Image source: WMCA
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) is planning to make near-live data from a network of air quality sensors available online to the public later in the year.
It said the 90 sensors will be positioned in locations including by schools, hospitals and sports centres to provide people with details of pollution levels in their areas.
The devices will be supplied and monitored by environmental tech company EarthSense under a £550,000 contract that began in July and will run for four years. They will monitor the levels of microscopic particles from sources such as wood burners, vehicle tyres and factories.
Mayor of West Midlands Richard Parker said: “These new sensors are just the latest tool in our fight against pollution and will give our communities real world information about the quality of the air they are breathing. That information will also tell them the main sources of pollution in their area and what they can do to improve air quality.”
Wider plan
The investment is coming from £1.5 million awarded by the Government to WMCA to boost its air quality monitoring. The data will be used to better understand pollution trends and target investment to where it is most needed.
The funding will also support campaigns to raise awareness of air pollution and promote behaviour change to reduce it.
These are among the priority measures in the West Midlands’ Air Quality Framework, a long term plan of measures that should be considered by WMCA, local authorities, central government, businesses and local communities.
Maddy Dawe, regional air quality lead at Asthma + Lung UK, said: “Asthma + Lung UK has been calling on the Mayor of West Midlands to prioritise improving air quality across the region, so we welcome this latest development.
“We hope the data from the sensors will be used to introduce targeted interventions to protect children’s lung health and the most vulnerable communities, providing them with cleaner air and a healthier future.”
