The HOPE project is helping residents in three districts in Helsinki, Finland to become more aware of the quality of the air they breathe. It is giving them accurate, real-time data that is relevant to where they live so that they can see their daily exposure to air pollution. In so doing, the project hopes to ensure that people act to reduce their own contribution to the city’s air pollution and improve their quality of life.
- 11 June 2020
The HOPE project is an excellent example of how collaboration between different actors, from businesses to scientist and citizens, can be built. At the same time, it showcases the possibilities of data utilisation to create higher-quality services that meet the needs of the users.
The project is putting in place a comprehensive network of air-quality measurement sensors and developing a new air-quality index which provides more health-relevant information than the existing index. By providing information about how polluted the air they breathe is, the aim is to change their behaviour and improve the areas where they live.
The project’s focus is on three districts plagued by traffic emissions and dust: Jätkäsaari, which has heavy port-related traffic and construction activity; Mäkelänkatu-Kumpula, where over 40 000 vehicles a day plough through the street canyons; and Pakila, with its two main highways and homes with wood-burning heating.
Better information
According to the project’s website, 90 % of Europe’s city dwellers are exposed to harmful air-quality. Measuring and analysing air-quality data in any one location, then disseminating it, is complicated. There is a lack of real-time, reliable high-resolution data. As a result, it is difficult to develop interventions that people can apply to help reduce air pollution at the local level.
To overcome these problems, the project is adopting a two-pronged approach: on a technical level, it will provide comprehensive, real-time, reliable air-quality data using cost-effective technology. Socially, the project is working to ensure greater citizen participation and inclusion.
Pollution surveyors
According to an update on the project in January 2020, the first 16 months were spent developing the monitoring, modelling and information delivery infrastructure and setting up a network of pollution surveyors.
These are volunteers who assess air quality using hand-held, low-cost sensors developed by the University of Helsinki. As the volunteer moves through the city, the device measures levels of fine and respirable particles (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, as well as temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, light and motion.
The sensor can be clipped on to a backpack and is linked to the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth. The data is transferred from the phone to the University of Helsinki’s new Megasense IoT data platform, where it is processed.
From June to August 2019, a successful pilot project using 26 volunteers was conducted in the Jätkäsaari waterfront area. Two more crowdsourced air-quality measuring campaigns will be conducted in each of the three areas during the project.
In return for their help, the volunteers can access a webpage with graphs and heat maps showing their exposure to pollution, developed with the information they have gathered.
To ensure an accurate picture of the state of the city’s air, these portable sensors are complemented by a network of static, state-of-the-art monitors, 32 of which will be installed in the three districts.
Visualising data
A ‘Green Path routing tool’ for use by the public, that recommends paths through the city with the least pollution and traffic noise, is under development. Currently, it shows the best walking routes and exposure to air quality, in real-time. The project’s goal is to include the cycling network and the entire Helsinki Metropolitan Area.
The next phase of the project will focus on getting residents and companies involved, listening to their opinions and helping them understand how the initiatives will benefit them.
The project is a partnership between the City of Helsinki, the University of Helsinki, private enterprise Vaisala Plc, Useless Company Ltd, an SME, the Helsinki Region Environmental Services Authority, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, and innovation centre Forum Virium Helsinki.
HOPE is backed by the ERDF and Urban Innovative Actions, an EU initiative that gives cities funding to implement innovative projects to help overcome specific challenges.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “HOPE – Healthy Outdoor Promises for Everyone” is EUR 5 701 571, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 4 561 260 through the “Urban Innovative Actions” initiative for the 2014-2020 programming period.