SAQM TRIAL

Improving air quality on the London Underground and Paris Metro is a priority for Transport for London (TfL) and RATP, and is increasingly a focus of activity for other subway systems around the world. Whilst there is extensive knowledge and understanding of surface level Particulate Matter (PM), less is known about the type of PM found in subway environments. This project seeks to improve understanding in this area by trialling new, innovative air quality monitoring on the London Underground and Paris Metro networks. The project will develop lightweight, low-power, low-cost sensors that can be used to monitor air quality in subway systems.

Working with commercial partners, sensors will be developed and trialled on the London Underground and Paris Metro. Low-cost air quality sensors have revolutionised air quality assessment at surface level. Subway systems have high concentrations of PM and transport large volumes of passengers, but there are few measurement systems to accurately establish PM exposure and guide mitigation measures. This is due to technical challenges in deploying systems in these environments, and the levels and make-up of PM which has a different composition to surface level PM which would require frequent cleaning and recalibration. The sensors that the project seeks to develop will facilitate air quality measurement networks designed for subway environments to improve knowledge of air quality and inform mitigation measures.