dashboard displays information on trips recorded with DEVA and mobile sensors that people carry when moving around in cities. DEV-D plots the recorded trips on a map and shows which parts of the journey are safe and dangerous by taking into account pollution concentration along the route, international pollution guidelines (WHO), as well as user's age and weight. Other basic information like length, time and speed of the journey is also provided. DEV-D merges individual travel information with air quality data in a single interface to provide insight into people's commuting habits, encouraging them to take healthier routes.
Dynamic Exposure Visualisation App
The Dynamic Exposure Visualisation App (DEVA) uses Augmented Reality to show people air pollution in their local surroundings. By using AR capable mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets, the app visualises air pollution as floating particles such as spheres, stars, pins or cubes. Pollution intensity can be visualised as clouds in gradients of different colours. The visualised data is received in real-time from a data server collecting pollution measurements from various sources, e.g. citizen science sensors, web platforms. Furthermore, DEVA will show other environmental information such as temperature and humidity, and will include gamification features to reward users for providing correct answers about air pollution, or for taking clean, less polluted routes to/from work, school, or home.
