Fifteen sensor boxes measure air quality in Dampoort in real time

6 February 2024

Thanks to the new sensors, more data can also be collected on the impact of the future district mobility plan.

In and around Ghent, air quality is measured with ten automatic measuring stations, such as in Baudelohof and Lange Violettestraat, but also in Wondelgem and Mariakerke. In addition, there are 45 measuring tubes at various locations inside and outside the R40. Those measuring tubes are taken to the lab every two weeks to examine the results, which means that the data can only be used over longer periods.

In January 2024, fifteen brand new sensor boxes were added to the Dampoort district. They will be there for two years and transmit the data in real time. The Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) monitors the quality of the sensors and shares the results live via https://www.samenvoorzuiverelucht.eu/dataportaal-citytraq. Thanks to the new sensors, it is possible to find out much more about the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) caused by traffic, and that at any time of the day.

The City of Ghent is fully committed to better air quality. This is crucial for the health of all Ghentians. Together with VMM, we are now investigating how real-time monitoring can contribute to this. The new sensors allow us to evaluate and visualise policy measures such as neighbourhood mobility plans and school streets.

Tine Heyse, Deputy Mayor of Environment and Climate

The sensor boxes also allow even more data to be collected on the impact of the future district mobility plan in Dampoort and Oud Gentbrugge. Air quality will be measured both before and after implementation, but the final results are not expected until at least a year after the implementation in order to be able to study the evolution in depth.

Future projects

Dampoort is not the end point: in the course of 2025, the sensor boxes will move to Muide and Dok Noord to map the impact of the future Verapaz bridge. Next school year, a project will also be launched before and after the introduction of a school street. The data will be visible live at the school gate. Which school district is eligible is currently being investigated.

The project is co-financed by the European LIFE project CityTRAQ and is a collaboration between six partners: the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) and the cities of Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service (DHMZ).