Newport City Council visualise real-time air quality

Newport City Council have become the first local authority in the UK to install Eco Post sensors, allowing locals to see the health of their air in real time, through a traffic light warning system.

The sensors have so far been installed in five locations, with another still to come. Three of them have been located in an air quality management area, the others in the city, one of which is by a new primary school building. 

The sensors check the air for NO2 and particulate matter and a light indicates the level of pollution in the area, based on the UK government’s daily air quality index: from green, through yellow and red up to purple for the worst.

All the posts communicate with the AirSensor mobile app, which allows the operator to see the current data, and gives them the option to make this data available to the public.

Naturally, Newport have chosen this option and each Eco Post features a QR code to allow people to easily download the app. Through this they can track the air quality over the course of the previous week.

Councillor Yvonne Forsey, cabinet member for climate change and biodiversity. said: ‘Part of our air quality work is about making sure residents know what the air quality in their area is like.

‘The Eco Post air sensors do this by providing an easily accessible indicator of how the air is around their location.

‘We’re hopeful that the sensors will encourage people to think about the air quality in their area, and how they can make choices that help keep pollution levels low.’

Intecso, the company behind the Eco Posts, emphasise that they are suitable for any location where air quality is of concern, including in indoor spaces such as factories and offices.

Intecso also offer the Eco Posts with the option of monitoring sulphur dioxide, ozone, PM1, formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, and atmospheric pressure.