Researchers at Imperial College are calling on London-based companies to trial a new digital tool designed to monitor and reduce outdoor workers’ exposure to harmful air pollution.
Based around a smartphone app and an online dashboard, the system tracks employees in real-time as they move across London, using the city’s air quality data map to calculate their personal exposure to pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
‘For outdoor workers – from construction crews to logistics drivers – air pollution isn’t just a background issue; it’s a direct occupational hazard that changes by the hour and street,’ explains Imperial’s Andrew Grieve. ‘This tool gives employers real-time data to make informed decisions. They could reschedule high-intensity work for times of lower pollution or redeploy teams to cleaner routes, actively protecting their workers’ health.’
The system is designed to be scalable, accurate and affordable, as it requires no physical monitoring equipment. A major London construction firm is already taking part in a trial, collecting data from its workers.
The team is now seeking at least one more company – ideally in fields such as logistics, road maintenance or local authority services – to begin a two-month trial starting from the end of January 2026. Participation involves workers downloading the app and managers accessing the secure dashboard to view aggregated, anonymised exposure data.
‘We need to see what employers make of it in practice,’ Andrew says. ‘Their feedback will be crucial for refining the tool and exploring its future, which could include integrating on-site pollution data and expanding UK-wide.’
Any London-based employer with outdoor staff who would like to participate in this groundbreaking trial should contact Andrew at: a.grieve@imperial.ac.uk
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