Air quality and the microclimate in urban areas are crucial for quality of life and climate adaptation. Previous measurement methods often only provide punctual or coarse-area data that does not adequately capture subtle differences within the urban landscape. Satellite images are only available at long intervals and are unusable when it is cloudy. There is also a lack of an accurate micro-scale prediction model for heat islands that also takes buildings and solar radiation into account. In this context, data from the transport sector is also of great importance. At the moment, innovative solutions for comprehensive and high-resolution data collection for urban and transportation planning are still lacking.

This is where the SchwarmMessRad project comes in: The aim is to set up a measurement network of high-precision mobile sensors on a fleet of cargo bikes in the city of Aachen. These sensors record particulate matter, asphalt surface temperature and ozone in real time, as these factors have a significant impact on air quality, especially on hot days.

The data obtained will help to identify pollution hotspots for air pollutants. We also want to recognize urban heat islands. The data will also support sustainable mobility decisions by providing user-friendly route recommendations. Innovative solutions for urban planning and climate adaptation will also be developed. Furthermore, open data will be provided to create a sound basis for decision-making for science, administration and the public.

As part of the project, cargo bikes are equipped with particulate matter and temperature sensors to record location- and time-resolved environmental data. The mobile measurements are compared with stationary reference sensors, satellite data and other external data sources. Artificial intelligence is used to forecast heat islands and air pollution levels. In addition, an online platform is being developed to display the measured values on a map and integrate the data into the Mobilithek and the urban mobility dashboard. User surveys and public participation will encourage the population to get involved. Finally, the data will be made available as open data for further use. The project is making a valuable contribution to improving urban air quality and climate adaptation.