Mobile pollution monitors to be trialled across the UK today

Mobile pollution monitors to be trialled across the UK today. Scientists transform pedestrians, cyclists, buses and cars into mobile wireless sensors - Under Strict Embargo - Tuesday 30 June 2009 - 00:01BST Scientists will transform pedestrians, cyclists, buses and cars into mobile wireless sensors today (Tuesday 30 June 2009), as part of a demonstration of new ways of measuring air quality. Researchers will show transport authority and industry representatives how small mobile sensors could improve how air quality in urban areas is monitored and managed. "There is a lot that we do not know about air quality in our cities and towns because the current generation of large stationary sensors don't provide enough information," says project Director Professor John Polak, from the Centre for Transport Studies at Imperial College London. "We envisage a future where hundreds and thousands of mobile sensors are deployed across the country, to improve the way we monitor, measure and manage pollution in our urban areas." Scientists will deploy three new types of sensors in tomorrow's demonstration, measuring multiple types of traffic emissions and noise pollution. The team will receive data from 100 sensors deployed in South Kensington, Leicester, Gateshead and Cambridge to test how they operate from different locations. Dr Robin North from Imperial's Department of Civil and Environmental Enginering trials a sensor The new sensor technology means that researchers can now measure and model air quality in unprecedented detail to improve their understanding about pollution hotspots and analyse the factors such as bad urban design that contribute to poor air quality.