Citizen Science for Air Quality Monitoring

"LIBRA: The Air Library" is an innovative project aimed at raising awareness among citizens about air quality and urban microclimate, thanks to a free lending service of environmental sensors. These sensors measure various parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, both indoors and outdoors, in public or private spaces. The project is the result of a collaboration between the research groups ARIA P@LIT@, Pratiche Tecno-Scientifiche e Processi Socio-Culturali, Officine Creative Torino and Il Campanile ETS. LIBRA has been funded by the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation under the Re:azioni call. 

The project includes various activities, such as: 

  1. Sensor Lending: Citizens can borrow air quality sensors for free for 15 days to measure parameters such as PM1, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and humidity. The lending service is available at the Creative Workshops in Turin, inside the Cecchi Point. An interactive, user-friendly platform will allow users to view and analyze the data collected by the sensors, making the data available in real-time through an open-source platform.
  2. Workshops and Educational Activities: Educational and experiential workshops will raise awareness among citizens about the risks of air pollution and the importance of healthy lifestyles. Specific workshops for using the online platform, as well as educational sessions for schools and families, are planned.
  3. Focus Groups and Community Meetings: Citizens who have used the sensors will be involved in discussion tables and focus groups to share their experiences, reflect on the project, and propose improvements. 

The project, which will run for 19 months (from December 2024 to June 2026), aims to create an actively engaged and aware community regarding air quality and urban microclimate issues. The impact of the activities will be monitored through the number of loans, feedback gathered via questionnaires, and data from focus groups. 

The environmental awareness and education activities will focus on the causes and effects of air pollution and will take place through public meetings, workshops, and collaborations with local schools, particularly involving families and young citizens. 

Research Team: Sofia Fellini, Tommaso Listo, Alvise Mattozzi, Marina Clerico. 

Collaboration between:

The project is funded by: