SMOG TRACKER INFORMS HIKERS, BIKERS ABOUT AIR QUALITY|義大利推空品監測APP 盼民眾參與打擊空汙

Italian researchers have created a device that keeps people informed about air pollution in the areas where they're walking or biking. The smog tracker called "Monica" comes in the form of a small box that can be easily attached to a motorcycle or a bike, recording air quality levels in real time as users move around .The device costs around 500 US dollars but many still question if it's actually helping the problem of air pollution. As European countries struggle to fight against air pollution, researchers in Italy have recently created a smog tracker called MONICA that informs people of real-time air quality levels. The device comes in the form of a small box that can be easily placed on a motorcycle, a bike or a stroller. When smartphone users connect to the MONICA app, a color index and a percentage indicating pollution levels in a certain area will be shown based on data gathered by MONICA boxes. ==SAVERIO DE VITO Researcher at ENEA's Portici Research Center== This system is equipped with four electrochemical sensors that allow it to monitor concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrous gas and ozone together with temperature and humidity. A system of computational intelligence installed on the device allows it to use data from the sensors to estimate concentration levels in real time. MONICA, which stands for "Air Quality Cooperative Monitoring" in Italian, was developed in 2013 and financed in 2016 through a crowd-funding initiative on social media. What makes it different from other similar devices is that it allows citizens to take an active role. Besides contributing to information about pollution levels in the area they live, it also makes citizens take charge of their environment and health. ==SALVATORE FIORE ENEA Researcher in Rome== So it's a way to make people aware of this problem. People themselves can offer answers with their own behavior in traffic, by using private instead of public transport or turning on the heat at certain times. Although some consider the app a handy tool, others think that it does nothing to help the problem of pollution. ==MURAD PIRON, visitor from Belgium== Rome, Milan, they're so polluted, I mean I don't need an app to know that what I'm breathing is just polluted. So I don't think I would be that interested. Beside if I'm living in the North Pole - I know probably there the air is fresh - but, no, I'm sorry. At the moment, the technology is designed only for those on a bike or walking with a child buggy, but developers of MONICA say they're working to make it available for runners or car users as well. Their ultimate goal is to commercialize MONICA in the near future, but before that, they will first test it with 50 chosen citizens in September. TRANSLATED BY ARIEL HSIEH