Tag Archives: air quality

How Cell Phone Behavioral Data Can Help Save Our Planet

Zurich, Switzerland- A report from a few years ago deserves a second look. That study demonstrated how leveraging mobile network data can estimate levels of carbon emissions and air pollution in cities, an approach that could substantially reduce the cost of implementing the Paris Agreement.

  • The study analyses mobility patterns derived from mobile network data to estimate the usage of different transport modes within a city and derive conclusions about the respective pollution they cause.

  • This innovative methodology allowed scientists to estimate the concentration of air pollutants in urban areas with up to 77% accuracy.

  • The method could provide a scale-able and cost effective way to help understand and combat greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in cities worldwide.

Big data analytics company and ETH Zurich spin-off Teralytics, Telefónica NEXT and sustainability solution provider South Pole Group conducted the  study in Nuremberg, Germany and revealed the analysis of mobile network data is an effective way to estimate CO2 and NOX emissions in urban areas at very low cost. To achieve this, Teralytics examined aggregated and anonymized data, which is generated when mobile devices communicate with Telefónica’s mobile communication cells during user calls, text messages or while using phones to browse the internet. Teralytics was able to refine this raw data into human mobility patterns to understand how the different modes of transport, for instance trains or cars, are frequented. Combining this information with data on the emissions of the different transport modes, the three entities were able to estimate air pollution and GHG emissions in the city.

As each form of transportation produces a unique amount of CO2 and NOX emissions, understanding urban mobility patterns is vital to understand the source of emissions. The study in Nuremberg used this information to estimate with up to 77 per cent accuracy the concentration of air pollutants in the city. These findings encourage further exploration of how big data can be used to understand and ultimately solve environmental issues such as air pollution in cities across the world. This is particularly interesting with regards to the lower cost of analyzing and interpreting data compared to the higher cost of production and maintenance of elaborate measuring stations. The novel approach could thus allow an ongoing analysis on a nationwide scale.

George Polzer

“While our contemporary urban lifestyles result in the generation of harmful greenhouse gasses, it also generates large amounts of behavioural data. Our mission at Teralytics is to use this data for the benefit of society,” says Georg Polzer, CEO of Teralytics. “Our findings from Nuremberg showed that this data can be used to give city planners insights into how human mobility contributes to pollution. This is a vital part to efficiently design and implement clean air and low carbon strategies. We are looking forward to further exploring this opportunity.”

Using a three-level process, the fully anonymized and aggregated data was first transformed into movement flows by the data scientists at Teralytics, identifying over 1.2 million transportation routes during the analyzed time period, as depicted in Figure 2. The sustainability solution expert South Pole Group then used an atmospheric model to estimate air pollution levels caused by the usage of the different modes of transportation, taking into account meteorological data and information on the respective traffic carriers’ emission levels from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUB). In the third step, the accuracy of the method was examined by comparing the findings with existing data from air pollution measuring stations. The values measured at these stations were found to correlate up to 77 per cent with those from the Teralytics’ calculations.

The results of this pilot study in Nuremberg constitute a sound basis to further develop the methodology.

Following its success, the consortium was able to secure financial support from Climate KIC’s Low Carbon City Lab (LoCaL), an initiative that brings together cities, business, academia and NGO’s to deliver high environmental and societal impact. With this backing, the research partnership will expand and improve the methodology, focusing on short travel routes and taking into account local emission factors like airports, large-scale events, and types of vehicles on the road (i.e. electric cars and SUVs). Moreover, the influence of factors such as traffic jams and red lights will be taken into account in order to make even more accurate estimations of the air pollution levels in a city.

“The results from this pilot study exceed our expectations,” says Maximilian Groth, responsible for Business Development & Partnerships at Teralytics. “We are confident that we will soon be able to scale this product to cities worldwide to support urban planners in making our air cleaner and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement at the lowest possible cost.”

This research follows other successful studies on usage of mobile network data, including a smart data analysis for transport in Stuttgart by Teralytics, Telefónica Germany, and Fraunhofer IAO.

Renat Heuberger

“Approximately 70 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are generated in cities, meaning that they play a key role in climate protection. We see great potential in the use of continuously generated data, such as mobile network data, to measure and reduce pollution levels in cities.” States Renat Heuberger, CEO of South Pole Group.

Florian Marquart

Florian Marquart, Managing Director of Telefónica NEXT for Advanced Data Analytics: “The pilot project in Nuremberg has clearly shown the specific added value of anonymised mobile network data for the environment. This is data from people for people. We see great potential in the results and will start the next phase of our research. The goal is to develop a product that German cities, German states and the German federal government can use to better face the challenges of emissions pollution”.  For the Silo, Ricky Sutton.

About Teralytics

Teralytics is the trusted data analytics partner for some of the largest telecom operators in North America, Europe and Asia. Using technology built for operators by data scientists, they have perfected the ingestion, modelling and transformation of raw signals from subscriber actions and movements on operator networks to deliver meaningful and actionable insights, that delivers new value to our mobile operator partners. By unlocking and processing a massive scale of device movement and consumer intelligence data from location and behavioral signals, they can analyze people, places and things and offer actual insights to help city planners, venue owners, retailers, NGOs and media companies make informed decisions, optimize operations and maximize ROI. Headquartered in Zurich, Teralytics has offices in New York, and Singapore.

Importance Of Indoor Air Quality Testing

Have you ever wondered whether the air that we breathe indoors can be equally harmful as outdoors?

When it comes to healthy living, the air that circulates inside our house is often more crucial than the outdoor air, pollution, smog and other environmental factors. Research suggests that the indoor environments can have up to five times more pollutants than outdoor ones thus affecting several parts of our body including skin, lungs, nose, eyes, and throat among others. Once inhaled, these very air pollutants can continue to have harmful effects as and when it is processed through our systems. Just think over it. Ever felt stuffy in a room only to feel refreshed once you have stepped out? That lethargic feeling is directly related to the poor quality of air inside the house. And when you are exposed to such an indoor environment year after year, it can have a serious effect on your daily life.

 

What are the root causes of poor indoor air quality? 

According to the experts from The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) here are the factors that can lead to poor indoor air quality: 

  • Building Design and construction 
  • Building wasn’t checked thoroughly to see if it was suitable for the occupants 
  • Ventilation systems are dirty and damp 
  • Indoor contaminant sources 
  • The equipment and activities carried out indoors that add to the contaminants 
  • Moisture trapped in the building enclosures 
  • Failure to check filtration and air cleaning 
  • Poor outdoor air quality 
  • Poor ventilation rates 

 With Canadians spending over 90% of their time staying indoors combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more than ever that the role of indoor air quality has gained prominence. First, we need to understand the need for getting an air quality test done within your premises. 

https://gatewaymechanical.ca/indoor-air-quality-testing/

Why is an Indoor Air Quality Testing required? 

  • Healthy buildings improve performance and productivity of the residents 
  • Healthy folks take lesser sick leaves 
  • The test validates your space’s current indoor air quality 
  • Verification of your space meeting the indoor air quality standards 
  • Address any concern or issue arising due to a complaint 
  • Prioritize the health and safety of the occupants 
  • Obtain or renew LEED, WELL or BOMA BEST certification 

Gateway Mechanical as a company continuously strives to assess, audit and improve health and safety program to reduce the risk of injury in a changing work environment. The indoor air quality test offered by Gateway Mechanical will solve all your queries regarding the health of your space’s air quality. This test investigates the air quality within your premises for the following: 

  • Temperature 
  • Relative Humidity 
  • Particulate counts for PM2.5 and PM10 
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2) 
  • Carbon monoxide (CO) 
  • Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) 
  • Ammonia (NH3) 
  • Chlorine (Cl) 
  • Formaldehyde (HCHO) 
  • Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) 
  • Nitrogen Oxide (NO) 
  • Sulphur Dioxide (S02) 
https://gatewaymechanical.ca/can-hvac-systems-spread-coronavirus-covid19/

For in depth information on the procedures involved in getting the Gateway Mechanical air quality testing done within your premises, you can always go and check out on gatewaymechanical.ca  

It turns out there’s a lot we can do to control and reduce these contaminants to make our facilities, buildings, and spaces safer. To summarize, good indoor air quality significantly increases occupant health and experience in the provided space, enhances performance and productivity, drastically reduces absenteeism, optimizes returns on your investments, and eventually boosts your triple bottom line.  For the Silo, Mike Robert.

Winds Of Change Bring New Environmental Reality

The Ontario government is taking action to address issues of climate change.  Once in office, we have been acting as quickly as possible to fulfill our commitment to Ontario families and businesses.  For example, we revoked the cap-and-trade carbon tax and ended emissions trading and allowances. In addition, we have now released our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan that takes concrete steps to protect our air, water, and land and fight climate change.

Climate change is here.  It is a reality and our environmental legacy will be predicated on our capacity to adapt, and to stop the worst consequences from materializing.

Fortunately, another reality is the fact the Ontario government is committed to protecting the environment using a sensible and balanced approach that creates jobs, respects taxpayers and grows the economy. But it is important to discuss what we’re fighting…the actual impact climate change can have on all of us.

Our government understands that climate change is a reality. It is a serious, worldwide problem.

More frequently, we hear media reports of severe weather that results in flooded basements, structural damages, and costly cleanups—sometimes in our own backyard. And the insured losses we’ve incurred in Ontario during 2018 give an unnerving snapshot of the consequences.

Earlier this year, a storm caused more than $46 million of insured damage in Brantford, Cambridge, London and the GTA. A spring storm in southern Ontario resulted in almost $80 million in costs. Soon after, winds and rains hit Hamilton and the GTA and caused over $500 million in damage. Last summer, a rainstorm in Toronto caused $80 million in damage. Further, we can’t forget the destruction left in the path of the Ottawa tornadoes this September.

The people across Haldimand-Norfolk are close to the land and are among the first to notice changes in the weather and the attendant damage and costs extreme weather can inflict on crops and buildings.  Farmers and those that work outdoors have long been aware of fluctuating temperatures and are taking note when scientists predict that the average annual temperature in Ontario could be increasing significantly.

Prediction Ontario Rising TemperaturesMilder winters and hotter summers create a paradise for insect and plant diseases. Are you getting more tick and mosquito bites? Lyme disease and West Nile virus, and other mosquito and tick-borne diseases, have been moving northward as our part of the world warms.  And with increasing temperatures and phosphorus loads, many have taken notice of Lake Erie’s more frequent algal blooms and accelerated aquatic plant growth.

These aren’t news items from a far-off land.  These events effect our health, increase food costs, hurt our communities, and can mean large repair bills and higher insurance premiums.

In a subsequent column, I’ll discuss our Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan and how it’s constructed to meet the needs of Ontarians by protecting and conserving our air, land and water; fighting litter and waste; building resilience to the impacts of climate change—particularly extreme weather—and illustrating ways for all of us to do our part to decelerate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

As one with a background in agriculture and the outdoors, I’m excited about our environment plan. It draws on the expertise of environmentalists, scientists, stakeholders, Indigenous people, and the general public—more than 8,000 ideas and recommendations were received through our online portal.   But more on that in a future column. For the Silo, Toby Barrett.

Molds Pose Serious Health Risks Whether In Home Or Business

Ottawa, Ontario – To increase awareness against molds and their health impacts, Mold Busters has created a scholarship program which caters to select Canadian students. Molds are harmful organisms which grow as a result of water damage or excess humidity within the home or office. Whether it’s in the home or business, molds pose serious health risks and can spread fast, causing damage to the walls and furniture. Incidence of molds when not properly taken care of can consume the entire building and cause damaging health risks.

Describing the company, Mold Buster’s spokesperson said: “Mold and indoor air quality (IAQ) awareness is at an all-time high. Across Ottawa, Montreal and other larger cities, people are realizing that exposure to poor IAQ may be triggering recurring physical symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, skin irritation and other allergies. It’s time to take action against indoor air pollutants like mold, asbestos and VOCs. We are Mold Busters, a reputable mold inspection and mold remediation company that offers comprehensive testing and removal services in cities all over Ontario and Quebec.”

The Ottawa-based mold removal company, Mold Busters, launched the biannual writing contest, an Environment Scholarship Program (https://www.bustmold.com/mold-busters-scholarship), for Canadian college and university students in a bid to raise awareness regarding the harmful effects of mold and of poor indoor air quality (IAQ). Students from any program in all Canadian post-secondary institutions are encouraged to submit an expository essay to qualify for the scholarship. The essays subject is based on mold, asbestos, or other indoor air pollutants. Participating students should explore causes and effects of air pollution on building structures and human health, and can also discuss the various remediation techniques and practical prevention tips.

Mold Busters since its establishment in 2005 has been concerned with the testing and removal of molds and other air pollutants from the indoor living environment thereby ensuring that the indoor environment is both healthy and safe for habitation. The company is certified by the National Association of Mold Professionals (NAMP) and operates in strict adherence to the IICRC remediation guidelines. Services offered by Mold Busters include inspection of homes in Ottawa and other neighboring cities as far as Montreal with the mission to provide fast and accurate information which will aid timely decision in combating incidence of mold. Additionally, Mold Busters offers testing services and a variety of remediation services including mold remediation, asbestos removal, ozone cleaning, and attic insulation removal.

Supplemental- Mold In Workplace Buildings- Ontario Ministry of Labour

 

IDA Challenges Airlines To Cut Environmental Baggage And Save Animals

Air India announced that it has made one simple change that will save the airline $1.5 USD million (Rs 10 crore) and spare hundreds of thousands of animals from short, brutal lives and untimely deaths – it stopped serving non-vegetarian meals.

Air travel is one of the most notorious carbon polluters, which harms wild animals by changing natural habitats and acidifying oceans. Offering a plant-based meal not only saves animals directly by not serving them, but saves more animals by reducing greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions from farming that harm wild animals and the planet. There is a large body of evidence linking meat-based diets with unsustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide production. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that meat-based diets use more energy, land, and water than a plant-based diets.

As an environmentally conscious company with a strong track record of promoting environmental sustainability, Virgin Airlines is ideally placed to lead the industry in a transition to plant-based meals. The time has never been better to call on Virgin to go meat-free!

Please join us in asking Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America (Alaska Airlines) and Virgin Australia to take the next step in reducing their carbon footprints. Make plant-based meals the default option on all flights!

1. If you live in the U.S., please call 877 359 8474 (customer service representatives are available 24/7).

After the prompt, press “0” and respond to the auto-prompt by stating “something else” to be connected through to a customer service representative.

Once connected, you can say something like, “Hi, I’m calling to express my support for Virgin Airlines to make plant-based meals the default selection on all flights. This simple switch will cuts costs, dramatically reduce greenhouse gas and carbons emissions, easily address an array of dietary requirements, and reduce waste. Will you please pass my message on to management?”

2. After your call, please send our letter:

Dear Executive Team,

Increasing numbers of consumers are choosing plant-based diets to support the environment and decrease their carbon footprint. Yet, meat-based meals continue to be the default meal option for your airlines. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Just recently, Air India stopped serving non-vegetarian meals, showing this progressive move is one that can be implemented without hardship.

There is a large body of evidence linking meat-based diets with unsustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon dioxide production. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that a meat-based diet uses more energy, land, and water than a plant-based diet and was less viable for the future. By simply switching from a meat-based meal to a plant-based meal as the default option, Virgin Airlines could go a long way toward decreasing the environmental impact of airline travel.

There are thousands of tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes available that exclude meat, dairy, and egg. These meals could easily address an array of dietary requirements and reduce the number of special meal options that Virgin Airlines currently offers. In addition, plant-based meals cost less and are healthier. In a 2012 study in the Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, investigators found that meat-based diets cost individual consumers $746USD more per year, and were less nutritious. There is no need to compromise your award-winning service – we are asking you to simply switch the default meal option so that passengers can still select a meat-based meal if they wish.

Offering a plant-based meal as the default option will save you money, increase profit margins, cut tons off your carbon footprint and cement Virgin’s reputation as the premier modern airline.

Not only will this simple switch cuts costs, it also reduces greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions. As an environmentally conscious organization with a strong track record of promoting environmental sustainability, Virgin Airlines is ideally placed to lead the industry in a transition to plant-based meals.

We applaud Virgin Airlines’ commitment to ecological air travel solutions, including the use of biofuel and carbon offsets. We ask that Virgin Airlines again show leadership in the field of environmental sustainability by making plant-based meals the default selection on all flights.

 

Multi Aroma Diffuser from the Future…available Today

Multi Aroma HiTech Room Diffuser 2Digital Habits presents Bouquet at Fuorisalone 2016, revolutionary IoT multi-aroma diffuser that blends physiology and olfactory scenarios. A new humanism of industrial projects: technological products become essential and sensitive, able to transform the perception of the environment in which they are placed.

Fuorisalone 2016, April 12th – 17th, Milano, SuperStudioPiù, Selected Objects

At Fuorisalone 2016 (April 12th-17th) following the main theme “White pages”, which refers to those metaphorical ‘white pages’ whereby the future world still needs to be written, Digital Habits presents new products that integrate physical and computing elements, shapes and sensitivity, to draw new atmospheres in the home.

Bouquet is the new product of the Digital Habits collection, which brings a new sensory dimension into the living experience: the sense of smell. This project is extremely innovative and investigates the relation between olfactory perception, physiology and psychology.

The body, made of blown glass, is divided in two compartments that contain two different aromas. This decision came after studies on the influence that smell can have on different human activities. With Bouquet it is possible to diffuse separately or simultaneously two different scent scenarios: e.g. relaxing, energizing and so on, according to personal preferences.

Thanks to the inner clock and a Mobile App, it’s also possible to schedule via Blutooth the aroma diffusion during the day to create, at the right time, welcoming situations. For example an activating aroma can help a prompt and energetic wake-up in the morning, while a relaxing aroma can create the right conditions to get asleep.

Bouquet has the following characteristics:

Multi-scent, to select the most fitting fragrance to the different moments of the day.

Smartphone App with bluetooth connectivity to manage and set one or more diffusers wirelessly.

Scenario Manager to automatically schedule an aroma diffusion according to the time of the day (wake-up, back-home, getting asleep), personal habits (concentration, relaxation) and the purpose of each room of the house (living room, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen).

Do you have room for another smarthphone app? Sure you do!
Do you have room for another smarthphone app? Sure you do!

Presence, to detect the temporary or permanent presence of people in a room and clean the air or flavor it with a pleasant smell.

Custom Intensity, settings to manage the level of intensity of the fragrance depending on personal preference and room size.

Ecosystem, integration with the Digital Habits product range to create new experiences that blend elements of light, sound and scent and recreate situations such as a natural wake-up.

A colored and tunable white light controlled by the Mobile App, is also integrated in Bouquet to complete the sensory experience. Bouquet complements the collection of Digital Habits multi-sensory products such as Cromatica and OSound Light, which transform the perception of the space in which they are placed creating new domestic atmospheres.

At the Fuorisalone 2016, Digital Habits will also presents:

a new version of Osound Light which combines a Bluetooth speaker and a disc of light that creates unexpected atmospheres and gradients.

Dragon, fractal led lamp that grows in the space thanks to the aggregation of smart modules. Dragon is now presented in new table and wall versions.

Another Moon

Another Moon and Kizuki, two new IoT projects resulting from the collaboration between Digital Habits and QUANTUM the innovation accelerator based in Tokyo, part of the global advertising agency TBWA. Another Moon is an object that marks the lunar phases within metropolitan private environments where this awareness is fading out. Kizuki is an IoT signage that allows to intuitively and subtly ‘feel’ the climate within your home.

DIGITAL HABITS

Digital Habits is the innovation platform of the international design studio Habits. Founded in 2012, it focuses on creating interactive and IoT products.

The Digital Habits collection includes objects of sound, light and scent. The products create seamless multisensory environments, which involve different perceptions and activate synesthesia.

Digital Habits products are now available in the most exclusive retail locations such as the Armani Mega Store in Via Manzoni in Milan and Mondadori Mega Stores.

Per ulteriori informazioni o per segnalare la tua pubblicazione scrivi all’indirizzo eassante@digitalhabits.it