Vaisala and JCDecaux provide air quality information in new and innovative way to selected public transport shelters in Helsinki

Measuring, modeling, and analyzing air quality data makes cities more breathable

In this pilot, the project partners JCDecaux Finland, Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY), and Vaisala together with Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) and Helsinki City Transport (HKL) provide air quality information to the citizens of Helsinki. Air quality information is displayed at two public transport stops in Helsinki until the end of 2021: tram stop at Lasipalatsi and bus stop in Hakaniemi. 

With this air quality pilot project, Vaisala together with the project partners aim to enhance people’s understanding of air quality at that location. This is done by disseminating hyperlocal information about the air quality using a map on digital screen at public transport stops as well as an air quality display with a breathing light. The air quality display pilots a new way of presenting air quality information to citizens, which was developed especially for this project. 

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“Vaisala’s precise environmental data and accurate air quality solutions give smart cities real-time insights to improve quality of life. Making cities more breathable starts by measuring, modeling, and analyzing air quality data,” says Tommi Roman, Head of Emerging Business Development, Weather and Environment, Vaisala. “What comes to urban weather and environment, Vaisala combines data from high performing sensor networks with important environmental, weather, and other parameters. That enables modeling and forecasting of air quality in a city environment.”

Keeping citizens informed about air quality

“Even though the air quality in Helsinki is good overall, there are local and temporal variations that can be highlighted. Poor air quality is unquestionably a challenge in an urban environment. JCDecaux Finland already communicates air quality information provided by HSY on digital screens in trams and the subway trains in Helsinki but we want to increase the number of digital locations where citizens can get this important information,” says Xavier Jolas, Head of Data & Programmatic, JCDecaux Finland. 

“Helsinki is a great testbed location to use hyperlocal air quality models and data to inform citizens. However, we see significant potential for this on a global level. The project is an example of a public-private partnership with an asymmetric business model where a part of the investments can be covered for instance by advertising,” Jolas continues.

Find out more about how Vaisala’s precise environmental data and accurate air quality solutions give smart cities real-time insights to improve quality of life on our website.

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