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FORKOMMUNE-Forskning og innovasjon i kommunesektoren

Innovativ forvaltning av luft og miljø i norske kommuner

Alternative title: Innovativ administration of air and environment in Norwegian municipalities

Awarded: NOK 7.0 mill.

Many municipalities in Norway would like to measure air quality (AQ) in their local environment and share this information with their citizens. However, official monitoring stations are quite expensive in acquisition and maintenance, therefore only a limited number of these stations are set up in Norwegian municipalities. As alternative, more simple and cheap air quality sensors could be used that are easier to buy from a range of manufacturers. The challenge for these kind of sensors is the relative high uncertainty around the quality of their data. In addition, they require good solutions for data communication and storage to be able to set together AQ information from a range of different sensors and thus get a good overview of the AQ situation in real time. The iFLINK project shall facilitate for monitoring AQ at many different places at low costs. Scientists working in the project will develop and use new calibration and visualization methods based on machine learning and data fusion techniques to correct and improve data quality from the cheaper sensors. They shall also develop an open technology solution to obtain and quality secure data from different AQ sensors, so that municipalities and other users can obtain AQ data in satisfying quality. The project idea is that anyone can use iFLINK results and technology to develop real time services connected to AQ, climate change and noise pollution. Municipalities are most important supporters and partners in the project, first pilots will be carried out in the participating municipalities Oslo (project lead), Bergen, Bærum, Drammen and Kristiansand.

a)Data processing infrastructure for sensor connectivity available for municipalities b)Automated data quality and control algorithms integrated in the iFLINK infrastructure c)Automated generation of high-resolution air quality maps using data assimilation techniques d)Dashboard for sensor management and data visualization available for municipalities e)iFLINK data infrastructure and dashboard tested in four municipalities f)Uptake of the iFLINK data infrastructure by the municipalities participating in the project g)Uptake of the iFLINK data infrastructure by one municipality outside the project h)iFLINK data infrastructure is used in international research projects i)Leveraged use of sensor networks for urban environmental assessment j)Uptake of the iFLINK data infrastructure by other municipalities in Norway k)Continuation of the use of iFLINK data infrastructure in research projects l)Validated sensor network data is used in decision making and policy

Municipalities are seeking new cost effective ways to generate and deliver information relevant to individuals. Low-cost sensor technologies for monitoring air quality bring the opportunity for ubiquitous monitoring, potentially at a fraction of current costs. However, the quality of the sensor data prior to significant processing does not meet the requirements of the municipalities. iFLINK will implement novel calibration and visualisation approaches using machine learning and data fusion techniques to perform real time intelligent corrections of measurements, improving data accuracy, and provide comprehensive data coverage in real time. Municipalities also experience that the total cost of the sensor solutions is much higher than expected due to communication and database needs. The iFLINK data infrastructure will be efficient, scalable, fast and open, potentially serving Norwegian municipalities as well as international clients based on modern capabilities of Big Data integration. iFLINK will fill-in the existing gap on providing real-time accurate air quality information with high spatial and temporal resolution at an affordable cost. The project will be piloted in five municipalities (Bergen, Bærum, Drammen, Kristiansand and Oslo). iFLINK will also allow public and private actors to develop real time environmental services related to e.g., air quality, climate change or noise, with a seamless interface to any local smart city development. The anticipated result of our project is the successful connection of a variety of low-cost environmental sensors to an open technological platform that adds value to the sensor data by increasing their accuracy through applying machine learning and data assimilation algorithms. The platform will allow municipalities and other parties to access different data processing levels (i.e. from unprocessed sensor data to high resolution maps) according to their specific needs.

Publications from Cristin

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FORKOMMUNE-Forskning og innovasjon i kommunesektoren