The problem related to (poor) air quality and the danger the phenomenon has on human health is long established and proven by numerous scientific studies. According to the study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, “Premature mortality due to air pollution in European cities: a health impact
assessment” – conducted by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (Isglobal), in collaboration with researchers from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss Tph) and the University of Utrecht – respect for OMS guidelines could prevent more than 50,000 deaths a year due to air pollution.
Despite the fact that information is now widely available, awareness and especially the active search for solutions to the problem are still insufficient. This is evidenced by the fact that with the passage of time, air quality is steadily deteriorating in many areas.
Leveraging the paradigm of IoT (Internet of Things), accessible and open-data sensing, AirQ allows the user to collect data and process it, and offer an application that can give personalized information to the user, even recommending the best routes (in relation to air quality). The application, which is particularly suitable for sporty people, will play the role of a coach, instructing each person in performing their outdoor sports to the best of their ability and providing suggestions aimed at improving the person’s quality of life.
AirQ is not only an application but an educational and functional tool!
Educational because:
- It explains what air pollution is, what it is caused by, how it is detected/monitored, what are the data that represent it, what it is made up of.
- Teaches people how to read the data.
- Informs the user about the impact that pollution generates on health (e.g., likelihood of contracting certain diseases, life expectancy…)
Functional because:
- Indicates the routes with the lowest level of pollution (with respect to training goals preferred for each individual)
- Informs people with respect to the (point in time) state of air quality at a specific location, monitored by sensors as close as possible to the indicated point
- Suggests daily actions to reduce pollution, highlighting how much each action impacts air quality
- Makes the user feel personal improvements on a physical level by assessing the impact of the benefits that can be achieved by following the app’s personalized suggestions
WEBSITE: https://www.airq.it/
PROJECT LEADERS: Matteo Agnelli, Giulia Sandrini
MAIN BENEFICIARIES: individuals who engage in physical activity outdoors.
AREAS: Technology, Environment, Health
COUNTRY: Italy
STATUS: Active