Das Projekt "European Network on New Sensing Technologies for Air-Pollution Control and Environmental Sustainability (EuNetAir)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Max-Planck-Institut für Biogeochemie durchgeführt. The main objective of the Action is to develop new sensing technologies for Air Quality Control at integrated and multidisciplinary scale by coordinated research on nanomaterials, sensor-systems, air-quality modelling and standardised methods for supporting environmental sustainability with a special focus on Small and Medium Enterprises. ABSTRACT AND KEYWORDS: This Action will focus on a new detection paradigm based on sensing technologies at low cost for Air Quality Control (AQC) and set up an interdisciplinary top-level coordinated network to define innovative approaches in sensor nanomaterials, gas sensors and devices, wireless sensor-systems, distributed computing, methods, models, standards and protocols for environmental sustainability within the European Research Area (ERA). The state-of-the-art showed that research on innovative sensing technologies for AQC based on advanced chemical sensors and sensor-systems at low-cost, including functional materials and nanotechnologies for eco-sustainability applications, the outdoor/indoor environment control, olfactometry, air-quality modelling, chemical weather forecasting, and related standardisation methods is performed already at the international level, but still needs serious efforts for coordination to boost new sensing paradigms for research and innovation. Only a close multidisciplinary cooperation will ensure cleaner air in Europe and reduced negative effects on human health for future generations in smart cities, efficient management of green buildings at low CO2 emissions, and sustainable economic development. The objective of the Action is to create a cooperative network to explore new sensing technologies for low-cost air-pollution control through field studies and laboratory experiments to transfer the results into preventive real-time control practises and global sustainability for monitoring climate changes and outdoor/indoor energy efficiency. Establishment of such a European network, involving Non-COST key-experts, will enable EU to develop world capabilities in urban sensor technology based on cost-effective nanomaterials and contribute to form a critical mass of researchers suitable for cooperation in science and technology, including training and education, to coordinate outstanding R&D and promote innovation towards industry, and support policy-makers.
Das Projekt "An optical fibre sensor based intelligent system for monitoring and control of exhaust emissions from road vehicles (OPTO-EMI-SENSE)" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von University of Limerick, Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering durchgeführt. Objective: The proposed project is designed to address the problem of pollution of the environment by road vehicles as denned under the Thematic Priority 1.6.2, Sustainable Surface Transport relating to the Work Programme 'Integrating and strengthening the European Research Area'. The research activities of the consortium will be based around state of the art developments in the area of optical fibre sensor and intelligent instrumentation technology to formulate a system for on line monitoring of exhaust emissions from road vehicles. The application of this technology to resolving the problems of atmospheric pollutants and their regional impacts is therefore highly appropriate to the issue identified in the thematic roadmap i.e. 'New technologies and concepts for all surface transport modes'. The consortium which will execute the research programme comprises six members from four EC member states. They include four academic institutions, an SME and an end user (a major European car manufacturer). Their combined expertise and knowledge of the technological and business issues will facilitate the rapid development of the technology into a demonstratable prototype within the three year lifetime of the project. The project's technical objectives are summarised as follows: -. To set up laboratory based test facilities such that the sensor systems may be characterised in a precisely controlled and reproducible manner. Therefore, individual parameters such as optical absorption and scattering may be studied in isolation as well as collectively.. To isolate and identify the optical signals arising from contaminants present in the complex mixtures of exhaust systems of a wide range of vehicles using advanced and novel optical fibre based spectroscopie interrogation techniques. To develop novel optical fibre sensors which are miniature and robust in their construction and may be fitted...