Intelligent Lungs of Vilnius – a real-time air pollution mapping system

Vilnius introduces smart city lungs – from now on, the air quality and pollen concentration in the capital can be monitored in real time. This is the first system in Lithuania where air pollution and air quality data is updated every minute and pollen concentrations in the city every hour. “The interactive map developed by Vilnius Plan displays air quality data from 34 different sensors, most of which are located in the vicinity of educational institutions and the rest in the Old Town and Šnipiškės districts. The smart city lung maps the concentrations of particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone and other chemical compounds in the vicinity of the sensors and their dispersion across the city. Until now, publicly available data have only covered daily and annual totals. “With this tool, we give the city the opportunity to monitor the air quality of the city, to search for the causes of pollution, to make assumptions about what caused the change in one or another indicator and to make decisions on how to organise pollution reduction and prevention works,” says Austė Noreikaitė, environmental data expert at Vilnius Plan, about the system. The data displayed in the city’s lungs can be important not only for the municipality or environmental authorities, but also for residents who are sensitive to air pollution or pollen. Bioaerosol concentration information is particularly relevant and useful for pollen allergen-sensitive individuals who want to avoid health effects. Residents can assess the risk or take preventive measures to reduce allergic reactions. The system provides pollen concentration information for alder, hazel, birch, mistletoe, honeysuckle and ragweed. Future additions are planned for birch and mistletoe concentrations. Sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms will provide accurate multi-week forecasts of how the urban environment will change over a number of parameters, making it easier to manage risks and avoid crises.