In the era of technological innovations, the concept of a “smart city” promises to radically transform the way we live, work, and interact, placing a special emphasis on sustainability, efficiency, and most importantly, on improving the quality of life for urban inhabitants.

However, the central pillar of a smart city is not represented by digitalization, but rather by the creation of a sustainable environment. Air pollution represents one of the biggest challenges to this goal, with a major impact on public health, environmental quality, and ultimately, on the viability of a smart city. The high population density, vehicles, and industrial activities, however, turn cities into epicenters of pollution, with severe effects on the health of the population. Thus, a careful and continuous monitoring of air quality becomes the primary step in transforming the current urban environments into cities of the future.

Advanced air monitoring systems collect data in real time through sensors strategically placed throughout the city or at key points. These data are essential for identifying sources of pollution, understanding patterns, and implementing efficient solutions for reducing harmful emissions. At the same time, it provides a solid basis for urban planning decisions, from infrastructure development to the implementation of environmental policies.

Integrating Oizom’s Polludrone system into the smart city infrastructure

With its ability for continuous and precise monitoring of air quality, the Polludrone sensor system developed by Oizom is an emblematic example of the technology that fuels the vision of smart cities.

The Polludrone system monitors a wide range of environmental parameters relevant to air quality, including PM, PM2.5, PM10, PM100 (TSP), CO, CO2, SO2, NO, NO2, O3, H2S, noise, light intensity, radiation, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, and the amount of precipitation, thus providing a solid foundation for informed decisions and prompt interventions. Its ability to detect a wide range of pollutant parameters and meteorological conditions makes it, at the same time, an ideal tool for managing air quality in complex urban infrastructures, such as road nodes, highways, tunnels, and airports.

By providing precise and real-time data, the system helps cities navigate efficiently a diverse range of challenges posed by atmospheric pollution, including smart planning of urban expansion to minimize impact on air quality and the integration of green spaces to improve natural filtration.