Air pollution is a global issue that impacts environmental inequalities, and air quality sensors can have a decisive role in city policymaking for future cities. Science and society are already aware that during the most challenging times of COVID-19, the levels of air pollution in cities decreased, especially during lockdowns, when road traffic was reduced. Several pollution parameters can be used to analyse cities’ environmental challenges, and it is more pressing than ever to have city climate decisions supported by sensor data. We have applied a data science approach to understand the evolution of the levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter 2.5, and particulate matter 10 between August 2021 and July 2022. The analysis of the air quality levels, captured for the first time via 80 monitoring stations distributed throughout the municipality of Lisbon, has allowed us to realize that nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter 10 exceed the levels that are recommended by the World Health Organization, thereby increasing the health risk for those who live and work in Lisbon. Supported by these findings, we propose a central role for air quality sensors for policymaking in future cities, taking as a case study the municipality of Lisbon, Portugal, which is among the European cities that recently proposed be climate-neutral and smart city by 2030.

--

Air quality sensors,Air pollution,Health,Environmental inequalities,Data analysis,Municipality of Lisbon,Future cities,Smart cities

• Computer and Information Sciences - Natural Sciences
• Physical Sciences - Natural Sciences
• Chemical Sciences - Natural Sciences
• Biological Sciences - Natural Sciences
• Other Engineering and Technology Sciences - Engineering and Technology
• Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering - Engineering and Technology
• Clinical Medicine - Medical and Health Sciences
• Other Medical Sciences - Medical and Health Sciences

This publication is an output of the following project(s):

• Alternative Shaper
• Data science analysis for environmental inequalities
• Trailblazing Inclusive, Sustainable and Resilient Cities
• Candidates Survey (MPs and non-elected candidates) for the 2019 Legislative Elections
• Candidates Survey (MPs and non-elected candidates) for the 2022 Legislative Elections
• Impact of Blockchains and Decentralised Ledger Technologies