MappAir® – the first ever high resolution nationwide map of air pollution – has been updated to include small atmospheric particles that can get into the lungs causing serious health problems.
Created by EarthSense, the air quality monitoring, measuring and modelling specialist, MappAir® 2.0 now includes PM2.5 as well as nitrogen dioxide levels for the whole of the UK at 100 metre resolution.
EarthSense has used complex modelling techniques to create the highly accurate map combining data from satellites, its own network of Zephyr® air quality monitoring sensors and other published datasets.
“Feedback from existing users of MappAir®, including the Fighting for Air campaign where we worked with the BBC and the King’s Heath community in Birmingham resulting in over 1.5 million air pollution map look-ups, showed that while the original MappAir product was a first in terms of air pollution mapping there was scope for further development,” commented Tom Hall, Managing Director of EarthSense.
In addition to satellite and traffic data used in the original MappAir® product, MappAir® 2.0 uses the Government’s Automatic Urban and Rural Network (AURN) air quality data as well as non-traffic sources such as the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI). MappAir® 2.0 also considers the effect of topology and includes factors which determine how pollution behaves for example slope.
“MappAir® 2.0 is unique,” continued Hall. “There is no other product available that offers this level of detail in terms of resolution, data sources, validation and application. MappAir® 2.0 provides access to NO2 and PM2.5 annual average data for the whole of the UK, right down to street corner or postcode level and now, another first, includes it owns combined air quality index for both pollutants.”
The combination of data sources used make MappAir® 2.0 a sophisticated service will be further enhanced to deliver nationwide near real-time, historical and forecasting abilities in subsequent releases.
The image below is MappAir®, showing particulate levels over the South East of England.
For more information about MappAir® please contact our team on info@earthsense.co.uk or call 0116 296 7460