EarthSense and Tantalum using buses to monitor air pollution in Oxfordshire

A joint venture between aerial mapping company Bluesky and the University of Leicester, EarthSense is working with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and connected vehicle technology developer Tantalum to gain a better understanding of the impact of road traffic on dynamic air quality.

Vehicles within OCC’s Fleet Services department are being fitted with EarthSense’s Zephyr air quality measuring sensors that will give real-time data on both vehicle emissions and the local air quality along their routes. The data collected by EarthSense will be used to optimize traffic light control and coordination in order to manage and mitigate road congestion and pollution. The data will also feed into the county’s work with Oxford City Council as it prepares for the introduction of its Zero Emission Zone.

In addition to the use by Oxfordshire, data from the EarthSense Zephyr sensors will also be used to help Tantalum, working alongside Imperial College London (ICL), refine traffic emission models within the collaborative Air.Car project. Using the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart city technology, the award-winning Air.Car project will deliver the ability to drive a greater understanding of vehicle pollution, while enabling the reduction of environmental impact and vehicle operation costs. Solutions include a clean routing app for taxis, as well as smart, fair and affordable enforcement schemes for local authorities such as Oxfordshire.