- Strategically located, these devices will make it possible to systematically measure the composition of the city’s air with their own equipment, thereby facilitating the design of policies to improve its quality and public health.
- The Municipality of Córdoba purchased the equipment from a local company within the framework of the “Respira Córdoba” program with the support of the European Union.
In order to cooperate with several environmental protection policies and promote the development of a healthy city, the Municipality of Córdoba has purchased 9 of its own continuous air quality measurement stations through the Respira Córdoba project. It will be installed at fixed points in cities such as the central area, and put into operation after configuration.
“Respira Córdoba” is an initiative of the Mayor Martín Llaryora, supported by the European Union (EU), the Office of the Mayor of Córdoba (Spain), by the Minister of Planning, Modernization and International Relations and its Environmental Management and Municipal partners in development.
Costing $4,695,768, the new monitoring station features state-of-the-art equipment that collects extensive data on temperature, humidity, and PM10, 4.0, 2.5 and 1.0 particulate levels.
These suspended components are classified from large to small and affect people’s health to varying degrees. PM10 is mainly dust, pollen and mold, which often cause allergic reactions, bronchitis and asthma attacks. PM2.5 and PM0.1 are smaller and pose a greater risk to respiratory health.
“It will allow us to map and measure air quality levels to protect the health of our neighbors, which is also the development of Córdoba’s technologists”founded by Jorge Folloni as Minister of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development.
“This information is critical for identifying sources of pollution, designing public health policies and improving atmospheric visibility”the official added.
The equipment is manufactured by the local Onsen company, which brings together professionals from the National University of Córdoba and the National Technical University. “It works with a technology called the Internet of Things, where data is uploaded via telemetry, phone service chips, and can be processed in the cloud and then displayed in a networked system so it can be visualized, interpreted and managed. Air quality”Gerardo Misael García, founder of equipment maker Onsen, said the company brings together professionals from UNC and UTN.
Minister of Planning, Modernization and International Relations Alejandra Torres expressed satisfaction with the achievement: “The Respira Córdoba project is a clear example of the municipality of Córdoba’s commitment to environmental sustainability”.
In turn, the official also values the impact of the program and the work of the National University of Córdoba, which will strengthen technical capabilities and provide cutting-edge technology for the municipal environmental observatory, which is under construction, for architectural restoration.
The technology will replace four stations in operation, which have reached the end of their useful life due to the nature of their components.
Once built and operational, the new station will be able to calculate the air quality index and warn people at risk, when outdoor activities are not advised, or when masks are used, becoming a preventive form of public health.
Guillermo Díaz Cornejo, Director of the Institute for Environment and Animal Conservation, and Laura Rovetto, Director of Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change, also participated in the event.
About the Respira Córdoba Project
Its goal is to transform the downtown area of Córdoba into a more sustainable and healthy place. In addition to combating climate change, the city is committed to improving the quality of life of its residents and contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially in terms of sustainable cities and communities.