The Munich-based IoT startup Hawa Dawa is installing Germany's largest air quality monitoring network with 35 measuring boxes. Eight municipalities in the Munich area are joining forces to achieve this. One of the aims is to inform the population about air quality in real time.
The so-called Northern Alliance, consisting of the eight Munich metropolitan communities of Eching, Garching, Hallbergmoos, Ismaning, Neufahrn, Oberschleißheim, Unterföhring and Unterschleißheim, have decided to expand a digital measuring network to record air quality. The Munich North Metropolitan Region is relying on the technology of Hawa DawaThe Munich-based start-up has already set up similar measurement networks from the Internet of Things (IoT)-capable measuring boxes installed.
Air quality measurement network aims to provide transparency
The goal of the Northern Alliance is to use these digital solutions to increase transparency regarding air quality for citizens and decision-makers. In the spirit of a smart city, values for particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and ozone are collected in real time and presented transparently on an interactive website. The Northern Alliance's measurement network comprises a total of 35 sensors for measuring air quality, making it one of the largest municipal measurement networks in Germany. The sensors are intelligently interconnected. This allows the smart technology to learn how to compare the measured air values with values such as the outside temperature and thus classify them correctly.
The pilot project will run for 24 months. During this period, citizens can learn about the current air quality in the spirit of active civic participation. An interactive map will also be available on the Nordallianz website with additional tips on air quality, air pollution control, and smart cities. The new measurement technology will allow interested parties to obtain comprehensive, real-time information about air quality in the participating communities.
"For the first time, the focus is not on technology, but on people's needs for transparency in urban spaces. We are proud to be taking this first step towards a smart city together with the municipalities of the NordAllianz and look forward to working together over the next two years,"
commented Karim Tarraf, CEO of Hawa Dawa, about the cooperation.
