Urban air quality and exposure mapping with mobile platforms (ZEROPOLLUTION-01)

The Air Quality Research Group at the Department of Meteorology, Institute of Geography and Earth Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary, focuses on studying the urban air quality, with a special emphasis on particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5). Our mission is to understand the origins, spatiotemporal variability, and health impacts of air pollution in cities, and to develop innovative monitoring and data-analysis methodologies that support exposure reduction and evidence-based mitigation strategies. Our work is closely aligned with the Horizon Europe Zero Pollution ambition and climate adaptation policies.

Core research directions and competencies:

• Mobile monitoring platforms: We have developed and deployed unique bicycle-mounted measurement systems, enabling high-resolution mapping of urban air pollution at the street level (meter-scale spatial, 10 second-scale temporal resolution). To date, we have completed >250 urban measurement routes in Budapest providing detailed datasets for hotspot detection, exposure analysis, and urban planning.

• Sensor technology and validation: We integrate reference-grade instruments (e.g. TSI DustTrak II, low-volume samplers) with low-cost sensors (Alphasense OPC-N3, AirVisual, AirQino, Atmotube). We design calibration and validation protocols for field settings, ensuring data quality and comparability across sensor types.

• Data processing and QA/QC pipeline: We operate a semi-automated MATLAB and Python-based processing chain including outlier detection, change-point analysis, relative-humidity correction, and visual analytics. This has enabled the construction of a robust geo-referenced database with more than 2 million data points.

• Integrated multi-method approach: Our activities combine mobile mapping, indoor–outdoor studies, chemical speciation campaigns, and machine-learning approaches for source apportionment and trend detection.

• European project experience: We contribute to the Horizon Europe UPSURGE project (Budapest demo site) and the National Multidisciplinary Laboratory for Climate Change (RRF-2.3.1-21-2022-00014), demonstrating strong experience in international R&I collaborations.

What we can offer as project partners:

• High-resolution urban air quality assessment (mobile and stationary platforms).

• Provision of QA/QC protocols and advanced data-processing pipelines for EU projects.

• Exposure assessments for cyclists, schoolchildren, and vulnerable urban populations.

• Strong background in scientific dissemination, education, and citizen engagement (high-school outreach, public events, communication materials).

With our multidisciplinary expertise, engineering-level field measurement experience, and advanced data analytics, the ELTE Air Quality Research Group provides a unique skillset to support EU consortia aiming to improve urban air quality and build healthier, climate-resilient cities.