Lancaster City Council has deployed 14 air quality sensors form EarthSense around the city, along with its MappAir pollution model.
It has carried out the deployment with funding from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Air Quality Grant.
The company said that Lancaster already has an existing automatic monitoring station and continually monitors air quality, but the new sensors will enable it to expand its current programme and show residents where air pollution peaks are occurring.
The council will use its network of Zephyr sensors to monitor the outdoor concentrations of key pollutants including NO2, NO, O3, PM1, with a particular emphasis on PM2.5 and PM10, throughout the local area. Air quality data collected will provide insights into pollution hotspots, time based trends and pollution peaks.
It is also aiming to increase its understanding of the local impact of solid fuel burning pollution and promote a behaviour change campaign.
Deeper understanding
The council’s member with responsibility for environmental services, Cllr Joanne Ainscough, said: While we continually monitor air pollution levels, we also assess ways where we can make improvements.
"Air quality is improving, but the launch of the new monitors will continue to contribute to our understanding, guide future actions to tackle air pollution, and contribute to the Annual Status Report for Air Quality.
“We are also pleased to launch our public portal, which we hope will help our residents participate in keeping the air cleaner and reducing personal exposure to pollution.”
