CityTRAQ
Together for better local air quality
Within the LIFE CityTRAQ project, six partners are working together in order to improve our local air quality. Thanks to information from traffic censuses and air quality measurements, we can detect and measure air pollution and simulate the impact of possible measures on the mobility network.
Why CityTRAQ?
According to the WHO, air pollution remains the largest environmental health risk in Europe. Air quality limits are often exceeded, exposing a large portion of the population to air pollution. Europe and Flanders already have several initiatives for measuring air quality, but these initiatives often adopt different approaches or methodologies.
Policymakers face the challenge of reconciling the various datasets in order to implement science-based air and mobility policies.
Purpose of the project
The CityTRAQ project gives local governments a better understanding of the measurements needed in order to assess air quality.
The assessment and scenario tool helps local governments to devise measures for improving local air quality. Accordingly, they create a better environment for residents. Local governments are also encouraged to flesh out their policy choices in an air policy plan.
Find out about the pilot projects
Antwerp
City of Antwerp will work on logistics and heavy traffic in the CityTRAQ project, together with the VMM.
Bruges
Bruges commits to the development of a sustainable measurement network throughout the city.
Ghent
In Ghent, the impact on air quality is measured in a school street and circulation plans are evaluated.
Zagreb
Air quality projects are being launched, taking into account the lessons learned form the pilot projects in Flanders.
FIND OUT ABOUT THE PILOT PROJECTS
The participating partner cities of Antwerp, Ghent, Bruges and Zagreb are already up and running!
Antwerp
City of Antwerp will work on logistics and heavy traffic in the CityTRAQ project. Together with the VMM, the city is conducting traffic counts for freight traffic and air quality measurements at local hotspots and school environments.
Bruges
City of Bruges is committed to the further development of a sustainable measurement network throughout the city. In this way, the impact of modal shift and other climate measures on air quality (and also on climate objectives) can be monitored over time. At the same time, the improvement of air quality towards the WHO guideline values can be monitored.
Ghent
Pilot project in Ghent: the city takes concrete steps to enhance the air quality by implementing oxygen districts and evaluating school streets and circulation plans
The city of Ghent rolls out different initiatives with a focus on school streets and mobility plans. The city measures the impact of school streets on the local air quality and investigates how circulation plans can be implemented. Different sensors are put to use to measure the concentration of nitrogen dioxide. The main objectives are:
1
Evaluation of different mobility plans for residential areas
2
Building support for the use of school streets
3
Enhancement of the monitoring of air quality in mobility plans
©Stad Gent
Measuring air quality in real-time
Until 2026, sensor boxes at various locations in Ghent will measure the air quality in real-time. The measurement results will be made directly accessible via an online platform, which the city will use to further investigate whether real-time sensor measurements are useful for evaluating policy measures. Through a targeted approach, air quality in the city can thus be effectively monitored. In addition, the project also contributes to the scientific knowledge about air quality sensors and their application in policy-making.
Where do you find the sensors?
The sensors will perform measurements in the districts of Dampoort, the Muide and around Dok Noord/Tolhuislaan to map the impact of the opening of the Verapazbrug. From September 2024, measurements will also take place near a Ghent elementary school to measure the local impact of the implementation of a school street on air quality. The data will be shown live at the school gate. The experiment investigates whether measuring and visualising air quality has an impact on the behaviour of both students and their parents in choosing the means of transportation to and from school.
©Stad Gent
Zagreb
Air quality projects are being launched in the Croatian capital Zagreb, taking into account the lessons learned from the pilot projects in Flanders. More information will follow in the near future.
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CityTRAQ in Europe
Partners
LIFE CityTRAQ is commissioned by the European Commission within the LIFE programme led by Flanders Environment Agency.
