Satellite-assisted Management of Air Quality

Advantages

Innovation introduced by the project

• Use of satellite pictures that offer a comprehensive, accurate, objective and high resolution picture of air pollution in the entire area.
• Comparison of satellite pictures and measurements of air pollutants at ground stations.
• Possibility of system optimisation and improved spatial distribution of the network of ground stations taking account of the available resources and the existing needs.
• Integrated assessment of air pollution on public health, taking into account the demographic-spatial analysis.

The advantages of the project compared to other methods

• The system is based on the best available technology for assessment and monitoring of air pollution.
• It can be used and extended in other regions with similar problems and features.
• It assesses automatically the impacts of air pollution on human health.
• It has lower operation costs in comparison with the best conventional systems for monitoring and management of air pollution.

Possibilities Offered

• To perform, for the first time, an integrated evaluation of an existing situation as far as emissions are concerned, using existing data.
• To provide to the central and to the Local Authorities a tool for the early warning of the population and/or the prevention of pollution incidents.
• To indicate to the PPC measures in order to reduce pollution at the source, to elaborate scenarios for improving the existing situation, or to adopt alternative solutions in the domains of mining, energy, and pollution abatement.
• To acquire immediate information on the exposure of the population to pollution by using direct measurements on the individuals scale (by using portable counters and taking a representative sample).
• To carry out demonstration activities of pollution abatement (NOX) inside buildings (residential or business) by applying the method of photo-catalysis.
• To enhance knowledge and information concerning pollution by using bio-indicators.
• To assess impacts of pollution on wild flora and cultivated species, so that the appropriate measures are taken and the necessary adaptations are made in a subsequent phase.