The cities of Bradford and Birmingham in the UK are set to trial the use of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to detect air quality in real time.
The IoT air quality sensors, provided by BT subsidiary InLink, collect ambient air quality data which is transferred to BT’s data hub via integrated wifi functionality. The data can then be analysed by Bradford City Council and a research team at the University of Birmingham, where it will be augmented by additional data collected by monitoring equipment implemented under the West Midlands’ air quality improvement initiative WM-Air.
Councillor Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for healthy people and places, said: “This is a great way for us to get real time useful data from units that are already placed in the city centre. We all need to understand and take responsibility for the implications air pollution has not only on the environment but also how it affects our health, especially children, the elderly and people with heart and lung problems. Being able to use this data from the city centre will add to the number of initiatives we already have in place to tackle air pollution and improve air quality.”
Professor William Bloss, WM-Air project lead at the University of Birmingham, said: “There is a pressing need for more detailed measurements across cities such as Birmingham to deliver clean air science. It’s important for us to understand the levels of air pollution in the city as it can have a huge impact on the health and wellbeing of people who live and work here. We are exploring use of the new BT sensors alongside a number of initiatives we already have in place to measure air pollution and improve air quality.”
Inlink intends to integrate additional IoT air quality detecting software in further locations throughout the UK.
