Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AQ-WATCH (Air Quality: Worldwide Analysis and Forecasting of Atmospheric Composition for Health)
Berichtszeitraum: 2021-01-01 bis 2023-06-30
According to the World Health Organization, ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, acute and chronic respiratory diseases. Around 91% of the world's population lives in places where air pollution levels exceed WHO limits. Long-term mitigation actions must be developed to address what can be viewed as a lasting pandemic, which requires fundamental changes in our way of life and in our economic system. In the meantime, air quality forecasts and source attribution can generate immediate actions to reduce the exposure of the population.
To help public services and private corporations to take appropriate actions, AQ-WATCH is co-developing and co-producing innovative downstream products and services derived from space and in situ observational data, and tailored to the identified needs of international users. Through the efficient use of the large array of space and in-situ observations available together with new advanced multi-scale predictive models and downscaling techniques, the purpose of these products and services is to provide a better understanding and mapping of air quality aimed at improving public health and optimising renewable energy in different regions of the world. A prototype production chain has been initiated through dynamic interactions between the developers of the prototype products/services and three prime users in different parts of the world (Colorado, USA; Santiago, Chile; greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, P.R. China). The process by which value is added to space and in situ data is being modulated by the input of these users and is involving successive iterations during which feedback reactions are collected and analysed, and included in the new development.
To help public services and private corporations to take appropriate actions, AQ-WATCH is co-developing and co-producing innovative downstream products and services derived from space and in situ observational data, and tailored to the identified needs of international users. Through the efficient use of the large array of space and in-situ observations available together with new advanced multi-scale predictive models and downscaling techniques, the purpose of these products and services is to provide a better understanding and mapping of air quality aimed at improving public health and optimising renewable energy in different regions of the world. A prototype production chain has been initiated through dynamic interactions between the developers of the prototype products/services and three prime users in different parts of the world (Colorado, USA; Santiago, Chile; greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, P.R. China). The process by which value is added to space and in situ data is being modulated by the input of these users and is involving successive iterations during which feedback reactions are collected and analysed, and included in the new development.
AQ-WATCH develops a supply chain to generate innovative downstream products for improving air quality forecasts and attribution based on existing space/in-situ observations to improve public health and to optimise renewable energy in regions of the world. The project consortium includes research and business-oriented partners, who brings together the required expertise to define the optimal functionalities of these products to bring them to the market.
The prototypes for the seven innovative products that are based on existing space, in situ observations and model outputs of air quality are developed. These tools are integrated into a unified user-friendly web interface called AQ-WATCH Toolkit and are organised into 5 modules: (1) Air quality atlas, (2) Air quality attribution & mitigation, (3) Dust and fire forecast, (4) Fracking analysis, and (5) Air quality forecast. The different modules allow users to access historical and air pollution data as well as air quality forecasts at a global and regional scale, to compare different air pollution reduction scenarios and to assess the effect of wildfires or fracking activities on air quality, and to derive the changes in solar irradiance due to the presence of dust in the atmosphere.
These products are designed for the three AQ-WATCH target regions, namely Beijing, Colorado, and Santiago de Chile. A "spiral process" has been implemented for the co-development of the products with the local stakeholders, involving iterative cycles of collaboration between product developers and local prime users. The AQ-WATCH products and Toolkit were demonstrated to the prime users in different development phase in order to collect and incorporate users’ feedback in the product development process. Communication was not limited to the planned meetings, but also other means of interactions such as exchanges through emails and other occasions. The Core Stakeholders’ Network was also formed to provide additional advises to the project from the international air quality community. Feedback from the prime users and the stakeholders has been positive and valuable, acknowledging the toolkit's improvements over time. At the end of the project, regional workshops were held for the local environmental and health authorities and other relevant stakeholders to demonstrate the final version of the Toolkit to the users.
To ensure successful exploitation of the project's results, a comprehensive Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation Plan has been devised. This plan includes measures such as using social media, creating videos, organising webinars and workshops, and presenting at international conferences to maximise the project's impact. Key exploitable results and intellectual properties were identified, and an Innovation Management Roadmap was created to guide the project's solutions and target markets. Meetings with potential exploiters, including consortium partners, local prime users, and stakeholders from the Core Stakeholders' Network, helped shape an optimal exploitation pathway. Business cases were developed iteratively to address potential tender calls and business opportunities. The project envisions a hybrid approach for exploitation, combining self-exploitation and collaboration with external partners. The consortium plans to partner with external exploiters to provide air quality monitoring and prediction services, primarily targeting public authorities in developing countries through suitable fundings from governmental organisations.
The prototypes for the seven innovative products that are based on existing space, in situ observations and model outputs of air quality are developed. These tools are integrated into a unified user-friendly web interface called AQ-WATCH Toolkit and are organised into 5 modules: (1) Air quality atlas, (2) Air quality attribution & mitigation, (3) Dust and fire forecast, (4) Fracking analysis, and (5) Air quality forecast. The different modules allow users to access historical and air pollution data as well as air quality forecasts at a global and regional scale, to compare different air pollution reduction scenarios and to assess the effect of wildfires or fracking activities on air quality, and to derive the changes in solar irradiance due to the presence of dust in the atmosphere.
These products are designed for the three AQ-WATCH target regions, namely Beijing, Colorado, and Santiago de Chile. A "spiral process" has been implemented for the co-development of the products with the local stakeholders, involving iterative cycles of collaboration between product developers and local prime users. The AQ-WATCH products and Toolkit were demonstrated to the prime users in different development phase in order to collect and incorporate users’ feedback in the product development process. Communication was not limited to the planned meetings, but also other means of interactions such as exchanges through emails and other occasions. The Core Stakeholders’ Network was also formed to provide additional advises to the project from the international air quality community. Feedback from the prime users and the stakeholders has been positive and valuable, acknowledging the toolkit's improvements over time. At the end of the project, regional workshops were held for the local environmental and health authorities and other relevant stakeholders to demonstrate the final version of the Toolkit to the users.
To ensure successful exploitation of the project's results, a comprehensive Dissemination, Communication, and Exploitation Plan has been devised. This plan includes measures such as using social media, creating videos, organising webinars and workshops, and presenting at international conferences to maximise the project's impact. Key exploitable results and intellectual properties were identified, and an Innovation Management Roadmap was created to guide the project's solutions and target markets. Meetings with potential exploiters, including consortium partners, local prime users, and stakeholders from the Core Stakeholders' Network, helped shape an optimal exploitation pathway. Business cases were developed iteratively to address potential tender calls and business opportunities. The project envisions a hybrid approach for exploitation, combining self-exploitation and collaboration with external partners. The consortium plans to partner with external exploiters to provide air quality monitoring and prediction services, primarily targeting public authorities in developing countries through suitable fundings from governmental organisations.
The prototype developed by AQ-WATCH provides the basis for the development of application systems dedicated to air quality management. The transition from prototype to operational systems will result from the involvement of users in either the private or public sector. A large multinational company has agreed to contribute to the exploitation of the AQ-WATCH system and is currently dialoguing with the members of our partnership and with potential customers outside Europe. There is a strong interest from the main users and potential customers in the functionality covered by the prototype system, but also a recognition that each customer may prefer to incorporate parts of the prototype into their own software or operational systems rather than use the final production system developed by AQ-WATCH.
The project brought together partners from different types of institutions (academia, national research centres, private sector) and different disciplines (atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, software development, visualisation and dissemination) to work together on an integrated system that will be made available to future customers all over the world. The project also brought together several key users and stakeholders who had the opportunity to express their views and expectations on the products and services under development. The spiral approach with iterative interactions with prime users has provided an opportunity to adjust the characteristics of the products.
The project has attracted the attention of several responsible groups in the private sector and public administration. What still needs to be consolidated is the exploitation process, but the numerous interactions that AQ-WATCH has had with small and medium-sized enterprises have shown the need to adapt the products and services to the very specific needs of these companies. There is no such thing as a general and universal prototype for users who have very specific needs and requirements. Some of the AQ-WATCH partners also decided to use the results of AQ-WATCH to further develop air quality analysis and forecasting services in their countries.
The project brought together partners from different types of institutions (academia, national research centres, private sector) and different disciplines (atmospheric chemistry, meteorology, software development, visualisation and dissemination) to work together on an integrated system that will be made available to future customers all over the world. The project also brought together several key users and stakeholders who had the opportunity to express their views and expectations on the products and services under development. The spiral approach with iterative interactions with prime users has provided an opportunity to adjust the characteristics of the products.
The project has attracted the attention of several responsible groups in the private sector and public administration. What still needs to be consolidated is the exploitation process, but the numerous interactions that AQ-WATCH has had with small and medium-sized enterprises have shown the need to adapt the products and services to the very specific needs of these companies. There is no such thing as a general and universal prototype for users who have very specific needs and requirements. Some of the AQ-WATCH partners also decided to use the results of AQ-WATCH to further develop air quality analysis and forecasting services in their countries.