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Air quality in focus: Aachen relies on cargo bikes for measurement!
RWTH Aachen initiates the “SchwarmMessRad” project to measure air quality with cargo bikes, funded with 3 million euros.
Air quality in focus: Aachen relies on cargo bikes for measurement!
On May 16, 2025, RWTH Aachen University will report on a groundbreaking project to improve air quality in urban areas as part of its research project “SchwarmMessRad”. The aim of this innovative project is to install mobile measuring units on cargo bikes to measure air quality and asphalt temperature in various streets. This measure is particularly relevant as around 300,000 deaths in Europe each year are due to poor air quality.
The measurements focus on harmful substances such as ozone, fine dust and nitrogen oxides, which can occur in varying concentrations even in neighboring streets. This is caused by the special conditions of urban canyons in which pollutants can accumulate. To address this problem, RWTH Aachen University plans to equip around 40 cargo bikes with modern sensors that enable continuous data collection.
Technological advances and health risks
Air quality has a direct impact on the health of the population. On average, each resident uses around 11,000 liters of air every day. The importance of accurate air quality measurement is underscored by the fact that air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone (O3) can pose serious health risks. The Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) is funding the project with around three million euros to collect precise data and inform the population about days that are dangerous to health.
Traditional methods of air quality measurement, such as gravimetric methods, are precise but time-consuming and costly. In contrast, modern approaches such as mobile sensors and IoT technologies enable real-time data collection that allows for quick responses to changes in air quality. Safe, connected solutions are essential for sustainable urban planning, which also takes into account the identification of heat islands in urban areas.
Integration and collaboration
The RWTH Aachen project emphasizes the need for a close connection between science and the population, a point that Aachen's mayor Sibylle Keupen also emphasized. By creating a high-resolution map from the measurement results, municipalities and citizens are able to receive warnings and use alternative routes in poor air conditions.
In addition, the integration of various air quality monitoring technologies is promoted. Future approaches could also include drone technology and spectroscopic methods that enable the identification of pollutants through light-matter interactions. These comprehensive analyzes are crucial for minimizing health risks and sustainably increasing the quality of life in cities.
With the planned measures, RWTH Aachen University is breaking new ground to both improve air quality in urban areas and help reduce car journeys. By using cargo bikes for these measurements, the project not only focuses on innovation, but also on environmentally friendly transport solutions that can help protect the air.