University of Leicester backs air monitoring firm
A joint venture between the University of Leicester and aerial mapping company Bluesky — EarthSense Systems — has been set up to ‘spearhead innovations in air quality monitoring’, the two organisations have announced.
The two organisations have previously worked on projects to map air pollution emissions across urban environments (see AirQualityNews.com story), as well as on the impact of trees in reducing concentrations of road traffic emissions in the city (see AirQualityNews.com story).
(l-r) James Eddy chief executive of EarthSense Systems, Dr Sandy Reid, spin-out manager, University of Leicester, Donna Lyndsay, commercial director of EarthSense and Professor Roland Leigh, technical director of EarthSense Systems.
EarthSense Systems will initially focus on delivering static sensors, data modelling and derived datasets to UK local and central government organisations, the University of Leicester has claimed.
The project is part of the Leicester Institute for Space and Earth Observation, which brings together all the research work within the University associated with Space (including astronomy and planetary science) and Earth Observation.
The company will also look to establish a nationwide network of air quality monitoring sensors, feeding live data for up-to-the-minute air quality predictions.
Data
Professor Roland Leigh, technical director of EarthSense Systems and a member of the University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy, said: “Bluesky is a recognised and respected brand with a reputation for innovation, quality and service within the geographic data acquisition sector. In addition to Bluesky’s business acumen, the team also provides significant geospatial data and processing resources which will enable EarthSense to deliver actionable insights to decision makers at regional, national and international levels.”
James Eddy, chief executive of EarthSense Systems and technical director of Bluesky, added:Â “Bluesky and the University of Leicester have been working together for many years, developing an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and challenges surrounding air quality monitoring and management.
“Utilising the strengths of each party, EarthSense will maximise on the work to date to launch a range of products and services to market, addressing the growing requirement for accurate and up to date, real world information to inform critical decision making. EarthSense is ideally placed to become the UK’s — if not the world’s — lead player in air quality monitoring and measurement.”