Need
Air pollution is the leading environmental risk to health in Europe, according to the WHO. Many European cities, especially in Flanders and the Netherlands, frequently exceed the legal limits for air quality, exposing the population to dangerous concentrations of pollutants. In addition, the diversity of initiatives and measurement methodologies makes it difficult for policymakers, who require comparable and reliable data to design effective air quality and mobility policies.
Faced with this challenge, local governments demanded advanced tools to quickly identify pollution hotspots, assess the impact of different measures (such as pedestrianisation or traffic restrictions), and base their decisions on scientific data. It was also crucial to encourage citizen participation in the search for solutions and in the implementation of local plans to improve air quality, thereby increasing transparency and shared social responsibility.
In this context, CityTRAQ demonstrates that combining advanced technology with citizen participation enables the creation of healthier and more sustainable urban environments. This initiative, promoted by the European Union through the LIFE projects, has enabled cities such as Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Zagreb to continuously and reliably monitor air quality in diverse urban contexts, supporting informed decision-making and encouraging active citizen involvement in improving the urban environment.
