VISIONAIR: Virtual Integration for Sustainable and Innovative Observation of Urban Air Quality
VISIONAIR will develop and demonstrate a new generation of integrated air pollution monitoring, modelling and decision support solutions to help European cities move towards cleaner air and the EU Zero Pollution ambition.
Air pollution remains one of Europe’s major environmental and public health challenges. Cities need increasingly accurate, timely and spatially resolved information to understand where pollution originates, how people are exposed and which measures can deliver the greatest benefits.
VISIONAIR, short for Virtual Integration for Sustainable and Innovative Observation of Urban Air Quality, addresses this challenge by bringing together advanced environmental monitoring and modelling with active participation from citizens, municipalities and policymakers.
The overarching goal of VISIONAIR is to design, implement and validate integrated air pollution monitoring and modelling strategies that provide a more complete picture of both regulated and emerging air pollutants. The project will combine data from low-cost sensors, conventional monitoring, satellite observations, drones, citizen science and advanced laboratory analysis. These data will feed into AI powered models for high resolution air quality mapping, pollutant source attribution, forecasting and exposure assessment.
From air quality data to actionable knowledge
A key ambition of VISIONAIR is to go beyond measuring air pollution. The project will transform diverse streams of environmental data into information that cities and authorities can use for decision making.
Urban Digital Twins and a dedicated Health Impact Toolkit will support interactive visualisation, scenario testing and the assessment of potential mitigation measures. By linking information on pollution sources, concentrations and human exposure, VISIONAIR aims to strengthen evidence-based policymaking and support implementation of the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive and the EU Zero Pollution Action Plan.
The solutions will be demonstrated in four European urban case studies: Ljubljana, Novi Sad, Piraeus and Vilnius. Working directly with cities will allow the consortium to test the technologies under real urban conditions and ensure that the resulting tools respond to the practical needs of municipalities, policymakers and communities.
A European partnership
VISIONAIR brings together 20 partners from 11 European countries, spanning research organisations, universities, SMEs, municipalities and non-profit organisations. The consortium combines expertise in air quality monitoring, remote sensing, advanced chemical analysis, sensor technologies, artificial intelligence, modelling, health impact assessment, citizen science and urban decision making.
Each demonstration city connects research expertise with local actors, enabling effective implementation, local sampling and strong community engagement. This combination of scientific excellence and applied innovation is central to developing solutions that can ultimately be replicated across European cities.
As project coordinator, VITO will lead the collaboration and contribute its expertise in environmental monitoring and advanced analytical methods.
More information: VISIONAIR on CORDIS
