The City of London has deployed the Air Aware tool to for people to monitor local air quality – with the addition of two public digital display screens.
The corporation said it took part in the development of Air Aware, which was deployed earlier this year in the East London boroughs of Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets, providing localised information on levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide in the air.
It also features an ‘assistant’ chat function to give advice and answer users’ questions, as well as an information hub with extra tools, videos, and resources – plus a community section with news and local events.
The tool, which can be accessed through a web browser or smartphone, tablet or laptop, and the City of London has provided view through new digital display screens at the Artizan Street Library and Community Centre, and Barbican Library.
Changing the environment
Chair of the corporation’s port health and environmental committee, Mary Durcan, said: “Air Aware demonstrates just how important it is to work together in order to make real changes to the environment across the capital and beyond.
“By collaborating with neighbouring boroughs, we’ve been able to create a useful resource for people who want to know more about air quality in areas they live, work, and explore.
“Over the past six months, we’ve been working together and listening, to develop a tool with the information local people really want, to help them make informed decisions about their daily lives.”
City of London monitors air quality at over 100 locations across the Square Mile and has taken a series of measures to reduce air pollution. These include its CityAir programme in partnership with Camden, has involved a three-year project encouraging drivers to switch off their vehicle engines when idling, air quality action plans for schools and nurseries, and using an all-electric refuse fleet.
Tech company Openkit was also involved in the development of Air Aware.
