Lecture

Urban Pollution Monitoring

Graph Chat

Chat with Graph Search

Ask any question about EPFL courses, lectures, exercises, research, news, etc. or try the example questions below.

DISCLAIMER: The Graph Chatbot is not programmed to provide explicit or categorical answers to your questions. Rather, it transforms your questions into API requests that are distributed across the various IT services officially administered by EPFL. Its purpose is solely to collect and recommend relevant references to content that you can explore to help you answer your questions.

Description

This lecture presents a study on urban pollution in Lausanne, where volunteers equipped with sensor-filled backpacks aim to detect the most polluted areas of the city. The volunteers collect data on air quality, including nanoparticles, ultrafine particles, carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. The collected data will be used to map pollution levels in the city, benefiting the general public. Researchers plan to develop a smartphone application connected to portable sensors for real-time pollution monitoring, allowing users to track pollutant concentrations over time. The study involves 24 volunteers who have been participating for a year, and the initial results are expected in the coming months.

Official source

Related concepts (11)

Air pollution

Air pollution is the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials. It is also the contamination of indoor or outdoor surrounding either by chemical activities, physical or biological agents that alters the natural features of the atmosphere. There are many different types of air pollutants, such as gases (including ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons), particulates (both organic and inorganic), and biological molecules.

Air quality index

An air quality index (AQI) is an indicator developed by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become. As air pollution levels rise, so does the AQI, along with the associated public health risk. Children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular problems are typically the first groups affected by poor air quality. When the AQI is high, governmental bodies generally encourage people to reduce physical activity outdoors, or even avoid going out altogether.

Indoor air quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. IAQ is known to affect the health, comfort, and well-being of building occupants. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to sick building syndrome, reduced productivity, and impaired learning in schools. Common pollutants of indoor air include: secondhand tobacco smoke, air pollutants from indoor combustion, radon, molds and other allergens, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, legionella and other bacteria, asbestos fibers, carbon dioxide, ozone and particulates.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

The U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS, pronounced ˈnæks ) are limits on atmospheric concentration of six pollutants that cause smog, acid rain, and other health hazards. Established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under authority of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), NAAQS is applied for outdoor air throughout the country. The six criteria air pollutants (CAP), or criteria pollutants, for which limits are set in the NAAQS are ozone (O3), atmospheric particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SOx), and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an anthropogenic source – that is, a source created by human activities, such as manufacturing, extractive industries, poor waste management, transportation or agriculture.

Related lectures (37)

Thermal Comfort - Air Quality - Acoustic Comfort

Explores thermal, air, and acoustic comfort in sustainable construction, covering factors influencing well-being and legal aspects.

Environmental Monitoring: Sensor Systems and Urban Health

Explores spatially dense air and water quality monitoring in urban areas, emphasizing the importance of environmental monitoring and showcasing various sensor systems.

Microbiology for Engineers: Course Overview and Laboratory Sessions

Outlines the Microbiology for Engineers course structure, covering lectures, labs, and diversity initiatives.

Air Pollution: Modeling and Mitigation

Explores environmental impact studies, dispersion modeling, and pollution mitigation measures on construction sites.

Atmospheric Pollution: Impacts and Regulations Log in to Mediaspace to watch this video