Innovative and advanced monitoring and modelling systems for revised air quality policies

Expected Outcome

In the context of the European Green Deal and the zero pollution action plan, a successful proposal will contribute to the impact of this Destination related to enhanced scientific capacity and innovative solutions for detecting and characterising pollution, thus contributing to the zero pollution objective for cleaner air.

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

• public authorities and other relevant stakeholders (e.g., researchers, NGOs and patient organisations and providers of care especially to vulnerable groups) have access to better and cost-effective solutions to detect, measure, monitor and assess air pollution, including its sources and impacts, as well as pathways for their integration into operational atmospheric monitoring services and networks;
• enhanced and more rapidly accessible air quality data and information support science-based decision-making, and policy development at local and national levels, ultimately leading to more effective air quality measures aligned with the revised EU air policy, as well as to more efficient use of EU, public and private funding for improving air quality;
• increased public awareness and more accurate information of local air quality issues lead to healthier behaviours of citizens, particularly vulnerable groups and sensitive populations (e.g., during air pollution peak periods), including by supporting better evidence-based access to justice related to negative effects of air pollution.

Scope

The revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD) complements the European Green Deal and is a key action in the Commission’s zero pollution action plan. It seeks to align EU air quality standards more closely with WHO recommendations and to better support national and local authorities in achieving cleaner air through strengthening air quality monitoring and modelling and improving air quality plans. For these objectives, several challenges will need to be overcome in the coming years, particularly when it comes to the improvement of accuracy, comparability and real-time nature of monitoring and modelling to assess air quality in Member States and Associated Countries referring to already regulated air pollutants facing stricter limit values (main pollutants include PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, benzene, and O3) and to air pollutants of emerging concern (such as ultra-fine particles – including nano-particles of all kinds, black carbon, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, oxidative potential for particulate matter) and their source apportionment. The proposals are expected to:

• develop or improve cost-effective monitoring and modelling tools, approaches and methods for different types of well-known and emerging air pollutants and pollution sources, addressing the most urgent needs in measurement accuracy (including temporal aspects such as real-time monitoring and modelling) and dispersion mapping, in support of the implementation of the revised AAQD;
• develop methodologies and recommendations for designing optimal monitoring networks, considering relevant aspects of different spatial locations (hotspots as well as urban and rural background locations), combining traditional reference measurements and innovative measurement techniques, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the use of innovative low-cost sensors. Recommendations should consider also funding challenges and opportunities;
• improve the processing and integration of in situ, ground-based remote sensing and satellite (e.g. Sentinels) observations, and air quality numerical models utilising various methods, like for example AI algorithms and finite elements modelling.

Where relevant, activities should build and expand on the results of past and ongoing research projects and initiatives with a relevant air quality monitoring and/or modelling component to share experiences, reach synergies and avoid duplication. These could include, but are not limited to, Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects (potentially those funded under HORIZON-CL6-2024-GOVERNANCE-01-6), research infrastructures (for example, ACTRIS ERIC), as well as relevant LIFE integrated projects for clean air. Proposed activities should, where possible, build on results of and cooperate with AQUILA and FAIRMODE [1] communities. Furthermore, this topic is part of a coordination initiative between ESA and the European Commission on Earth System Science. The proposals should articulate how they will coordinate with current and future actions funded by ESA’s Future EO programme within ESA atmospheric science cluster.

The integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

[1] https://fairmode.jrc.ec.europa.eu/