Detailed description of project

The project has as its object a multifaceted and flexible air quality monitoring and forecasting system that will include: (a) infrastructure (low-cost AP sensors), (b) implementation of advanced models, (c) provision of services as SaaS (Software as a Service) or PaaS (Platform as a Service) as well as (d) provision of environmental information. The air quality monitoring and forecasting system to be developed will be able to provide primary information (concentrations of pollutants regulated by law) and air quality indicators. The forecasts provided will be based on the results of the model system as well as on the current AP status, as resulting from the fusion of the measurements of the microsensor network and the (local) model results. The KASTOM system will be implemented in two pilot areas, Thessaloniki and Heraklion. Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece where there are significant problems in air quality, mainly due to the high concentrations of the particulate matter. Heraklion is the fourth largest urban area of Greece and was chosen because it belongs to another geographical area and climate zone of Greece, with different effects on air quality (including from the large-scale transfer of pollutants that in many cases is natural, e.g. dust from the Sahara). The system will cover with high resolution both the city of Heraklion and the neighbouring area of Hersonissos which is the largest tourist resort in Crete (almost 10,000,000 nights of tourists per year). The KASTOM system will provide air quality information to five categories of users: (a) the public, with an emphasis on sensitive population groups (patients with respiratory problems, athletes, children and the elderly), (b) public services responsible for air quality management, (c) the scientific community, (d) the medical community, and (e) private companies offering air quality services Applications will provide primary and processed information according to the needs and level of users to which they will be addressed. The above are provided through an appropriate it platform and software services that support online dissemination of environmental information (interactive maps of current and predicted air quality), diffusion via smartphones, and provision of data based on open standards to third parties.

Type and scope of work provided
The services provided include the following:
– Setting up a network of environmental sensors for collecting data about air quality
– Developing a software platform that collects environmental data in a Hub and delivers analysis and monitoring of this data
– Development of a Mobile application for medical data related with the air quality
– Pilot business case of monitoring users’ data collected from the exploitation of the mobile application
– Dissemination of scientific results: social media, conference and journal papers