Air quality sensors will be deployed across Thames Valley to provide a multimodal view of real-time traffic movements across the region.
The software, developed by Siemens Mobility, will be implemented as part of the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s (ADEPT) smart places live labs programme.
The first six ZephyrS sensors have been installed in Thatcham, Reading and Wokingham. The technology can be integrated with traffic signals and other traffic management systems.
The sensors will measure a range of pollutants, temperature and humidity with data feeding back to the EarthSense MyAir data web app and Stratos traffic management applications. According to Siemens, the data will enable public health exposure models to be created that can then inform transportation, environmental and planning projects and strategies.
Wilke Reints, managing director of Siemens Mobility’s intelligent traffic systems business in the UK, said: “Poor air quality in towns and cities is an ever-increasing problem, with road transport contributing significantly to urban pollution.
“By fully integrating our ZephyrS air quality sensor with other traffic data, authorities are able to make meaningful and timely interventions through our Stratos traffic management system, implementing strategies based on reliable pollution data and prevailing air quality levels.”
Siemens Mobility and EarthSense will now work to determine the best locations for the next group of sensors to be installed through project workshops and EarthSenses air quality mapping applications.
The ADEPT programme is a two-year £22.9m project funded by the UK Department for Transport and supported by project partners SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business, EY, Kier, O2, Ringway and WSP.
Local authorities are working on eight projects to introduce digital innovation across smart mobility, transport, highways maintenance, data, energy and communications. Live labs is part of ADEPTs smart places programme to support the use of digital technology in place-based services.
