The ARMONIA project (Ambient air and Route MONItoring network based on Artificial Intelligence) developed an Advanced Urban Air Quality Information System based on the distributed monitoring of air pollutant concentrations, environmental noise, and road traffic.

In densely populated urban areas, road traffic is one of the primary sources of air pollution. For this reason, advanced air quality assessment requires the development of emission models, based on real traffic conditions, together with pollutant dispersion models. The integration of these models forms the basis of a comprehensive air quality model.

To ensure reliable results, both emission and dispersion models must be continuously validated and updated using real-time measurements collected by dedicated environmental sensors. This approach enables the generation of high-resolution urban air quality maps, providing both real-time monitoring and short-term forecasts for the days ahead.

Oltre a rappresentare uno strumento di informazione per la cittadinanza, tali mappe possono supportare le autorità comunali nella pianificazione delle politiche di mobilità urbana. Possono, ad esempio, essere utilizzate per implementare sistemi di controllo del traffico attraverso la regolamentazione degli accessi ai veicoli in funzione delle loro caratteristiche.

In addition to informing citizens about environmental conditions, these maps support local authorities in planning and implementing sustainable urban mobility policies. For example, they can be used to optimize traffic management strategies by regulating vehicle access according to environmental impact and emission characteristics.

To achieve these objectives, the project focused on the metrological development of Low-Cost Air Quality Monitoring Systems (LCAQMS) for measuring atmospheric pollutants. Activities were aimed at improving the accuracy, reliability, and temporal and spatial resolution of low-cost air quality measurement technologies.

Project start: 24 June 2022
Project completion: 22 July 2023

ARMONIA was co-funded by the Campania Region under the POR Campania ERDF 2014–2020, Priority Axis 3 – Competitiveness of the Production System, Specific Objective 3.1 – Enhancing the Investment Capacity of the Production System, Action 3.1.1 – Support for investments in machinery, equipment, and intangible assets, together with measures accompanying business reorganization and restructuring processes.

The ARMONIA consortium consisted of four companies:

• Metering Research S.r.l. – Project Coordinator
• Hippocratica Imaging S.r.l.
• R.A.I.T. 88 S.r.l.
• Spring Off S.r.l.